NEW OR IMrERFECTLY KNOWN GA8TROMYCETES. 
97 
colour, but is altogether much more slender, and at once recognized 
by the elliptical spores. 
FROTOGLOSSUM, Mass., nov. gen. 
Subterranean ; peridium elongated, cylindrical, vertical, some- 
times attenuated at the base into a very short stem- like portion, 
that is continued for a very short distance up the peridium as a 
rudimentary columella; peridium thick, continuous, indehiscent; 
gleba broken up into minute, irregularly angular or sinuous cavities, 
septa thick, firm, persistent, not splitting; basidia clavate, con- 
stantly bisporous, sterigmata rather thick, divergent, spores 
coloured. 
Somewhat allied to Cauloglossum, but distinguished by being 
subterranean at maturity, the absence of a stem, columella rudi- 
mentary, bisporous basidia, and peridium not becoming broken up 
at maturity. 
The present genus forms a transition from the truly subterranean 
genera, which it resembles in the large ornamented spores, and the 
above-ground forms, where the sterile base or columella becomes 
differentiated into a stem, as in Secotium and Ggrophragmium, and 
the spores become much smaller for the purpose of facilitating 
their dispersion by wind. 
Protoglossum luteum, Mass., n. sp. 
Peridium cylindiical, 5 c.m. high by 2 c.m. broad, growing 
vertically, with the extreme apex appearing above ground, and of 
an orange colour, the subterranean portion yellowish, smooth, even; 
cavities of gleba about 1 m.rn. diameter ; spores globose, orange- 
brown, epispore raised into prominent flattened ridges, that anas- 
tomose to form a polygonal network, 14 ^ diameter. 
Clarendon, Victoria, Australia. (Type in Herb., Kew.) 
“ In rich black mould, only mere trace of top above ground, 
orange-yellow, no stem.” 
GYMNGGLOSSUM, Mass., nov. gen. 
Peridium entirely absent at every stage, the gleba consequently 
naked, subcylindrical, attenuated upwards, broken up throughout 
its entire substance into numerous large, irregular cavities, lined 
with large, clavate tetrasporous basidia, sterigmata elongated, 
slender, spores coloured ; stem distinct, elongated, solid, passing 
up into the gleba for about half its height as a central columella. 
Distinguished from Protoglossum , Chainoderma, and Cauloglos- 
sum by the absence of a peridium at every stage of development, 
and also from the two last-named genera in the columella not 
reaching the apex of the gleba. Agrees with Gautieria in the 
absence of a peridium, but separated by the elongated gleba 
supported on a distinct stem, that enters for some distance as a 
columella, and in the tetrasporous basidia. 
Gymnoglossum stipitatum, Mass., nov. sp. 
Gleba obtusely conical, irregularly undulated and lacunose, pale 
brown, 5 c.m. high, 2 c.m. broad, stem about 1*5 c.m. high, 3-4 m.m. 
