OF HOT’TH AUSTRALIA. 
309 
509. Disciseda verrucosa Cumi. (L., verrucosus, wartv). — Peridium up to I'iii. 
13 cm.) dianu-tcr, dopressod-globose ; oxopeiidium brown, tough, of hypliae and 
\egetable debris iinniixed, flaking away irregularly save a small persistent basal 
portion; endoperidium thick, tough, membranous, bay-brown or tinged with 
purple, dehiscing by an irregularly torn, toothed apical stoma. Gleba purplish, 
])ulverulent ; capillitium threads tinted, of the usual type. Spores globose, (3 to 
iS fj. (including verrucae), stumps only of the pedicels persisting; epispore chest- 
nut-brown, covered with coarse hyaline verrucae, ioft(>n in the form of tinger- 
like processes. Solitary or in small groups on the ground. — Cunningham. South 
Australia — Beaumont, Grange, Kinchina, Flinder’s Range near Port Augusta, 
Wilgena, Barton, Oohlea. Xew South Wales. New Zealand. May, dune, 
August, Xiovend)er. 
The species is characterised by the nature of the spores, these being covered 
witli coarse, hyaline, flnger-like processes. — Cunningham. 
MYCENASTRUM Desvaux. 
(6r., mykes, a fungus; ustron, a star.) 
Peridiujn globose, obovate or pyriform, of two layers; a thin flocciose exo- 
peridium and a thick, indurate, persi.stent endO])eridium; dehiscing in a stellate 
manner, or by the irregular rupture of the apical portion; sterile base absent. 
Gleba olivaceous, becoming umber, pulverulent; capillitium threads very abundant, 
of numerous short hyphae, continuous, short-branched or simple, branches beset 
with stout, spinous processes. Spores globose or elliptical, eioloured, coarseh' 
echinulate. Solitary, in small groups or caespitose on the ground; epigaean. 
— Cunningham. 
510. Mycenastrum corium (Guersent) Desvaux. (L., corium, the skin, hide). — 
Peridium globose, subglobose, obovate or pyriform, up to <Sin. (20 cm.) diameter; 
exoperidium tomentose, fugacious, greyish; endoperidium thick, 2 to 5 mm., 
smooth, polislicd, at first greyish, becoming bay-brown, dehiscing in a stellate 
mannei', or by the irregular falling away of the apical piortion. Gleba olivaceous, 
becoming umber, pulverulent; capillitium threads of the usual type. Spores 
globose or shortly elliptical, 11 to 13 y, apedicellate, epispore chestnut-brown, 
densely echinulate, reticulate, wall 2 y thick. Solitary, in groups or caespitose 
on the ground. — Cunningliani. South Australia — Adelaide and Encountei- Bay 
districts, Morphett Vale, Berri, V'il])ena I’ound. Central Australia — Xear Alice 
Springs. Queensland. Xew South Wales — Bibbenluke, Milson Island (llawkes- 
bury River), etc. Western Australia. Xew Zealand. Probably world-wide. 
February, May, .Tune, August, October. 
MESOPIIEI.LIEAE. 
Peridium 3-layered, indehiscent lor ruptuiing irregularly at the apex; 
capillitium copious. Spores globose or elliptical, usually with a gelatinous exo- 
spore; basidia sterigmate, apparenrly 2-spored. — ^Cunningham. 
ABSTOMA G. IT. Cunningham. 
(Ah., privative; Gr., stoma, a mouth.) 
Peridium subglobose, of two layers; a thick fragile exoperidium composed 
of hyphae immixed with sand particles, breaking away irregularly; and a papy- 
raceous or membranous, coloured endoperidium which dehisces by irregular 
3'upture, a stoma being absent. Gleba of spores and dapillitium, compact or 
pulverulent at maturity; capillitium threads short, occasionally bi’anched, 
smooth, continuous, coloured. Spores apedicellate, globose, reticulate, coloured. 
Solitary or in small groups in the grouml; hypogaean. — Cunningham. 
The genus has not yet been recorded for South Australia. Of the two known 
species, A. pii.rpiireum (Lloyd) Cunn. occurs in Xew Zealand and A. reiiculatum 
Cunn. was found at Forl)es, Xew South Wales. 
