82 
TWO AUSTRALIAN FUNGI. 
D. Best, and is quite distinct from anything heretofore described. 
In colour it resembles the ordinary yellow form of Ag. phalloides , 
bnt there all resemblance ceases. The pileus is convex and hemis- 
pherical, but exhibiting no tendency to become flattened, and 
covered to the very margin with large obtusely pyramidical warts, 
or scales, like the scales of a 11 stone pine.” Not, as in most 
species, the remains of the volva, but large persistent scales, into 
each of which the flesh of the pileus enters, and the cuticle 
follows all the inequalities of the projections, which are in some 
cases a centimetre broad at the base, where they are hexagonal in 
outline and touching each other. The diameter of the pileus is 
from three to four inches, with an incurved margin. There is no 
evidence of viscidity, and no tenacity in the cuticle when moistened. 
From Ag. ananceceps it differs in having the scales continued to 
the extreme margin, in their larger size, greater solidity, and in 
not being superficial, but persistent. The external appearance is 
somewhat that of Polyporus EUisii from the United States, or, 
indeed, from the character of the scales, almost any of the species 
of Strobilomyces, except in colour. The stem is short, about an 
inch thick, and rather attenuated upwards, four inches long or 
more, a little obtusely turbinate at the base, and the volva closely 
adnate and marginate, deeply sulcate with four or five deep furrows, 
directed downwards, around the slight bulb. The ring is superior 
and rather small, whilst the stem is solid and firm, a little paler 
than the pileus. The gills rather narrow and free, not much 
crowded, leaving a channel around the top of the stem. Spores 
quite different from Ag. ananceceps , the only species to which it 
approximates. It will be seen from the above description that 
this is really a peculiar species, which, in drying, becomes quite 
hard, without any of the flaccidity or premonition of decay common 
to Amanita. The following will be its diagnosis : — 
Agaricus (Amanita) strobilaceus, Coolce. 
Pileus convex, hemispherical (3-4 in. diam.), pale lemon yellow, 
covered with large persistent, obtusely pyramidical warts, or scales, 
after the manner of a fir cone, down to the extreme margin, which 
is incurved. Stem short, stout, solid, slightly incrassated at the 
base (4 in. x 1 in. or more), ring superior. Volva closely adnate, 
circumscissile, marginate, longitudinally sulcate. Gills rather 
narrow, not crowded, free, leaving a channel round the stem. 
Spores small, hyaline, 5 X 2^ p. 
On the ground. Victoria. 
We hope, by arrangement with the Government Department of 
Victoria, to give coloured figures of this and other Victorian 
Agarics, in subsequent numbers of this journal. 
The other fungus worthy of notice is also remarkable in a 
different manner, as it belongs to quite a different order of fungi, 
the Pyrenomycetes. It is in reality a superficial Sphceria , with a 
remote resemblance to the old Sphceria ovina , but sulphur coloured. 
