352 Durand : Studies in North American Discomycetes 



Professor Burt presented the paper mentioned in the first para- 

 graph. His conclusions may be summarized as follows : " Speci- 

 mens of the Dacryopsis collected in August, October, November 

 and December show only the conidial condition, and no true 

 basidia and basidiospores. Until the presence of basidia is demon- 

 strated, Graphiiim giganteum (Pk.) Sacc. should be regarded as 

 a conidial rather than a basidiomycetous stage of the ascomycete 

 Lccanidion leptospcrmum (Pk.) Sacc." My own results only con- 

 firm those of Professor Burt. I have examined many specimens 

 of the Graphiiim from several localities, and of various ages, and 

 have made careful paraffin sections, but as yet I have found no 

 structure which might be interpreted as a basidium. 



In the autumn of 1900, specimens of the Holwaya were 

 found growing on a rotten basswood log in woods not far from 

 Ithaca. A few days later others were found on oak in the 

 same woods. The Graphiiim was present in both cases. Inas- 

 much as it seemed desirable to determine definitely, if possible, 

 the relation between the two forms, cultures were made from the 

 specimens on oak in the following manner : Agar was prepared 

 using a decoction of dead oak bark as a nutrient base. A bit of 

 the hymenium was then taken up with a sterilized scalpel, and 

 crushed in boiled water on a flamed slide. Dilution cultures were 

 made on acidified medium in the usual manner. The same was 

 done with the conidia. Ascospores were present in considerable 

 numbers, and could easily be recognized in the agar, with the aid 

 of the microscope. The cultures were examined at intervals for 

 two or three days, but no signs of germination appearing, they 

 were, unfortunately, neglected for a day or two. When next they 

 were examined, numerous small colonies were present in the 

 cultures of the ascospores. Examination with the microscope 

 showed that the spore could still be made out in the center of 

 many of the colonies, with threads actually attached to it, al- 

 though some of the colonies were so far advanced that the spore 

 was obliterated. There could be no doubt, therefore, that the 

 colonies came from the ascospores. The cultures were allowed 

 to stand a week, when it was found that plate number two of the 

 set contained a pure culture, except for a single colony of Peni- 

 cillium. Some of the colonies were then carefully transferred to 



