TERMITE FUNGI: A REStJMK. 333 



melanaxis Ces., from Borneo, appears from the description 

 to be Xylaria nigripes, but Cooke states that its spores are 

 35 X 2 ; this species is said in " Saccardo " to grow on wood, 

 but that is not recorded in the original description. 



Penzig and Saccardo described Xylaria torrubioides from 

 Java, Avhere it was found growing on a termite comb. I have 

 recently found this species in abundance on combs which had 

 been dug up and left exposed. The specimens were 1-2 cm. 

 high, and resembled small examples of X. nigripes, rougher 

 than usual ; but as they lacked the central black core, they 

 are probably better referred to X. furcata. 



Theissen's Xylaria nigripes from termite nests in Brazil has 

 larger spores, 6-10 X 4-5 [i, and would seem to be a different 

 species ; but Xylaria termitnm Jumelle and Perrier de la 

 Bathie, from Madagascar, is certainly Xylaria nigripes. 

 Sydow and Butler state that, from an examination of the type, 

 X. peperomoides P. Henn., from India, is X. nigripes. 



Summing up, we find that Sclerotum stipitatum has been 

 found in termite nests in India, Ceylon, Java, and Africa ; 

 Xylaria nigripes occurs in the same situation in Ceylon, Java, 

 Madagascar, and probably Brazil ; and Xylaria furcata in 

 Ceylon and Java. X. nigripes has been recorded from other 

 countries also, without any reference to its connection with 

 termite nests. But in all such cases it is said to grow on the 

 ground, not on wood. In Ceylon neither X. nigripes nor 

 X. furcata are found except growing from termite nests. 



The synonymy of these species, as far as is knowm at present, 

 is as follows : — ' 



Xylaria nigripes Klotzsch. 



= Xylaria (sphseria) escharoidea Berk. 



= Xylaria Gardner i Berk. 



= Xylaria mutahilis Curr. 



= Xylaria flagelUformis Curr. 



= Xylaria peperomoides P. Henn. 



= Xylaria termitum Jumelle et Perrier de la Bathie. 



= {Xylaria melanaxis Ces.) ? 



Xylaria furcata Fr. 



= Xylaria torrubioides Penz. & Sacc. 



= Xylaria piperiformis Berk. 



