Note on Polysaccum Crassipes, D.C. 
213 
The aqueous solution is acid to litmus paper. The colour is resistant to 
heat, and not destroyed or altered by heating in the autoclave to 110 lbs. to 
the sq. inch. 
Conclusion. 
The paper is a brief note on Polysaccum crassipes DC, a fungus very 
common in eucalyptus plantations around Pretoria. The morphology of 
the fungus is briefly dealt with, and followed by suggestions which indicate 
that the relation between the fungus and host is one of symbiosis. On the 
eucalypti roots the fungus forms yellowish masses, and thinner roots may 
be completely covered or surrounded by the fungus mass. From these pass 
delicate rhizomorphic threads, which become agglutinated to soil particles 
or attached to vegetable debris. Inside the host the fungus forms a pseudo- 
parenchymatous tissue between the cork cells, but does not enter the cells 
or extend to the wood. The tissues of the plant appear to suffer in no way 
from the presence of the fungus. The fungus contains a colouring matter, 
brown in solution and acid to litmus, and precipitated from solution as a 
gelatinous brown precipitate by various strong acids and metallic salts. The 
precipitate is soluble in ammonia to a dark brown solution. 
A fairly complete reference is given to the earlier and more general 
works on symbiosis. 
Note. — Of this genus Lloyd says : '* The genus is close to Scleroderma, 
some specimens having the gleba-cell wall so fragile that the plants can be 
taken for Scleroderma. There exists in the tissue of the peridium and walls 
of the peridioles a yellow colouring matter readily soluble in water. As it 
occurs * in the plant it is black, but dissolved in water it is yellow. The 
plant is still used in the country districts of France (I am told by Monsieur 
P. Hariot of the Museum of Paris) for dyeing purposes " (' The Lycoperdaceae 
of Australia, New Zealand, and Neighbouring Islands ; Mycological Series, 
No. 3 '). The inside colour of the peridium varies with age, and in aqueous 
solution, the colour was with me invariably brown. To my knowledge the 
colouring matter has never been placed to any use in South Africa. 
Natal Herbarium, 
Berea, Durban, 
November, 1915. 
