HYPOCRELLA AND ASCHERSONIA. 173 



described and figured by Montagne. And, further, no case is 

 known in which the ascigerous stage is produced, following the 

 pycnidial stage, on dead fallen leaves. 



The first definite proof of Massee's theory was provided by 

 Moller, who found both stages in the same stroma in the case 

 of Hypocrella cavernosa. He also observed the occurrence of 

 a p3'cnidial fungus, whose stromata were similar to those of 

 Hypocrella phyllogena, and described it as the pycnidial stage 

 of the latter, stating that such pycnidial fungi had been called 

 Aschersonia. He was not able to find the pycnidia and 

 perithecia in the same stroma of the latter species, but he 

 records that Lindau had done so in specimens sent by him. 

 In criticisiirg the generic description of Hypocrella, Moller 

 expressed the opinion that it required amendment by the 

 inclusion of the pycnidial stage. 



Zimmermann described both stages in Hypocrella Raci- 

 horskii, and Thaxter has found both in Hypocrella turhinata. 

 In the examination of the material described in the present 

 paper, I have found both stages in the same stroma in Hypo- 

 crella discoidea, H. Reineckiana, H. olivacea, H. Mollii, H. 

 Sloafiese, H. ceramichroa, H. palmse, H. viridans, H. palmicola, 

 H. epiphylla, and H. Andropogonis. 



In the absence of any evidence from pure cultures, the 

 discovery of both stages in the same stroma constitutes 

 perhaps the only valid proof. But once the connection of 

 Aschersonia with Hypocrella has been established, it may be 

 legitimate to consider as stages of the same species an Ascher- 

 sonia and a Hypocrella which occur together and possess 

 identical stromata. The type specimen of Aschersonia duplex, 

 for instance, includes exactly similar stromata which contain 

 perithecia, and there can scarcely be any doubt that they are 

 the same species. Again, Hypocrella javanica is commonly 

 found in association with Aschersonia Cojfese, and the stromata 

 of the two are alike in colour, hardness, &c. 



In Hypocrella Raciborshii the ascigerous stroma is generally 

 developed at the margin of the pycnidial stroma. The same 

 happens in Hypocrella Sloanese, though in both species purely 

 ascigerous stromata also occur. But in the majority of cases 

 in which both stages are known it is not correct to state that 



