4 
NUMMULARIA AND ITS ALLIES. 
NUMMULARIA. 
Bearing in mind the salient features of the genus Nummularia, 
as already given, “ Stroma disc shaped, or cup shaped, adnate, 
marginate,” we are compelled to dispute the position of one or two 
species which have been introduced into it. Nummularia 
punctulata, Sacc. is Diatrype punctulata Berk, and Rav. and the 
most unlike a Nummularia that could possibly be found. The 
stroma is neither “ disc-shaped ” nor “ cup-shaped,” and extends 
for many inches after the manner of Diatrype stigma. Indeed it 
compels one to inquire what is the use of the diagnosis of a genus at 
all, if it is to be utterly set at defiance. Nummularia punctulata 
is plainly and distinctly an effused 'Hypoxylon, and nothing but 
casuistry can make anything else of it. 
Nummularia Wrightii Sacc. exhibits a similar error in an 
opposite direction. This Hypoxylon Wrightii B. & C., is simply 
a large, nearly globose, Hypoxylon, neither disc shaped ” nor 
“ cup shaped ” but almost as globose as the ordinary form of 
Daldinia concentricum. It cannot be justified as a Nummularia. 
Next we have two peculiar forms of Hypoxylon, included in 
Nummularia which have certainly no affinity with what is con- 
sidered usually to be the type form of Nummularia These are 
N. placentiformis, and N. suh- orbicularis, and if they are to be 
regarded as good species of Nummularia, then there must be 
associated with them Xylaria cerehrina, Hypoxylon Petersii and 
Hypoxylon Broomeanam. The latter more resembling Nummularia 
than any of the species included within it, to which we have taken 
exception. With all deference to Professor Saccardo, after having 
seen about twenty specimens of Hypoxylon sub-orbiciilaris Curr. of 
various forms and dimensions, we cannot recognise in it a re- 
semblance to Nummularia with its “ disc shaped,” or “ cup 
shaped ” stroma. At any rate it is a close ally of such species as 
we have named in conjunction with it. 
Again if Hypoxylon glycyrrhiza B. & 0. is relegated to Num- 
mularia, a dozen species, with precisely the same form, must follow 
it. Either all sub-discoid forms, that are plano-convex in section, 
must go with it, into Nummularia, or it must retire to Hypoxylon. 
We do not by any means dispute the right of these species, 
such as we have in view, to a place in Nummularia, but we contend 
that one species alone cannot be accepted and the residue excluded. 
Another feature in support of their relationship to Nummularia is 
the sterile margin of the stroma. If accepted as Nummularice, then 
the genus should be sub-divided into two sections, with Num- 
mularia discreta and its immediate allies as the type of one section 
and Nummularia Bulliardi of the other. In accordance with 
these views we have suggested a re-arrangement of the genus. 
Space will not permit of our criticizing the species in detail, but 
we cannot forbear to point out that the Sphceria clypeus of 
