Distribution.-Beech Forest, York Bay, Wellington, N.Z. (E. H. Atkinson, 30 m., 5/10/10. Type, May, Aug., 1922; E. J. Butler, G.H.C., 29/7/23), Dun Mt., Nelson (J. C. Neill, 30/5/23). Collections in the herbarium of the writer. Nos. 873, 923, 1208.

Peridium violet, depressed-globose, base truncate, deeply excavated, up to 7 cm. high, and 7 cm. broad, smooth, glabrous, polished, viscid; drying pallid-brown, becoming rugulose. Stipe pallid-violet, tinted yellow at the base, stout, 3-9 cm. long, 10-20 mm. wide at the base, tapering to the apex, fibrillose, minutely striate, hollow; columella slightly expanded at the apex. Gleba pallid ferruginous, labyrinthiform or cellular, cells 1-2 mm. long, numerous, dissepiments thick. Spores coarsely verruculose, chestnut-brown, ovate, one end rounded, the other pointed, 12-17 x 8-11 µ, epispore thin.

Habitat. Solitary on the ground in beech forest. (Nothofagus sp.).

Peridio violaceo, depresso-globoso, 7 cm. alto, 7 cm. lato, leve, glabro. Stipite pallido-violaceo, 3-9 cm. longo, 10-20 mm. crasso, fibrilllloso, striato, excavato. Gleba pallido-brunnea, cellulosa vel labyrinthiforma. Sporis grosse verruculosis, castaneo-brunneis, ovatis, 12-17 x 8-11 µ.

This species is characterised by the large size and violet colour of the peridium. It is not uncommon in a certain beech forest near Wellington, appearing there during the winter months, usually after heavy rain. At first it is buried in the ground, often in clayey soil, but as it approaches maturity it appears on the surface. When submerged it is a pallid white, but as soon as it is exposed to the light it changes colour; that this change is effected by light is obvious when a specimen that has partially emerged is examined, for it is then seen that the portion above the ground is violet, but that the remainder is white. The peridium is deleidedly viscid when fresh.
In its younger stages the plant is readily confused with Gallacea scleroderma (Cke.) Lloyd, as in colour and hypogeal habit it resembles this species; but when the peridium is sectioned the plants may be readily separated.

Solitary ad terram in silvis. York Bay, Wellington, N.Z. 30 m., E. H. Atkinson.