34 
FtJNGt. 
the stem. Certain lateral branches of the intermediate layer grow 
upwards, and become much inflated at the apex ; these inflated 
tips form the upper, sterile surface of the pileus, and in section 
resemble the palisade tissue of a leaf ; seen from above, these cells 
are flattened, irregularly polygonal, and 9-12 p. in diameter. 
Other branches of the intermediate layer form thin, aseptate, thin- 
walled hyphas densely filled with colourless, granular contents ; 
these hyphse grow up between the large cells forming the upper 
surface of the pileus, and when they reach the surface expand into 
a cylindrical cystidium, varying from 60-100 x 15-20 p, and 
filled with granular contents. At a later stage of development a 
constriction appears at some distance below the apex, thus forming 
a more or less spherical head ; finally, at maturity, the globose 
heads of the cystidia deliquesce, and a large quantity of colourless 
mucus escapes, which completely involves the whole fungus in a 
hyaline envelope. The basidia originate from the hyphre of the 
intermediate layer, and are more or less fusiform. There are no 
cystidia in the hymenium, but a few are sometimes scattered on 
the stem. 
The affinities of the present genus are difficult to indicate, in 
fact, technically, it does not belong to the Basidiomycetes on 
account of its monosporous basidia, although such occur in the 
Clavariese, and probably the present genus will be best placed 
near to Physalacria and Pistillina, with which it agrees in habitat, 
and the presence of large cystidia, being nearest to Pistillina 
cycloidea, Cke., but in these genera the hymenium covers every 
portion of the hymenophore, and the cystidea are also borne on the 
hymenial surface. The principal feature of the genus Gloiocepliala 
is the high differentiation of the hymenophore, the hymenium 
being confined to the under surface, and the numerous, large, 
mucus-secreting cystidia to the upper surface. 
Gloiocepliala epiphylla. Mass, (n.sp.) 
Pileus 1-2 m.m. across, very thin, circular, plane or slightly 
depressed in the centre, whitish and opalescent, upper surface very 
minutely setulose under a lens, from the numerous cystidia ; 
basidia fusiform, 16-18 x 4 p ; spores globose, colourless, smooth, 
3 [a diam. ; stem about 2 m.m. long, slender, slightly attenuated 
upwards, brownish. The whole fungus involved in mucus when 
mature. 
On damp, decaying leaves. Jamaica. 
Fig. 1, Gloiocepliala epiphylla ; entire specimens, x 150. Fig. 
2, section of portion of hymenium of same, x 500. Fig. 3, 
basidia and spores of same, x 1000. 
Csronartium capparidis. Holson, Grev. Vol. xiy, p. 89. 
The original description of the present species is very brief, and 
an examination of the type specimen reveals some points of struc- 
ture not present in any described species of Cronartium. The 
following is a fuller description : — 
