usually cylindrical, but may be clavate or globose. It is often wanting in the mature plant (being used in the production of the threads of the capillitium) but may be readily seen when unexpanded plants are sectioned.

All the New Zealand species, with two exceptions (G. triplex and G. velutinus) are hypogaean, developing underground and appearing on the surface only at dehiscence.

1. Geaster pectinatus (Persoon) Lloyd, Geastreae, p. 15, 1902. (Fig. 27.)

Geastrum pectinatum Pers., Syn. Meth. Fung., p. 132, 1801.

Geaster striatus Fr., p.p., Syst. Myc., vol. 3, p. 13, 1829.

G. Schmidelii Vitt., Mon. Lyc., p. 12, 1842.

Plants at first globose, submerged, becoming superficial and expanded when 3–5 cm. across. Exoperidium split to about the middle into 5–12 subequal, acute rays which are expanded or subrevolute; fleshy layer brown, usually flaking away in irregular patches, leaving exposed the ochraceous, fibrillose layer; exterior covered with debris held by the adnate mycelial layer, which is persistent but tends to flake away; base concave.

Endoperidium pedicellate, subglobose, depressed-globose or urceolate, 1–2 cm. diam., brown or lead coloured, often farinose, base tapering into pedicel, striate or not, apophysis present or absent; pedicel slender, 3–6 mm. long. Peristome sulcate, prominent, narrowly conical, concolorous.

Gleba ferruginous; columella inevident; capillitium threads tinted, fusiform, simple. Spores globose, 5.4–6.2 mmm.; epispore dark umber, moderately and coarsely verrucose, reticulate.

Habitat: Solitary or in groups on vegetable debris on the ground; hypogaean.

Distribution: Britain; Europe; North America; South Africa; Australia; New Zealand.

Dunedin, Otago, Aug., 1921, Miss H. K. Dalrymple!

Otaki Forks, Wellington, May, 1922, E. H. Atkinson!

Two other species, G. plicatus and G. Bryantii (latter not present in New Zealand) closely resemble G. pectinatus save in one or two minor characters. G. plicatus is separated solely by the plicate base of the endoperidium, G. Bryantii by the presence of a well-defined

collar around the base of the endoperidium immediately above the pedicel.

The endoperidium is often quite covered with a farinose substance which may be readily rubbed away. This covering is present also on other species, as for example G. limbatus and G. minus.

2. Geaster plicatus Berkeley, Ann. Nat. Hist., vol. 3, p. 399, 1839. (Fig. 28.)

G. tenuipes Berk. Fl. Tas., vol. 2, p. 264, 1860.

G. biplicatus Berk. et Curt., Proc. Am. Acad. Arts & Sci., vol. 4, p. 124, 1860.

This subspecies is separated from the preceding solely on account of the plicate base of the endoperidium, for in all other respects it is practically the same.

Distribution: India; Bonin Is.; Ceylon; New Caledonia; South Africa; Australia; Tasmania; New Zealand.

Lake Papaetonga, Wellington, Aug., 1919, G.H.C.

Sandhills, Weraroa, Wellington, Nov., 1919 E. H. Atkinson! Both collections determined as above by Lloyd.

3. Geaster minus (Persoon) n. comb. (Fig. 29.)

• Geastrum quadrifidum var. minus Pers., Syn. Meth. Fung., p. 133, 1801.

• G. minimus Schw., Syn. Fung. Carol., no. 327, 1822.

• Geaster fornicatus Fr. p.p., Syst. Myc., vol. 3, p. 12, 1829.

• G. marginatus Vitt., Mon Lyc., p. 19, 1842.

• G. granulosus Fcl. Enumerat., p. 41, 1860.

• G. coronatus (Schaeff.) Schroet., p.p., Krypt. Fl. Schw., vol 3, 1889; Lloyd, Geastreae, p. 31, 1902.

• G. calceus Lloyd, Myc. Notes, p. 311, 1907.

• G. juniperinus McBr., Mycologia, vol. 4, p. 85, 1912.

Plants at first globose, small, submerged, becoming erumpent and expanded when up to 3 cm. across. Exoperidium split to about the middle into 4–8 unequal, acuminate rays, which are commonly recurved or expanded, or may become fornicate by the mycelial layer splitting free from the fibrillose layer, which together with the fleshy layer becomes arched (fornicate) but remains attached by the apices of the rays to the mycelial layer, the latter remaining attached to the substratum; fleshy layer brown, rimose, frequently flaking away in patches.

Endoperidium pedicellate, 3–12 mm. diam., obovate, elliptical or depressed-globose, variable in size and shape, pallid white, tan, or bay brown, sometimes umber, glabrous, farinose or coated with closely adnate particles, giving to the whole a glistening appearance; pedicel up to 3 mm. long, frequently with an apical apophysis. Peristome variable, typically conical and fibrillose-fimbriate, frequently silkyfibrillose, sometimes almost plane and indefinite, seated on a definite silky area outlined by a depressed groove, or both silky area and groove may be wanting.

Gleba ferruginous; columella inevident. Spores globose, 4.5–5.8 mmm.; epispore fuscous or umber, finely, sparsely and irregularly verrucose.

Habitat: Solitary, in groups or caespitose on the ground.

Distribution: Europe; North America; South Africa; Jamaica; Ecuador; Australia; New Zealand.

Sandhills, Weraroa, Wellington, Nov., 1919, S. A. Cunningham!

Dunedin, Otago, May, 1922, Miss H. K. Dalrymple!

Ashburton, Canterbury, Aug., 1925, J. C. Neill; D. W. McKenzie!

This is a most variable species; specimens range in size from minute plants 5 mm. across to forms over 4 cm. across. The exoperidium may be revolute, fornicate (a form not yet collected in New Zealand), subhygroscopic or saccate. The endoperidium may be pedicellate (the usual condition) or almost sessile, and may be smooth, covered with numerous glistening particles, or with a thick white incrustation. The peristome may be plane, conical or obscure, and may be seated on a flattened silky zone outlined by a depressed groove, or this zone may be inevident and the groove wanting. The stoma may be fibrillose-silky, fimbriate-lacerate or almost indefinite. The spores, too, vary in the size and degree of roughness, and two types may be recognised, one averaging 5–5.8 mmm., the other 3.5–4.2 mmm.

Many names have been given these various forms, but it is not practicable to separate one from another owing to the difficulty of defining the limits of each.

The revolute and fornicate forms have been in the past considered as distinct species, the former being known as G. minimus, the latter as G. coronatus, but Coker (1924, p. 206) has shown that the fornicate form is but a condition of the other, for he found all connecting stages growing together.

4. Geaster limbatus Fries, Syst. Myc., vol. 3, p. 15, 1829. (Figs. 30, 31, 32.)

Geastrum coronatus Pers., p.p., Syn. Meth. Fung., p. 132, 1801.

Plants at first globose, submerged, becoming superficial and expanded when 4–8 cm. across. Exoperidium split to about the middle into 7–10 unequal, acute rays, which are expanded and revolute, or sometimes partially involute; fleshy layer brown or ferruginous, continuous or rimose, frequently farinose; exterior covered with debris held by the persistent, adnate mycelial layer, in old specimens partially flaking away; base concave or plane.

Endoperidium pedicellate; depressed-globose, obovate or subpyriform, globose when old, farinose when young, grey to umber, up to 1.5 cm. diam. Peristome depressed, acute, fibrillose, surrounded by a pallid or concolorous fibrillose or silky zone.

Gleba chocolate; columella almost obsolete. Spores globose, 4.9–5.4 mmm.; epispore fuscous, acutely, densely and coarsely warted.

Habitat: On the ground, usually in shade of trees or hedges.

Distribution: Britain; Europe, North America; East Africa; Australia; New Zealand.

Sandhills, Levin, Wellington, Oct., 1919, E. H. Atkinson!

Wadestown, Wellington, Apl., 1923, J. C. Neill!

Ashburton, Canterbury, Aug., 1925, J. C. Neill; D. W. McKenzie!

Kelburn, Wellington, Nov., 1925, G.H.C.

This species is separated from the preceding by the large size, well developed, stout pedicel and definitely fibrillose peristome. It is not uncommon throughout, growing in the shade of hedges or trees. One form has the endoperidium covered with numerous glistening particles, and on this account may be separated from the typical form. But this is of little specific value for this covering may be well developed or absent on different plants in the same collection.

5. Geaster velutinus Morgan, Journ. Cin. Soc. Nat. Hist., vol. 18, p. 38, 1895. (Figs. 33, 34.)

• ? G. javanicus Lev., Ann Sci. Nat. ser. 3. vol. 5, p. 161, 1846.

• ? G. dubius Berk., Jour. Linn. Soc., vol. 14, no. 130, 1875.

• Cycloderma ohiensis Cke., Grev., vol. 11, p. 95, 1883.

• G. Lloydii Bres. et Pat., Myc. Notes, p. 50, 1901.

Plants ovate, bluntly pointed, superficial, attached to the substratum by a central basal cord, becoming expanded when 3–6 cm. or more across. Exoperidium saccate, split to about the middle into 5–8 expanded or revolute, broad, thick, subequal rays which when dry frequently split into two thin fibrous and persistent layers; fleshy layer flesh coloured, umber and rimose when dry; exterior free from debris, covered with close brown felted tomentum; base convex, marked with a prominent umbilical scar.

Endoperidium sessile, globose or depressed-globose, up to 2 cm. diam., brown or pallid tan, minutely furfuraceous or tomentose, lower portion enclosed by the saccate base of the exoperidium. Peristome small, broadly conical, fibrillose, seated on a depressed silky zone which may be wanting, concolorous or pallid.

Gleba umber; columella cylindrical; capillitium threads occasionally branched near their apices. Spores globose, 4–4.5 mmm.; epispore fuscous, finely and sparsely echinulate, reticulate.

Habitat: Crowded or in small groups on vegetable debris, frequently on decaying wood on the forest floor; epigaean.

Distribution: North America; Cuba; Porto Rico; Brazil; Gold Coast Colony; Africa; Australia; New Zealand.

Weraroa, Wellington, Aug., 1919, G.H.C.; May, 1923, J. C. Neill!

Botanical Gardens, Wellington, May, 1922, J. B. Cleland! July, 1925, G.H.C.

This is the most abundant species in New Zealand. It is separated from the following by the nature of the exterior of the exoperidium,

which is covered with a layer of close, felted tomentum; the latter possessing an almost smooth exterior. The epigaean habit is also characteristic of both species.

6. Geaster triplex Junghuhn, Tijdschr., vol. 7, p. 287, 1840. (Figs. 35, 36.)

• G. lageniformis Vitt., Mon. Lyc., p. 16, 1842.

• G. Archeri Berk., Fl. Tas., vol. 2, p. 264, 1860.

• G. Michelianus W. G. Sm., Gard. Chron., p. 608, 1873.

• G. vittatus Kalchbr., Ung. Akad., d.d Wiss., vol. 17, p. 10, 1884.

• G. coriaceus Col., Trans. N.Z Inst., vol. 22, p. 451, 1890.

• G. Englerianus P. Henn., in Engl. Bot. Jahrb., vol. 14, p. 361, 1891.

• G. Morganii Lloyd, Myc. Notes, p. 80, 1901.

• G. violaceus Lloyd, l.c., p. 310, 1907.

Plants superficial, ovate, pointed, becoming expanded, when 2–13 cm. across. Exoperidium split to about the middle into 5.8 equal, narrowly acuminate rays, which are expanded or revolute; fleshy layer umber, rimose, frequently partially flaking away, sometimes a small portion persisting as a small collar around the base of the endoperidium; exterior free from debris, bay brown or tan coloured, glabous, usually marked with several longitudinal striae; base plane, with a prominent umbilical scar.

Endoperidium sessile; depressed-globose or almost pulvinate, bay brown or umber, tomentose, finely pitted or smooth, membranous, 0.5–2.5 cm. diam. Peristome fibrillose, mammose, seated on a broad, depressed, silky, pallid zone which is usually outlined by an upraised margin.

Gleba ferruginous to umber; columella clavate or indistinct. Spores globose, 4.1–4.9 mmm. diam.; epispore almost black, finely and closely verrucose, reticulate.

Habitat: In groups on decaying vegetable debris; epigaean.

Distribution: Britain; Europe; North and South America; Java; Australia; Tasmania; New Zealand.

Weraroa, Wellington, Aug., 1919, G.H.C. (2 coll.: det. by Lloyd as G. Englerianus); May, 1923, J. C. Neill!

Dunedin, Otago, May, 1922, Miss H. K. Dalrymple!

Whakatikei, Wellington, June, 1923, J. C. Neill!

Characterized by the glabrous exterior of the exoperidium, the base of which is marked with a prominent umbilical scar, the prominent peristome and the epigaean habit.

7. Geaster floriformis Vittadini, Mon. Lyc., p. 23, 1842. (Fig. 37.)

G. delicatus Morgan, Am. Nat., vol. 21, p. 1028, 1887.

G. hungaricus Hollos, Gast. Hung., p. 64, 1904.

Plants at first globose, submerged, becoming superficial and expanded when 2–6 cm. across. Exoperidium split to about the middle ito 7–12 subequal, narrow, acute rays which are expanded when wet, strongly involute when dry, then folding completely over (rarely