OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA. 
339 
ASCOMYCETES. 
In tlie Aseomycetes, tlie typical sjiorea are contained in little sacs or asci, ia 
the majority of cases each aseus containing eiglit spores. In some species 
secondary fornss of reproduction occur in tlie shape of conidia. Many of the 
species are relatively small and a number are jiarasitic and play an important part 
in vegetable pathology. Only a few of the larger species with fruiting bodies 
more or less resembling some of the Basidiomycetes come within the scope of 
this Tlandbook. Even these are treated more or less incidentally and a con- 
siderable number of forms coming under Pesisa and related genera in the 
Discomycetes, which have been collected ami might quite well have lieen included, 
must await identification at the hands of some one interested in this group. 
In the Tuberaeeae, the asc.ojihore is irregularly glotiose, usually large, indehiscont 
and usually subterranean. Xo species have been recognised in South xVustralia. 
Cooke in his ' ‘ Handbook of Australian Fungi ’ ’ records only two genera each 
with one species for Australia, “ Mylitta australis” being the sclerotium of 
Polyporus myUttae. 
In the Discomycetes the aseophore is more or less fleshy, often large and bright 
coloured and the hymenium is fully exposed at maturity. As the beech is not 
indigenous in South Australia, the famous Cyttaria Gunnii, parasitic on these 
trees in Tasmania, is not found here. Two species of the edible morels 
{Mo.rchelJa) have been found but are rare; they are said to be delicious. These 
are large plants with ovate or conical caps bearing longitudinal and transverse 
ribs on the outside and widely hollow within; the colour is a dingy yellow to 
brown and the stems are stout, pallid and also widely hollow. Lcotia Uibrioa is 
a quaint-looking fungus, with a greenish-yellow somewhat knobby and sub- 
gelatinous cap, which has been found once at Mount Lofty. One species at least 
of Geoglossum occurs in this State ; the plants are small blackish elongated often 
compressed and rugose clubs, with a more or less defined stem, and their name of 
“Earth Tongpie” is an appropriate one. In the Pcz.izae, the fiuiting body' is 
usually' cup-shaped or disc-shaped and fleshy; species often occur on the ground 
and sometimes on manure and several of our species are brightly' coloured led or 
orange. Mio work on these forms has been done in South Australia. 
In the Pyrenomycetes, the fruiting body is often conspicuous and frequently 
carbonaceous. Ho species of the r'emarkable genus Gordyceps gi'owing from 
the buried bodies of insect larvae or pupae, seems to have been recorded for 
South Australia. Porortia grows on horse-dung as little pallid discs dotted with 
black ostiola and with a stem-like base, often quite short. Daldinia conoentrica, 
a blackish sphaeroid or hemis])heiical, carbonaceous mass _ growing on fallen 
wood, shows concentric markings on being broken open and is soon covered with 
a soot-like mass of extruded spores. Xylaria forms erect carbonaceous clavate 
structures; one or two species occur but have not been identified. Nummularia 
probably occurs and is sinularly' carbonaceous, blackish and orbicular oi coin- 
shaped. 
DISCOMYCETEAE. 
“Fleshy, waxy or coriaceous fungi, with a variously shaped receiitacle; 
hyunenium ascigerous, from the first, or soon open. ’ ’ Cooke. 
MORCHELLA Dill. 
(From the Italian morella.) 
“Stipitate or subsessile. Pileus globose or ovate, adnate thi-oughout its 
length to the sides of the stem, remaining closed lat the apex, hollow' and 
continuous with the cavity of the stem; externally furnished W'ith stout, 
branched and anastomosing ribs or plates, evei’v part bearing the hy'menium. 
Stem stout, stuffed or hollow. Asci cylindrical, 2-I-8-spored ; spores I-seriate, 
continuous, hy'aline, elliptical; paraphyses septate, clavate. Grow'ing on the 
ground in the spring.” — Massee. 
This genus comprises the edible morels w'hich, thiough livid in colour', are 
said to be excellent eating and are sold regularly in the markets in Italy. 
There is difificultv in identifying our species. M. semilibera DC., recorded by 
Cooke (No. 135(i) for Victoria ami New South IVales, has the capitulum free 
below' the middle, the other species having it adnate to the stem. M. crassipes 
