LICHENS AND FUNGI OF OTAGO, NEW ZEALAND. 431 



This form is common on the Jiower-petiole of Clematis. Between the widely 

 segregated and the closely aggregated forms there is every variety of distribution. 

 It is in the former that the thick margin and verrucseform character generally 

 occur ; while in the latter we usually find the thin margin and regular urceola, 

 with flattened disk (best seen on the flower petiole in my specimens). 



In this country, similar deformities are produced on our common Nettle and 

 Elder by sEcidium Urticce, DC* In the one case, the leaf-petioles and stem, and 

 in the other, the stem, become twisted, curled, and swollen in a similar way. My 

 friend M. C. Cooke, author of a recent "Synopsis of the British iEcidiacei"f 

 (who was kind enough to examine my Otago species or forms), remarks of the one 

 under description — Li The JEcidium on Clematis, producing gouty swellings, &c, 

 just corresponds with our JE. Ranunculacearum, DC, which I have on Clematis 

 xitalba from France and Germany." It does not, however, follow that it is the 

 same species ; indeed, its characters do not correspond with those of JE. Ranun- 

 culacearum, as given in the " Flora Novee Zelandise" £ (in which work the said 

 JEcidium is described as hitherto found only in the North Island, growing on 

 Ranunculus rivularis, Banks and Sol.) 



When exhibiting the monstrosities of Clematis hexasepela above described, and 

 explaining or demonstrating their causes — the growth of the parasitic Mcidium — 

 to the colonists of Otago, I was informed by them of the existence of similar 

 deformities of parts or organs of a variety of trees and shrubs, which, from the 

 descriptions given, may prove to be attributable to a similar cause — the develop- 

 ment of a co-generic or co-specific parasitic Fungus. There is every reason to 

 believe, therefore, that the study of local vegetable teratology — of the diseases of 

 local plants— their causes and effects, offers a wide and novel field of research to 

 the local Botanist. 



2. Parasitic on the leaf (under surface) § of Epilobiumjunceum, Forsi, on plants 

 growing 8 to 15 inches high on the Chain hills and flanks of Saddlehill ; Decem- 

 ber ; in flower. 



The leaves on which the parasitic Peridia are scattered, are generally some- 

 what altered in colour and texture (fig. 69). The colour becomes russet-brown ; 

 the leaf looks faded, and presents a premature appearance of age (for the plant, 

 on which the parasite occurs in my Herbarium, is a young one, with unexpanded 

 flower-buds) (a). Sometimes the margin of the leaf becomes puckered or curled 



* Excellent coloured plates of this and other British species — including the deformities they 

 produce — may be found in an admirable popular " Introduction to the Study of Microscopic Fungi," 

 by M. C Cooke. London, 1865. 



f Journal of Botany, vol. ii. p. 33, with a plate. 



J Of Dr Hooker, vol. ii. — Cryptogamia, 1853. 



§ It is of interest to note that the British JE. Epilobii, DC, occurs on the under (rarely upper) 

 side of the leaves of Epilobium montanum, L. ; E. hirsutum, L. ; and E, palustre, L. (British 

 species of JEcidium, Cooke's " Introduction," p. 190.) 



VOL. XXIV. PART II. 6 A 



