314 
UK LARGER FUXGI 
521. Geaster Smithii Lloyd. (After Worthington G. Smith, the eminent 
mveologist). — Plants small, at first submerged, becoming sui)erfieial and ex- 
panded when up to 1-lin. (4 cm.) across. Exoperidium split to about the middle 
into iS to h acute, ecpial rays, which are expanded when wet, involute when dry, 
folding in under the endop'eridium ; fleshy layer adnate, ferruginous, continuous, 
farinose; exterior covered with debris held by the adnate mycelial layer; base 
umbilicate. Endoperidium shortly pedicellate, urceolate or pyriform, up to fin. 
(15 mm.) diameter, pallid tan' or chestnut -brown, farinose, smooth, shining, 
papyraceous. Peristome flatteued-conical or acutely conical, seated on a de- 
pressed zone, coneolorous or darker. Gleba ferruginous; columella inevident. 
Spores globose, 3.5 to 4.2 /c; epispore pallid ferruginous, finely and closely 
verruculose. Solitary on the ground. — runningham. South Australia — Overland 
Corner. New South' Wales. Xorth America. July, December. 
522. Geaster Drnmmondii Berk. (After James Drummond, 1787-1863, who in 
1829 accompanied Captain James Stirling to Western Australia as botanist). 
Plants small, globose, at first submerged, becoming superficial and expanded when 
up to 2|in. (3 cm.) across. Exoperidium split to about the middle into 8 to 10 
acute, equal rays, whiidi are expanded when wet, strongly involute when dry, 
fohling over or under the endoperidium; fleshy layer umber, frequently farinose, 
adnate, continuous ; exterior covered with debris lield by the adnate mycelial 
layer, becoming partly smooth; base umbilicate. Endoperidium sessile or occa- 
sionally shortly pedicellate, globose or depressed-globose, up to fin. (10 mm.) 
diameter, ilingy white or loss frequently brown, finely asperate, often becoming 
smooth with a'ge. Peristome conical, acute or flattened, seated on a deiiressed 
zone, which may be wanting, frequently darker in colour. Gleba ferruginous; 
\ Drawing hi/ II. V. 
Figure 69 . — Gemfer DrummondM Berk. (No, 522). 
Monarto South. 
columella inevident. Spores globose or subglobose, frequently apiculate, 4.9 to 
(i.5 /r; epispore ferruginous, finely and sparsely verrucose. In groups on the 
ground. — Cunningham. South Australia — Encounter Bay, Kinchina. Victoria. 
Tasmania. Western Australia— Wagin. June, August. 
523. Geaster minus (Pers.) Cunn. (L., minus, less). — Plants at first globose, 
small, submerged, becoming erumpent and expanded when up to 2:lin. (3 cm.) 
acrosL Exoperidium split to about the middle into 4 to 8 unequal, aefuminate 
ravs which are commonly recurved or expanded, or may become fornicate by the 
mvcelial layer splitting free from the fibrous layer, which together with the fleshy 
la'ver becomes arched (fornicate) but remains attached by the apices of the 
laws to the mvcelial layer, the latter remaining attached to the substratum; 
fleshy layer brown, rimose, frecpiently flaking away in ])atches. Endoi)eridium 
pedicellate -J to lin. (3 to 12 mm.) diameter, obovate, elliptical or depressed- 
globose variable in size and shape, pallid white, tan, or bay-brown, sometimes 
umber ’ glaln-ous, farinose, or coated with closely adnate glistening partude,s, 
givino-'to the whole a glistening appearance; pedicel up to 3 mm. long, frequently 
wifli "’an ar)ical apoi)hysis. Peristome variable, typically conimil and fibnllose 
tind)riate, frequently ' silkv-fibrillose, sometimes almost indefinite and ]dane, 
seated on a definite 'silky area outlined bv a depressed groove, or indefinite when 
the groove is scarcely Apparent or absent. Gleba ferruginous; columella inevi- 
dent. Spores globose, 4.5 to 5.8 epispore fuscous or umber, finely, sparsely 
and irregularly verrucose. Solitary, in groups or caesiiitose on the ground.— 
Cunningham. South Australia IVear Adelaide, Beiii, 
Encounter Bay, Monarto 
South Baupham (S.E.), Port Thncolii, Mount Wedg'e {20 nnles north ot Elliston), 
Mar])le Range (E.P.), Oohlea, Pearson Island (Great Australian Bight), 
