330 FETCH . 



Xylaria nigripes is more variable than X. furcata. In its 

 commonest form in Ceylon it is remarkable in having its 

 ascigerous and conidial stromata quite separate. The conidial 

 stroma is long, thin, cylindrical, tapering above, with a short 

 regular black stalk, and a bluish-gray fertile portion ; the 

 conidia are narrow-oval, 4-G X 2 \k. These stromata usually 

 arise from a thm black rhizomorph. The ascigerous form is 

 generally simple, but occasionally forked ; it has a regularly- 

 cylindric short black stalk, and an equally regular cylindrical 

 clava with an obtuse apex ; it is at first yellowish-gray, dotted 

 with black ostiola which project only slightly, and only tmiis 

 black when covered with the extruded spores ; it is fleshy, 

 not carbonaceous. It often attains a height of 15 cm., 

 and its stalk is continued belo-\\' into a thick black rhizo- 

 mor]Dh, which is attached to the comb, or to sclerotia iii 

 the comb chamber. The connection between the conidial 

 and the ascigerous stromata has not been traced in the soil. 

 but it may be demonstrated by cutting the rhizomorph of the 

 ascigerous form into small lengths and placing them on damp 

 filter paper, where they produce conidial stromata. 



In another form of Xylaria nixjripes the stroma is inter- 

 mediate in thickness between the conidial and ascigerous 

 forms just referred to, and is at fii'st conidial and subsequently 

 ascigerous. In the latter stage it is distinguished by the 

 presence of a short pointed barren tip. von Hohnel states 

 that only weakly developed forms of Xylaria nigripes exhibit 

 a sterile tip, but its occurrence really depends on the fact that, 

 in contradistinction to the commoner form, the stroma was 

 at first conidial. All the forms of Xylaria nigripes referred to 

 have a black central core, which is lacking in Xylaria furcata. 

 The rhizomor])h in both forms frequently branches at or just 

 below the surface, so that the stromata are produced m 

 clusters. 



H. and P. Sydow and Butler have noted the dilTerenccs in 

 form of Xylaria nigripes in India. They distinguish the 

 following fonn.s : — 



(a) Clava simple, rarely dichotomously branched, cyUn- 

 drical, ajiex obtuse or slightly tapered, colour gray 

 to deep black ; .spores 3-5 X 3'5 [jl. 



