428 DR LAUDER LINDSAY ON THE 



S. Otagensis, in age the upper portion of the perithecium frequently falls away, 

 leaving only the saucer-like hollow in the matrix occupied by its base : this 

 assuming the appearance of a black scar, or being whitish with a black ring, 

 according as the base remains or disappears (fig. 19 b). The perithecia vary 

 greatly also as to their closeness of aggregation, being isolated, closely aggregated, 

 or confluent ;and in the latter case necessarily becoming difform. 



The thecse and paraphyses are very delicate, and are seldom, or with difficulty, 

 distinctly seen. The thecce are apparently 8-spored, and the spores biseriate, as 

 in most Lichens. The thecal wall seems closely to envelope the spores like a sac, 

 as is common in the Arthoniw (fig. 21). The spores are 3-septate ; brown ; -00045" 

 long, and -00015" to -00025" broad ; irregularly ellipsoid ; generally bulging 

 more or less, according to age, opposite each locule ; very seldom muriform, but 

 having a tendency to longitudinal division of the loculi (c) ; sometimes slightly 

 curved (fig. 22). 



With this species I have associated the name of my friend William Martin of 

 Fairfield, Saddlehill, Otago, one of its few resident Botanists and pioneer settlers, 

 to whom I was indebted for much assistance in my Otago excursions and collec- 

 tions, and on whose property in Greenisland a great portion of these collections 

 was made. 



I have no doubt that many new species of the large and ubiquitous genus 

 Sphceria, and of allied spheriaceous Fungi, have yet to be added to the New Zea- 

 land Flora ; but their discovery and determination will require all the care of 

 experienced local Fungologists. 



Genus II. Nectria. 

 Sp. 1. N. Otagensis* (N. armeniaca, Currey MSS.), (figs. 53 to 60). 



Diagnostic characters. — "Perithecia csespitose ; pale-apricot coloured, with 

 ostiolum darker; sporidia biseriate, colourless, about 0-0007 inch." (Currey 

 MSS.) 



Hab. On stockyard fences of old " Goai" timber, ravines of the Chain Hills. 



A beautiful little Fungus of a pale orange-red colour, and waxy aspect; 

 forming a bright contrast to the greenish bark on which it grows (figs. 53, 55). It 

 generally nestles in the rough and deep furrows between the irregular rugae of 

 the very rugose bark of " Goai," and is best seen when the latter has a dark 

 olive tint. The plant has much the appearance of masses of certain fish-roes ; 



* The name originally bestowed by Currey was the very appropriate one, armeniaca (apricot - 

 coloured) ; but, in the meantime, the same designation has been conferred by Tulasne (Selecta 

 Fungorum Carpologia, vol. iii. p. 75, plate x.) on a French and very different species; and it 

 appears easier and preferable to render the name of the Otago plant more distinctive, rather than 

 to raise trivial questions of priority of nomenclature. 



