210 J. B. CLELAND AND E. CHEEL. 



Two of these specimens have nine bifid lobes, one has 

 seven bifid lobes, and a fourth specimen is too imperfect 

 for examination. On another sheet, a very large speci- 

 men is mounted with the following remarks, also in Gunn's 

 handwriting: — "Aseroe rubra? Labill. I annex observa- 

 tions to the other specimens sent herewith. This genus is 

 obviously closely allied in many points to Ileodictyon. La 

 Billardiere's figure is so bad that it is not easy to identify 

 the species by it, but as the country where he gathered 

 his original specimen formed a dense Fagus forest, it is 

 probably the same, yet he says in his Voyage, the whole 

 surface of the Aseroe rubra is smooth, whereas this one is 

 not. I send you specimens in spirits." Gunn's specimens 

 were sent to Hooker who handed them over to Berkeley 

 for determination. It is evident that this species has 

 attracted the attention of several collectors in New South 

 Wales also, for we find it frequently mentioned in Berkeley's 

 early works on Fungi. It was collected near Sydney as 

 far back as 1844 by Leichhardt, who forwarded specimens 

 to Berkeley. Other collections were also made near Sydney 

 as will be seen from the following observations by Berkeley 

 who also published a figure (12): — 



"This singular fungus was found in the Government demesne 

 by Lieut. Lynd, Barrack Master at Sydney, growing early in 

 April on rotten wood, not fifteen yards from the seawards." 



Specimens recorded from other localities by Berkeley 

 (18) are as follows: — Dandenong, Victoria (Boyle); New 

 England, N.S. Wales (O. Stuart); Lake Gillies (J. Stuart). 

 Berkeley published the following remarks concerning these 

 latter specimens : — 



"Amongst rubbish left by river-floods. Very fugacious. In 

 all these specimens the rays are bifid only at the very extremity; 

 spores -0003 in. long. Dyes the fingers when fresh, but the colour 

 is very fugacious." 



