316 
THE EAKGEK FI'XGI 
52(i. G-easter saccatus IT'. (Or., sakkos, a bag). — Plants superficial, ovate, 
pointeil or umbonate, attaclual by a basal mycelial coni, becoming expanded when 
!* to U.in. (2 to ."i cm.) across. Exoperidium saccate, split to about the middle 
into 5 to 9 plialde, thin, expanded or revolute, equal, acute rays; fleshy layer 
l)ro\vn, adnate, fre(iuently rimose; exterior smooth, free from debris; base con- 
cave or plane, sometimes convex, with a prominent umbilical scar. Endoperidiuin 
sessile, up to :)in. ( 1.5 cm.) diameter, globose, glabrous, brown, partially enclosed 
liy the saccate bas(‘ of the exoperidium. Peristome fibrillose, almost plane, 
concolorous or pallid, even, seated on a small depi-essed silky zone. Gleba umber; 
columella indistinct. Spores globose, 2..‘i to .'l.T epispore umber, finely and 
closely verruculose, reticulate. Solitary or in small groups on the grouml ; 
epigaean. — (.'unninghaui. South Australia — Kuitpo. New South Wales. Vic- 
toria. Tasmania. Europe. North and South America. April, ,Tuly, October. 
527. Geaster triplex Jungh. (I,., triplex, three-fold). — Plants superficial, 
ovate, pointed, liecoming expanded when 4 to Sin. (2 to 12 cm.) across, hlxo- 
peridium split to about the middle into 5 to 8 equal, nariowly acuminate rays, 
which are expanded or revolute; fleshy layer umber, rimose, frequently partially 
flaking away, sometimes a small portion ])ersisting as a small collar around the 
base of the endoperidiuin; exterior free from debris, bay-brown or tan coloured, 
glabrous, usually marked with numerous longitudinal striae; base plane, with a. 
prominent umliilical scar. Endoperidiuin sessile, to lin. (0.5 to 2.5 cm.) 
diameter, dejiressed-globose or almost pulvinate, bay-brown or umber, glabrous, 
finely jiitted or smooth, membranous. Peristome fibrillose, mammose, seated on a. 
broad, depressed, silky, pallid zone which is usually outlined by an upraised 
margin. Gleba ferruginous to umlier ; columella elavate or indistinct. Spores 
globose, 4.1 to 4.9 /r; epispore almost black, finely and closelv verrucose, 
reticulate. In grmqis on decaying vegetable debris; epigaean. — Cunningham. 
South Australia — Overland Corner. New South Wales. Victoria. Tasmania. 
Lord Ilowe Island. New Zealand. Europe. America. .Tanuary, May to duly, 
October, I lecember. 
528. Geaster australis Berk. (Aii.<itrnUs, here Australian). — Plants superficial, 
at first ovate and acuminate, becoming expanded when up to 2 tin. (7 cm.) 
across. Exo[)eridium saccate, split to about the middle into (i to 8 broad, equal, 
acuminate rays, which are tardily expanded or with the tips revolute; fleshy 
layer bay-brown or chestnut-brown, adnate, continuous when fresh, becoming 
rimose; exterior free or jiartially free from debris, ochraceous, glabrous; base 
})lano, convex or occasionally umbilicate, marked with a prominent umbilical sear. 
Emhqieridium sessile, u]i to 4,in. (2 cm.) diameter, ochraceous or tan-coloured, 
glabrous, smooth. Peristome fibrillose, mammose, seated on a broad, silkv, 
slightly depressed, concolorous zone, whiidi is occasionally outlined by a slightly 
raised margin. Gleba ferruginous ; columella inevident. Spores globose, 7.4 to 
S..'l /j,-, ejiispore tinted, finely and sparsely verrucoso-echinulate. In small groups 
on the ground ; epigaean. — Cunningham. South Australia — Adelaide, National 
Park, Myponga, Kinchina, Encounter Bay, Murray Bridge, Kangaroo Island. 
New South Wales. Victoria. Tasmania. May, August to October, December. 
529. Geaster arenarius Lloyd. (L., arenarius, pertaining to sand). — This is a 
hygroscopic form of 0. differing only in its shorter piedieel and hygro- 
scopic exoperidium, the rays of which when dry are folded under or or'er the 
endoperidiuin. Spores 4.5 to 5.8 g. — Cunningham. South Australia — (Monarto 
South, Wirrealpa, Ooldea. New South Wales. North America. August, 
September. 
5M0. Geaster fenestriatus (Pers.) Cunn. (L., fenestra, a window). — Plants 
globose, at first submerged, becoming superficial and expanded when 14 to 24in. 
(H to fi cm.) across. Exoperidium split to about the middle into 4 to 5 rays; 
the outer (mycelial) layer remaining as a hollow cup in the substratum, the 
inner fibrous and fleshy layers becoming strongly erect (fornicate), attached at 
the tips to the basal cup, rays firm, tliick, brown; fleshy layer brown, partly 
flaking away from old specimens; base strongly convex. Endoperidiuin pedicel- 
late, up to ii'in. (.') cm.) diameter, depressed-globose, urnulate, with a constricted 
ring-like apophysis above the ])edic,el, ferruginous, finely pubescent. Mouth 
naked, conical or mammiform, tubular, apex fibrillose or lacerate. Gleba ferru- 
ginous; columella long-elliiitieal. Bjiores globose, 4.2 to 4.9 g; epispore umber, 
moderately and finely verrucose, reticulate. Solitary on vegetable debris on the 
ground. — Cunningham. South Australia — Pearson Island (Groat Australian 
Bight), Kinchina, Overland Corner. New South Wales — Malanganee. Western 
Australia — Bunbury. Europe. America, etc. .Tanuary, May, August, December. 
