Hypocreacese 



H. purpu'reus Pk. purpurciis, purple. Subiculum effused, purple, Hypomyces. 

 permeating, transforming and discoloring the matrix; perithecia minute, 

 sunk in the subiculum, the ostiola emergent, black; asci cylindrical; 

 spores fusiform, uniseptate, purple, with a cusp-like point at each end, 

 35 40^ long, /-S^ broad, oozing out and forming beautiful purple 

 masses or patches on the surface of the matrix. 



Pennsylvania. August. Charles Mcllvaine. 



The species is similar in all respects to H. lactifluorum, except in 

 color. It is apparently parasitic on some species of Lactarius, but the 

 host plant is so transformed and discolored that the species is not 

 recognizable. Peck, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club, Vol. 25, No. 6. 



H. purpureus Pk. was sent by the writer to Professor Peck in Au- 

 gust, 1897, who wrote: "This is a beautiful thing and as I find noth- 

 ing like it described, I have given it a name." 



Of itself H. purpureus is a minute parasitic fungus as above described. 

 But it possesses the power of so altering the structure changing form, 

 shape and appearance of the fungus upon which it has taken its abode 

 that the host-plant, be it Cantharellus cibarius, Craterellus cantharellus 

 or one of the Lactari, or whatever the species, becomes difficult to rec- 

 ognize, so that it is not yet certain upon which species it is parasitic. 

 It may be upon many. 



The present plant seems to be parasitic upon one of the Lactarii. It 

 therefore becomes necessary to describe the host as it appears when 

 possessed by the parasite. The plant is variable in shape from an ir- 

 regular nodule to a distorted-capped, short-stemmed mass, 2-4 in. 

 across, 13 in. high, hard, brittle, coarse in appearance and rough to 

 the touch; deep orange, wholly or in part stained with a beautiful pur- 

 ple. The purple juice exudes and dyes everything with which it comes 

 in contact. The growth is very heavy for its size. 



To all appearances it is the same host as is attacked by Hypomyces 

 lactifluorum, resembling it in every particular excepting in the purple 

 stain and juice. 



It is frequent in open oak and chestnut woods, but prefers oak. It 

 grows from among leaves or from grassy spots. August to October. 



While it is beautiful in its coloring it is not inviting in appearance as 

 an edible. Yet sliced, cut small and stewed for twenty minutes it is one 

 of the very best fungi I have eaten. 







563 



