Art. LIX.—New Zealand Cryptogams : A List of a Few Additional Cryptogamic Plants, of the Orders Hepaticæ and Fungi, more recently detected in New Zealand.

Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Volume 28, 1895, Page 614

Art. LIX.—New Zealand Cryptogams : A List of a Few Additional Cryptogamic Plants, of the Orders Hepaticæ and Fungi, more recently detected in New Zealand. By W. Colenso, F.R.S., F.L.S. (Lond.) &c. [Read before the Hawke's Bay Philosophical Institute, 21st October, 1895.] During the last year (1894) I sent to Kew several parcels of cryptogamic plants that I had collected during preceding years in the bush district of Hawke's Bay; mosses and lichensformed by far the larger portion, with some Sepatice and Fungi. From letters since received from the director there, I find the following species were determined as being new to the botany of New Zealand. The Hepatice (as on former occasions) were submitted to Dr. F. Stephani, of Leipzig, for examination and report:— Hepaticæ Plagiochila olivacea, Steph., sp. nov. Jamesoniella patula, Steph. Frullania kirkii, Steph, sp. nov. Trichocolea tomentella, Sw., alpine form. Metzgeria furcata, var. nuda. Of Hepatice there were 112 distinct packets (many being duplicates, in fruit, &c, of those formerly sent), but of them these five were not received before, and only two of them were species novœ Fungi. Agaricus (Leptoma) lampropus; Fr. A. (Omphalia) pyxidatus, Bull. Flammula xanchophylla, Cooke and Mass. Polystictus pinsitus, Fr. P. citreus, Berk. P. occidentalis, Kl. Favolus hepaticus, Kl. Irpex flavus, Jungh. I. sinuosus, Fr. Cortieeum lacteum, Fr. Clavaria juncea, Fr. Bovista amethystina, C. and M. Æcidium epilobii, DC. Peniophora gigantea, Mass. Tremella mesenterica, Fr. Hydnangium brisbanense, B. et Br. Stemonitis fusca, Roth.

Rhizopus nigriopus, Ehr. Mucor mucedo, L. With several others (Fungi) that were duplicates of species; formerly sent, together with some that were immature, imperfect, mycelium only, and not determinable. One species in particular of this named lot deserves a passing special mention-viz., Hydnangium brisbanse-as this curious species I found here at Napier in my house-paddock, growing pretty plentifully on the ground under the shade of some large blue-gun trees (Euicalyptus, globulus), where I had never noticed it before. It is as its specific name denotes, an Australian species. Other Australian species (e.g., Polystictus citreus, Irpex flavus, Stemonitis fusca, &c.) were also among the little lot sent, obtained by me from the distant forests; but this one is a species of a more especial and small Australian genus, two other species of this genus, being also known-H. tasmanicum, Kalch, and H. australiense, Berk, (this last, however, was subsequently removed by Berkeley himself into an allied. Australian genus, Octaviana). This is also the second time that I have found peculiar Australian species of Fungi here at Napier on the bare ground under blue-gum trees. Of course, I do not mean to imply there is any connection, anything regular, natural, or occult in the circumstances (“There is a river in Macedon; and there is also a river at Monmouth; but 'tis all one : and there is salmons in both,” as Shakespeare has it); but it. almost seems-like a peculiar concatenation of secret natural phenomena-which, though at present merely noticed, will probably hereafter become elucidated.