Excipula.] 
VIII. FUNGI. 
631 
obtuse. Sporidia hyaline, obovate, oblong, obtuse, with about 4 transverse 
septa. 
northern Island : on the under surface of the leaves of Pittosporum crassi/olium, 
Colenso. 
2. E. gregaria, Berk, in FI. N. Z. ii. 202. Minute, crowded on a 
brownish spot. Cups black without, pale within. Asci broad, clavate. 
Sporidia obovate-oblong, obscurely 2-partite internally. 
Northern Island : upper surface of Gnaphalium leaves, Colenso. 
67. CORDICEPS, Fries. 
Erect, columnar, rather rigid, fleshy or corky Fungi, growing often on 
animal matter, as dead caterpillars. Perithecia crowded round the axis or its 
branches, which form the fruit-bearing head or heads, hyaline or coloured. 
Sporidia submoniliform, repeatedly divided. 
A very curious genus, found in both tropical and temperate climates. The ergots of Rye 
and other grasses are an imperfect state of species of Cordiceps. 
1. C. Robertsii, Berk, in FI. N. Z. ii. 202. Slender, 2-6 in. high. 
Stem rigid, cylindric. Eeceptacle very little broader than the stipes, 1-2 
in. long, cylindric, often flexuous. — Sphceria B.obertsii, Hook. Ic. PL t. 11. 
S. Hugelii, Corda. 
Northern and Middle Islands : on the caterpillar of Hepialus virescens, Roberts, etc. 
Caterpillar Fungus.) 
2. C. Sinclairii, Berk, in FI. N. Z. ii. 338. Yellowish, f-1 in. high. 
Stem cylindric, simple or forked, divided into many simple or lobed heads, 
clothed with oblong conidia. 
Northern Island : on the larva of an orthopterous insect, Archdeacon Williams. — The 
perithecia are absent, and hence the species is not well established. Mr. Travers sends a 
similar plant growing from a coleopterous larva, likewise destitute of perithecia. 
68. HYPOCEEA, Fries. 
Fleshy or gelatinous horizontal Fungi, growing on wood, etc. Perithecia 
tender, hyaline or coloured. Sporidia indefinite. 
A tropical and temperate genus. 
1. H. gelatinosa, Fries ; — Berk, in FI. N. Z. ii. 202. Convex, equal, 
opaque, variable in colour without, dirty white within. Perithecia promi- 
nent, darker than the stroma. 
Northern Island : on wood, Colenso. (Europe.) 
69. XYLARIA, Fries. 
Club-shaped, somewhat corky, often friable Fungi, usually distinctly stipi- 
tate, covered with a rufous or black bark. Perithecia crowded on the surface 
of the receptacle. Sporidia 8. 
A very large, especially tropical genus, growing on vegetable substances, or dung. 
