KNIEFFIA — MUCEONELLA. 181 



Knieffia svbgelatinosa, B. & Br., Ann. Nat. Hist., n. 1444 ; 

 Stev., B. r., p. 258. 



On fir stumps. Forming a very thin, broadly effased 

 snbgelatinons film. 



MUCEONELLA. Fr. (fig. 8, p. 149.) 



Sporophore obsolete; spines subulate, simple, acute, gla- 

 brous, scattered or fasciculate, and then more or less con- 

 nate at the base ; basidia monosporous. 



Mucrcunella, Fries, Hym. Bur., p. 629 ; Sacc, Syll. vii. 

 p. 512. 



Mucronia, Fries, S. V. S., p. 329 (not Mucronea of Ben- 

 tham). 



A peculiar genus, resembling EJydnum in the aculeate 

 spines, but differing in the absence of the sporophore or 

 resupinate portion from which the spines originate in Hyd- 

 num. Also differing in the monosporous basidia, which, 

 in Mueronella calva, the only species I have examined, are 

 but slightly or not at all inflated upwards, and suggest 

 the conidiophores of some Hyphomycetous fungus, as Isaria. 

 It may possibly be shown at some time, that the species of 

 Mueronella are conidial conditions of some higher form, as 

 Ptychogaster has been already proved to be the conidial 

 condition of Folyporus. 



Mueronella calva. Fr. (fig. 8, p. 149.) 



Spines ^1 in. long, very slender, whitish, then grey, 

 scattered, quite smooth and even, and covered externally, 

 except at the tips, with slender, subequal, monosporous ba- 

 sidia; spores subglobose, apiculate, colourless, 4^5 /a diameter. 



Mueronella calva, Fries, Hym. Bur., p. 629 ; Sacc, Syll. vi. 

 n. 7038. 



Mydnum calvum, Albertini and Schweinitz, p. 271, t. 10, 

 f. 8. 



On rotten pine and other wood. The spines are erect, 

 . not J mm. thick at the base, tapering to the apex, either 

 scattered or gregarious. Very much resembling the upright, 

 spine-like bodies not uncommon on trunks, and obviously 

 belonging to young mycelium. The present species differs 

 from such in bearing globose spore-Hke bodies. 



