318 
THE LARGER FUNGI 
SCLERODEEMATACEAE. 
Pei-idium of one or two layers, dehiscing Ly irregular apical Assuring of the 
ajx'x, sessile or with a pseudo-stein. Gleba pulverulent in Scleroderma, seini- 
conipact in Pisoliihns through induration of the tranial plates. Basidia hearing 
from 1 to 8 spores sessilely or on short sterigmata. Spores globose, echinulate 
or I'eticulate. — Cimniughain. 
SCLERODERMA Persoon. 
(Gr., scleros, liard ; derma, the skin.) 
Plants solitary or in groups, suhglobose, pyriform or sub-turbinate. Peridium 
Ann, consisting of a single layer, externally frequently broken into areolae, 
lerrucae or scales; contracted basally into a short rooting base nr pseudo-stem 
of compacted mycelial strands, Armly attached to the substratum by (usually) an 
abundant development of mycelial strands. Gleba formed of "tramal plates 
enclosing cavities in which are produced the spores, becoming pulverulent at 
maturity. Spores globose, coloured, continuous, reticulate or verrucose. — ■ 
Cunningham. 
KEY TO THE SPECIEfS. 
Spores strongly reticulate Scleroderma Bovista. 
Spores echinulate or verrucose. 
Spores (i to 10 fi, commonly (i to 8 /x, Anely and 
densely verrueulose 534. S. australe. 
Spores 10 to sharply echinulate; peridium 
covered with Ane, darker coloured, deciduous 
warts 535. S. verruoosum. 
Spores usually 11 to 14 /x, or larger, coarsely 
echinulate or verrucose. 
Peridium thin, leathery and attached by 
numerous mycelial strands 530. S. flavidum. 
Peridium thick, hard and woody, usually 
attached by a Arm mycelial taproot . . . . 537. S. radicans. 
Seleroderma Bovisia Fr. has been recorded from New Zealand but not .vet 
from Australia. 
534. Scleroderma australe Mass. (Australis, here Australian). — Plants solitary 
or crowded, llin. or more (4 cm.) diameter, commonly much less, subglobose, 
pyriform or sub-turbinate. Arm, basally p)li,cate and attached by a short rooting 
base, or not infrequently sessile and attached b.y seyeral scattered basal mycelial 
cords. Peridium when dry tough, tardily rupturing by irregular crevices, lobes 
in old and weathered plants becoming somewhat recurved and stellate ; externally 
bright leniion -yellow, often bay-brown, areolate a])icall.y, and sometimes' with 
smooth Aattened scales of a deeper colour, or ahmost smooth ; in section thin, 
0.5 mm., yellowish. Gleba at Arst violaceous, becoming umber-brown; tramal 
plates seen usually lonl.y in young plants, yellowish. Spores globose, 6 to 10 fx 
(commonlv (i to 8.5 /x) , Anely verrucose; spines acute at apices, broad at bases 
and only 0.5 /x long. — Cunningham. South Australia — Mount Lofty. Queens- 
land. New South Wales. Victoria. March, April, June, July, December. 
'This usually small species is characterised b.y the small siJoros., with their 
Ane yerrueae, yellowish colour, usually strongly areolate surface of the peridium 
and frequent attachment to the substratum by several stout cord-like rhizoids. 
SuperAciall.v, plants resemble S. fleividmn in the yellowish colour, areolate upper 
portion of the peridum, and stellate dehiscence as shown by old and weathered 
plants; but differ in the much smaller, Anely verrucose spores and the frerpient 
darker colour of the surface areolae. — Cunningham. 
535. Scleroderma verrucosum (Vaill.) Pers. (L., verrucosiis, wuirty). — Plants 
solitary, small, to Ifin. (4 cm.) diameter, fragile, depressed globose, not TJlicato 
below, contracting into a short stem-like roioting base which is attached to the 
substratum b,y mycelial strands. Peridium when dry fragile, lax, dehiscing 
l)y a, small torn mouth, whiph later becomes torn and distorted, externally 
ochraceous or uml)er, sometimes with a purplish, east, t.vpically covered with 
small, deciduous, raised, umber warts, more numerous and larger apically, absent 
near the base, which is smooth and lighter in colour; in section 0.2 to 0.5 mm. 
