South African Xylarias occurring around Durban, Natal. 183 
•1-1 '5 cm. long x 1 mm. diam., villous with dark hairs ; perithecia 
globose, not protruding, 130-200 fx diam. ; asci cylindrical ; spores brown 
to dark, straight to slightly fusoid, 11-15 X 4-6 ix ; when young with a 
large gutta, when old often with an indistinct septum. 
On dead and decaying logs. This plant was described by Cooke from 
New Zealand. It also occurs in Madagascar and the American tropics and 
my collection is the first record from South Africa. The raised lines on the 
cluhs are peculiar and should aid, in recognition. 
3. Xylaria anisopleura, Mont. (Fig. 4.) 
Plants epixylous, solid, black without, white within ; clubs solitary or 
fasciculate, 1-2*5 cm., globular to oval, at times compressed, branched, and 
more or less lobed ; surface moriform with protruding perithecia ; stalks 
*5-l mm. long, often rudimentary, villous at base ; perithecia globose, up 
to 780 ft diam.; spores brown to dark, ovoid, straight to slightly fusoid, 
uniguttulate, 22-30 x 7-9 ix. 
On dead and decaying wood. Distinguished from X. polymorpha by 
moriform surface. 
4. Xylaria polymorpha (Pers.), G-rev. (Fig. 5.) 
Plants epixylous ; clubs various, rarely solitary, more often fasciculate or 
tufted, 2-7-connate at base, simple or palmately branched, sometimes 
terete or globose, more often compressed, solid, black without, white within , 
surface rugulose; stipe "7-2 cm. long x 2-5 mm. diam., at times 
obsolete ; perithecia ovate, slightly protruding ; spores brown to dark, ovoid, 
straight to fusoid, 20-30 x 7-11 /x. 
On rotting wood. Distinguished from X. anisopleura by rugulose 
surface and usually broader spores. The name " polymorpha " refers to the 
many and varied forms this fungus takes. 
