Abstract

I n April 1900 the specimen in question was received from Miss Una A. Ware, of Dalkey, 17 miles north of Adelaide, in the "Mallee Scrub" of dwarf Eucalyptus. It consisted of a fully-developed Battarea from base to pileus, with a solid, heavy, tuber-like mass attached. The specimen was shown on 1st May, 1900, at a meeting of the Royal Society of South Australia (Trans, xxiv. p. 171). A few days later spores were abundantly shed, and the specimen bedded in sand and covered with a boll-glass, and for nearly a month it continued to develope in height. It was again shown to the R. Society of South Australia on 6th June, when the following dimensions were noted
Peridium whitish when fresh, irregularly hemispherical and smooth, except some slight irregular furrows.
The specimen was handed to Dr. M. Holtze, F.L.S., Director of the Adelaide Botanic Garden, and is there preserved in the Herbarium. No other specimen has been recently found, but it has been suggested that it may belong to Battarea phalloides , Dicks. The other Australian species known are B. Maelleriana , kalchb., from Yorke's Peninsula, and B. Tepperiana , Ludw., from N.W. Victoria.
Total height from base to summit. 235mm.
Pileus, diameter…. 42 mm
Stipes, at summit…. 12 mm
Stipes, 75 mm. below the summit. 20 mm