332 FETCH : 



structure of the clava. Although the furcata form is the first 

 to develop micler ordinary conditions, sclerotia when formed 

 in the nest are invariably sclerotia of X. nigripes. And when, 

 under a bell glass, the comb produces sclerotia, these again 

 are always X. nigripes, though the mj'celiuin is, or has been, 

 producing an abundance of conidial stromata of X. furcata. 



But the chief difference between Xylaria nigripes and X. 

 furcata is in the conidiophore. The conidia of the former are 

 borne smgly on short parallel conidiophores (or basidia) closely 

 arranged side by side along the clava in the typical Xylaria 

 fashion. But the conidial stage of X. furcata is not typical ; 

 its ultimate components arranged along the clava consist of 

 somewhat flattened spheres, each sphere being formed by a 

 compound conidiophore, \\hich terminates in a lobed head, on 

 which are borne flask-shaped basidia with catenulate spores, 

 4-5 ji diameter. Thus, the component conidiophores in the 

 conidial stroma of Xylaria furcata resemble to a great extent 

 a Botrytis. That is the case whether it is developed in the open , 

 or whether it is grown from the comb under a bell glass. It 

 has occurred to me, as a possible explanation of this, that the 

 furcata conidial stromata may really be nigripes stromata 

 parasitized by a hyphomycete , the conidiophores observed being 

 those of the parasite, but I have not been able to carrj- out 

 experiments to test that suggestion. 



AMien the simple termite Xylaria was sent to Berkeley by 

 Gardner, he named it Xylaria Gardncri, and it received the 

 Hame name when sent by Thwaites ; the specimens of these 

 consignments aie the typical form, usually simple, with 

 separate conidial and ascigerous stromata. But Berkeley 

 had previously described it, among the specimens collected by 

 Konig in Ceylon, as Sphceria escharoidca , the type examples 

 of that, m Herb. British Museum, being simple, but with a short, 

 barren, pointed apex. According to Cooke, Xylaria cscharoi- 

 dea is identical vith Xylaria nigripes Klotszch ; the latter is 

 the prior name, but I have not seen the type. Cooke gives 

 X. mutahilis Curr.. A', flagdliformis Curr., and A', piperiformis 

 Berk, as further synonyms; of these. A'. 77ri(tahilis is the 

 ascigerous stage, and X. fla^jelliformis the conidial stage, but 

 A' . piprrifnrm is would 1k' better referred to A . furcatu. Xylaria 



