308 
THE LARGER FUXGI 
istonin. G'leba olivaceous, miibci' or purplish ; eapillitium threads pallid ehestimt- 
brown, of the usual type. Spores globose, 5.o to 0.5 fi, with stumps only of the 
pedieehs remaining: e])ispore chestnut-brown, closely and finely verniculose. 
Solitary in the ground; liypogaean. — Cunningham. South Australia — Grange, 
Monarto South, Ooldea, Ross Waterliole (Macumba). Central Australia — Mac- 
d'Onahl Downs (100 niile.s north-east of Alice Springs), Dashwood Creek, near 
Mount Lielng. Xew South Wales. New Zealand. Europe. North America. 
January, July, August, November. 
The species i-esembles the preceding in many characters, but may 1)C separated 
by the larger and more definitely verniculose sfiores. The verrucae differ con- 
siderably in different collections, some being fine, approaching those of the 
former species (when the spore size alone separates them) ; others being coarse, 
approaching those of D. cniomula. In such cases the nature of the stoma aids 
in separating the two. — Cunningham. 
50(i. Disciseda anomala (('ke. et Mass.) Cunn. (Gr. a, not; nomalos, oven, here 
in the sense anomalous). — Peridium uji to ^in. (2 cm.) diameter, depressed- 
globose or pulvinate; exoperidium a thin brown membrane, flaking away save 
at the base where persisting as a small cupulate structure, externally covered 
with debris; endoperidium bay-brown or umber, firm, membranous, furfuraceous, 
dehiscing by a raised, tubular, mammose, circular stoma which is surrounded by 
a depi'essed groove. Gleba olivaceous, becoming umber, pulverulent; eapillitium 
threads pallid chestnut-brown, of the usual type. Bpiores globose, (i to S g, 
stumjis only of the pedicids remaining; epispore pallid chestnut-lirown, finely and 
closely verruculose. Solitary or in small groups on the ground. — Cunningham. 
South Australia — Ooldea. Central Australia — Rodina, Ewaninga, Dee)) Well, 
Cockatoo Creek. New South Wales. Victoria. January, March, June to August! 
Characterised by the thin and membranous exoperidum, finely verruculose 
spores and especially by the definite tubular stoma, sunounded by a depressed 
groove. The stoma is not always tubular, however, for sometimes it may be 
fimbriate and mammose, and in old and weathered specimens almost indefinite. 
Sometimes a trace of a gelatinous membrane is present lying on the surface of 
the endoperidium. The gleba is frequently tinged with purple in old specimens. 
— (hinningham. 
50 o Disciseda australis Cunn. (AustTohs, here Australian). — Peridium up to 
l.Un. (.d cm.) diaineter, depressed-globose, attached by a small rooting base; 
exoperidium thin, umbei', fragile, membranous, flaking away irregularly save at 
the base; endoperidium furfuraceous, dehiscing by a tubular or mammose stoma, 
which is surrounded by a dejiressed groove. Gleba olivaceous, pulverulent ; 
eapillitium threads pallid chestnut-brown, of the usual type. Spores globose 
lor snbglobose, 5 to 0.5 with stumps only of the pedicels persisting; epispore 
pallid chestnut-brown closely and finely verruculose, warts round-topped. 8(ditary 
on the ground. — Cunningham. South Australia — Mount Pleasant. Victoria. 
May, June. 
The characters of the species are the membranous exoperidium, definite stoma 
lOf the 1). anomala type, and the fine, closely grouped, ,round-toppe<l warts cover- 
ing the epispore. The plant has a general resemblance to the preceding, es})eci- 
ally in the characters of the exoperidium and tli|e stoma, but may be separated 
by the different spores, larger qKuidium, and darker colour of the endoperidium. 
— Cunningham. 
508. Disciseda hypogaea (Cke. et Mass.) Cunn. (Gr., hypo, under; ge, the 
earth). — Pei'idium up to' i.in. (2 cm.) diameter, depressed-globose or snbglobose; 
exo})eridium membranous,, very thin, pallid ocliraceous, fragile, falling away 
irregularly save at the base; emloperidium thin, flaccid, papyraceous, furfur- 
aceous, olivaceous, dehiscing by a minute mammose apical stoma. Gleba olivace- 
ous, pulverulent ; eapillitium of the usual type, tinted. Spores globose, 8 to 
9 g (including verrucae), stumps only of the pedicels pei’sisting; epispore chest- 
nnt-brown, closely covered with coarse flat-topped echinulae. Solitary in the 
ground; liypogaean. — (hinningham. Central Australia — Macdonald Downs (KiO 
miles north-east of Alice Springs). New' South Wales. May, August. 
The coarse, flat-topped spines of the spores characterise the species. These 
are so well marked as to form a definite halo around the spares when these are 
viewed in median section, resembling in this particular the spores of certain 
species of Geaster. The thin and flaccid nature of the exoperidium is also 
cliaracteristic. — Cunningham. 
