y8 FUNGI IMPERFECTI 



The Stilbaceae are mainly saprophytic. Among the genera 

 ■with simple hyaline conidia Isaria contains several species para- 

 sitic on insects which probably represent the conidial stage of 

 species of Cordyceps. The family contains about sixteen more or 

 less clearly defined genera. 



The TuBERCULARiACEAE, with over forty genera, are also chiefly 

 saprophytic in habit, Fiisa7'ium is the largest genus with over 

 one hundred and eighty species. Some of our worst diseases of 

 cultivated plants are due to species of this genus, particularly in 

 the Southern States ; among these are the wilt of cotton, water- 

 melon and cow peas. Fusa?'iinn viiiiiahiin forms the red slimy 

 fungus that often appears on the sap oozing in spring from stumps 

 of recently cut trees. It often grows in masses on the trunks of 

 the ironwood {Oshya) whose bark has been pierced by wood- 

 peckers. 



The species of Tiibcrcularia from the conidial stages of species 

 of Xecfria among the Hypocreales. Some of the species of lilo- 

 sporiinn form pink parasites on various foliaceous lichens. 77^- 

 be7-ciilina persiciiia is a common parasite on various Uredinales 

 causing the sori to assume a purplish tint. 



The entire order of Monihales thus forms an immense hetero- 

 geneous and imperfectly known group of fungi which has long 

 been the bete noire of mycologists. As will be seen from the cita- 

 tions of American literature only a few of the more conspicuous 

 genera of leaf-parasites have ever been studied comparatively and 

 the field is open for much serious study. 



LITERATURE. 



Saccardo. Sylloge Fungorum, 4: 1-807; 10: 5IO-739; n- 5^6- 

 656. 



Corda. Icones Fungorum, 1-6 : 64 pi. 1 837-1 854. 



Ellis & Everhart. Enumeration of the North American Cerco- 

 sporae. Jour. Mycol. i : 17-24, 33-40, 49-56, 61-67. 1885. 



North American species of Ramularia. Jour. Mycol. 



1:73-83. 1885. 

 Supplementary enumeration of the Cercosporae. 



Jour. Mycol. 2 : 1-2. 1886. 



Additions to Cercospora, Gloeosporium and Cylindro- 



sporium. Jour. Mycol. 3 : 13-22. 1887. 



