np SOUTH AUSTRALIA. 
61 
strands and whose roots are surrounded and strangled by cord-like dark 
rhizomorplis. South Australia — At the base of Acacia pycnantha Benth. at 
National Park, Mount Lofty, Kuitpo, Willunga Hill, Encounter Bay, at the bases 
of swamp plant's at Willow Creek (Waitpinga), Upper Tunkalilla Creek. New 
South Wales. Queensland. Victoria. Western Australia. April to June, August. 
Specimens vary much in colour and appearance but all have in common the 
more or less evident ring, the adnato-deeurrent gills and usually the minute 
almost punctate scattered dark fibrils, fibrillose-seales or wart's on the pilous. The 
pilous may be almost mustard colour to yellowish olive or brownish olive and 
when young may be densely beset with minute furfuraceous scales. The edge 
may be slightly rugose. There may be no sinuations of the gills. The superior 
ring may stand out as a broad collar. The flesh of the stem is continuous with 
that of the pilous, this being one of the features of the genus distinguishing it 
from Lcpiota. (Figure 9.) 
The species is of considerable economic importance, and losses have occurred 
in Western Australia from its attacks oil orange trees and rose bushes. The 
fungus gains its nourishment from mycelial strands which extend through the 
soil to the roots of the host trees. The roots become surrounded by dark-cord- 
like strands of mycelium which are known as rhizomorphs. These interfere with 
the passage of sap and so strangle the roots. The strands extend along the 
roots and spread to others until finally the general nutrition of the tree or shrub 
suffers and death may result. The fungus is not uncommon in Euealypt forests 
in tiffs State, New South Wales, and Western Australia, evidently parasitic on 
the roots of the forest trees. When such virgin country is cleared as for orchards, 
the fungus, which in the Old Country is often known as the Houey Fungus from 
its colour, still survives in the soil for considerable periods, especially when many 
root's and stumps have been left. This may give it time to attach itself to the 
roots of the nursery fruit-trees that are planted with frequently fatal results. 
M3. Armillaria muscicola Clel. (L., muscus, moss; coin, to inhabit, dwell in). — 
Pilous up to lin. (2.5 cm.), broadly eonieo-convex to convex, umbonate, frosted 
with granules of fine warts and slightly rugose, Yellow Ochre to Oehraceous 
Tawny (XV.). Gills adnate to adnexed or sinuately adnexed, moderately close, 
creamy to pure white. Stem ftp to d Ain. (3.7 cm.), covered with yellowish buff 
granules up to a little way below the gills, forming here a more or less definite 
[From a wat er colour by Minn J. Buxton , 
Figure 10 . — Armillaria musclrola Clel. (No. 33). Greenhill 
Road. 
