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Contributions to a better Knowledge of the Pyrenomycetes 



A Study of Miscellaneous Species. 



By David Grife'ITHS 



(With Pi.atks 365, 366) 



The following paper results froni a study of a portion of my 

 recent collections in this interesting group of fungi, and consists 

 mainly of species from the Northwest, where the greater part of 

 my collecting has been done. Of the species discussed TrcDiato- 

 spJiacra caryophaga alone was collected east of South Dakota. 

 The other species were cither collected in South Dakota, Wyo- 

 ming, or Alontana, or cultivated upon herbage which was obtained 

 from these states. 



During my investigations several species hav^e been cultivated 

 which are not recorded here, because of their extreme peculiarity 

 and consequent necessity of obtaining more information regarding 

 them. Some very peculiar modifications have been found in spe- 

 cies of the genus Pleospora, developed under artificial conditions. 

 In one instance a small quantity of an evident species of this 

 genus developed perfectly superficial perithecia having radiating 

 septate appendages, the whole ha\'ing much the appearance ex- 

 ternally of a perithecium of Erysibc. I find that some species 

 of this genus develop very satisfactorily at times after being dried 

 for several months. One immature species collected on dead 

 culms of Poa Nevadensis in the Bicf Horn Mountains in August, 

 1898, grew nicely on being placed in a moist chamber for a few 

 weeks in March and April, 1899. If some method of inducing 

 more of the Pyrcnoniycctcs to become mature could be devised 

 it would be a boon to the collector, for, if the experience of 

 others in the least resembles mine they find about one half of their 

 collections in this group either sterile or immature. 



The species of Sordaria recorded here are of special interest for 

 several reasons. So far as I am aware, four of them ha\'c not been 

 recorded before for this country. If once found they can be culti- 

 vated very easily and made use of by the teacher in dcmonstra- 



(4:?2) 



