Mocharas and the Genus Haematomyces, 
BY 
T. PETCH, 
Government Botanist and Mycologist , Ceylon . 
7 
With two Figures in the Text, 
HE genus Haematomyces was established by Berkeley and Broome in 
1873 (Jour. Linn. Soc., xiv, p. 108) on a specimen sent from Ceylon 
by Thwaites The generic description runs as follows : 
‘ Haematomyces . Tremelloides , sinuato-lobatus , gyrosus , subcerebrinus , 
immarginatus ; asci vesicular es ; sporidia elliptical 
The type species was named Haematomyces spadiceus , B. and Br. No 
formal description of the species was given, but it was said to look exactly 
like a Tremella , and to have spores, 6-25 \x long, which bore a small propor- 
tion to the wide, obovate, vesicular asci. Berkeley and Broome added the 
note, ‘ There can be no doubt that the genus is good ; but it is to be hoped 
that a further supply of specimens will be procured. The asci are quite 
unlike anything in Bulgaria, to which we were at first inclined to refer it. 
Black when dry.’ 
The genus was duly included in Saccardo, ‘ Sylloge Fungorum,’ in the 
Bulgarieae. Another species had by that time been described by Peck, viz.: 
Haematomyces orbicularis , Peck, Sessilis , pulvinatus , orbicularis , sub - 
tremellosus , gyroso-convohttus , nigricanti-brunneus , particulis minutis rujis 
punctatus ; ascis anguste clavatis , apice subacutis ; sporidiis oblongo-fusoideis, 
continuis , 15-18 x 3-4 y ; paraphysibus numerosis, filiformibus. 
The generic character on which Berkeley and Broome laid so much 
stress, viz. the obovate, vesicular asci, was apparently considered of minor 
importance. 
Subsequently Peck added a third species : 
Haematomyces fagineus , Peck, Tremelloides , cerebriformis , 2-2-5 cm - 
diam., gyroso-lobata, glabra , nit e ns, extus intusque rubra {raisin colour); 
ascis subcylindraceis , 8 -sporis, 60x7*5 I 1 5 paraphysibus gradlibus, supra 
lenissime incrassatis ; sporidiis plerumque monos tic his, anguste ellipsoideis , 
7*5 x 3 * 5~5 \ x ' tr uncos Fagi ferrugineae. Habitus Tremellae . 
[Annals of Botany, Vol. XXXIII. No. CXXXII. October, 1919.] 
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