core Between the core and the inner peridium is the gleba of a light 
greenish color. This consists of coarse, shreddy capillitium arranged 
in a parallel manner* proceeding from the core to the inner peridium. 
The spores abundant in the gleba are elliptical-fusiform, light greenish 
color, almost hyaline under the microscope. Only to phalloid spores 
can they be compared in shape and color. The outer peridium is thick, 
rough, with adhering sand, and formed of coarse fibrous tissue. 
M ESOPHEEEIA ARENARIA (Plate 39, fig. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5) — 
The description of which is covered in the above generic notes was first 
collected in Tasmania by Archer and well described and figured by 
Berkeley (Trans. Einn. 22-131). It was afterwards more abundantly 
collected by T. Muir “Near the entrance of the garden river West 
Australia” and sent to Berkeley by Muellerf in 1885. The spores are 
elliptical-fusiform, smooth, 4 x 12 mic. 
“Diploderma glaucum” collected Scamander River by Wintle, I think is 
Mesophellia arenaria. 
MESOPHELLIA INGR ATISSIMA—This plant is described as “strong- 
scented” and as having spores 10-12 mic. in diameter. I did not find the type speci¬ 
men at Kew. 
MESOPHELLIA SABULOSA.j—Appears to me very close to M. arenaria 
but differs in the nature of the exoperidium which instead of being formed of 
coarse fibrous tissue takes more the nature of an agglutinate sand case. The spores 
are also described as larger (7 x 14 mic.) 
MESOPHELLIA PACHYTHRIX.g—Differs from M. arenaria in several 
respects. The capillitium is of a different color and much coarser, being compared in 
color and texture to the fibers of outer shell of a cocoanut. The spores are thicker 
being 5 x 11 mic. and are minutely warted. 
THE GENUS MITREMYCES. 
Exoperidium subgelatinous,|| in the Australian species falling off 
like a cap. Endoperidium opening by longitudinal slits along the 
edges of raised, rayed teeth. Spores ochraceous, oblong-elliptical in the 
only known Australian species. Capillitium none. The spores are 
*In the little fragment of gleba that I brought home with me and from which our micro¬ 
photograph (Plate 39, fig. 4) was made, it was impossible to preserve the parallel arrangement of 
the capillitium. However, in the specimen it is quite evident to the naked eye. 
j-Mueller was impressed with the novelty of this plant and wrote Berkeley a long letter re¬ 
questing that it be called “Potoromyces loculatus Mueller.” As Berkeley had already described 
il as Mesophellia arenaria he probably so informed Mueller. Twenty years latter Dr. Hollos, 
a Hungarian botanist found in the museum at Wien a specimen that Mueller had sent under his 
name. Dr. Hollos, innocent of any knowledge of Berkeley’s work with the plant, at once pub¬ 
lished a description of the wonderful ‘‘new genus” Potoromyces (Ncev Koez, 1902-155). 
iDiploderma sabulosum (Grev. 21-38), 
\Diploderma pachythrix (Grev. 18-50;. 
Note —There is a specimen from Melbourne in Broome’s herbarium, British Museum, 
labeled ‘‘Mesophellia arenaria” which is not this species and is probably not the genus. The 
gleba and spores are similar (the spores much shorter and smaller) but there is with the frag¬ 
mentary specimen no “core” nor exoperidium. It is elongated in shape and I think was probably 
not subterranean. 
|An American species (M. cinnabarinus) is noted for the thick gelatinous exoperidium, re¬ 
sembling to some extent the volva of the phalloids. It breaks up in pieces and falls away. The 
Australian species differs from all other known species in having the exoperidium fall away in a 
single piece like a cap. From the dried specimen I judge it is not so gelatinous as other species. 
40 
