THE TECHNOLOGIST. [April 1, 1864. 



390 THE BEECH MORELS OP 



pear-shaped and without any distinct stem, becoming afterwards more 

 r o decidedly globose and hollow. 



In size, this species attains 

 from one to two inches in dia- 

 meter, closely studded with 

 the cups, which are numerous, 

 and have broad irregular ori- 

 fices. The asci are rather short 

 and cylindrical, each contain- 

 ing eight broadly elliptical 

 sporidia. The hymenium very 

 speedily becomes obliterated. 

 It will be observed that in the absence of the granulations at the base of 

 the receptacle, this species differs entirely from C. Darwinii. 



This fungus abounds on the Tasmania myrtle tree (as the above- 

 named species of Fagus is locally termed), in the dense forests to the 

 westward, and was freely eaten by the aborigines in their wild state. 

 It has also a reputation amongst the settlers for its esculent qualities. 

 This species was also first described by the Rev. M. J. Berkeley, in 

 Hooker's ' Flora Antarctica,' and afterwards figured in the ' London 

 Journal of Botany ' for 1848. 



From the pages of some local journal (probably the ' Transactions of 

 the Royal Society of Tasmania'), I some time since extracted the fol- 

 lowing paragraph, without appending the authority : — 



" It is deserving of notice, that here, in the glens and ravines near 

 the summits oi a few of the high mountains between Lake St. Clair and 

 Macquarie Harbour, a beech tree {Fagus Gunnii, Hook.) has been found, 

 very closely resembling Fagus autarctica of the gloomy and humid 

 forests of the southern extremity of America. A Cyttaria was found 

 on this species of beech at Macquarie Harbour, by Dr. Milligan, 

 in 1847." 



A single dried specimen of a Cyttaria (of which I also subjoin a 

 figure) was presented to me by Dr. Milligan, in 1863, together with the 

 P IG 4 leaves of the tree from which 



he obtained it. This specimen 

 was gathered at Mount Sorell, 

 in 1846. The leaves are con- 

 sidered by Dr. Hooker to be 

 decidedly those of Fagus 

 Gunnii and not of Fagus Cun- 

 ninghamii; whilst the Cyttaria 

 which through the kindness of 

 Mr. Berkeley, I have com- 

 pared with a specimen of Cyttaria Gunnii in his herbarium, does 

 not appear to me to offer any distinctive or specific deviations from that 

 species. It is unsatisfactory, however, to affirm positively upon the 



