399 



the epidermis which is raised into pustules blackened and pierced by 

 the globose-papilliform, perforated ostiolnm. Asci clavate-lanceolate, 

 substipitate, 75-90 x 7 , paraphysate. Sporidia fasciculate, filiform, 

 multinucleate, curved when free, yellowish. 50-00 x 2 t u. 

 On dead stems of Solidago, Louisiana (Langlois). 



Whether this is really the Sphceria Solidaginis, Fr., we can not 

 say. but it agrees fairly well with the imperfect diagnosis in Elench. 

 I.e. There was not, however, any "white disk" observed, but this. 

 it is said, becomes brown ("demum fuscescens"). 



Sphceria (Dothided) Solidaginis, Schw., as shown by specc. in 

 Herb. Schw., is a foliicolous species and quite distinct from this. 



FAMILY. MASSARIEJ1. 



Stroma wanting. Perithecia mostly permanently covered by the 

 epidermis. very seldom erumpent. typically with only the small, papil- 

 liform ostiolum piercing the epidermis; texture firm-coriaceous. Asci 

 paraphysate. Sporidia hyaline or brown, 1- or more-septate. 



MASSARIA, De Not. 



Giorn. Bot. Ital. I. p. 333. 



Perithecia immersed, coriaceous, sphseroid, with erumpent. papil- 

 late ostiolum. Asci ample, mostly 8-spored. Sporidia subbiseriate, 

 oblong, 1-pluriseptate, hyaline or brown, mostly large, and surrounded 

 by a gelatinous envelope. 



Many of the species, especially those with 3-septate sporidia, are 

 with difficulty distinguished from each other, and it is not improbable 

 that a more careful and thorough examination will reduce some of 

 these to mere varieties. 



M. Argus, (B. & Br.) 



Sphceria Argus, B. & Br. Not. of Brit. Fungi, No. 626. 

 Massaria Argus, Fres. Beitr. p. 59. 

 Massaria Niessleana, Rehm Asc. 645. 

 Exsicc. Fckl. F. Rh. 802. Rab. F. B. 259, 3057. 



Perithecia gregarious, permanently covered by the scarcely 

 raised epidermis, subdepressed-spherical, finally umbilieate, tolerably 

 hard, black, 600-800 /JL cliarn., with a small, conical ostiolum, piercing 

 the epidermis in a punctiforni manner. Asci cylindric-clavate, short- 

 stipitate, 8-spored, 200-220 x 38-44 p. Sporidia obscurely biseriate, 

 cylindrical or oblong-clavate, ends rounded, subattenuated below, un- 

 equally divided, the upper thicker half mostly 4- (sometimes 3-)celled. 



