SCLEROTIUM COFFEICOLA 443 



Fr., which grow on wood, and the following six species which grow 

 on leaves : 



M. dilatata Fr. M. sanguinolenta A. et S. 



M. epipterygia Scop. M. stylohates Pers. 



M. galopus Pers. M. zephira Fr. 



The mycelium of these leaf-fungi was obtained from spores and was 

 then transferred to sterilised Oak and Beech leaves or Pine needles. 

 The leaves were soon invaded by the fungi and in consequence they 

 became luminescent. The mycelium of Mycena galericulata proved 

 to be definitely non-luminous.^ Certain, but not all, fruit-bodies 

 of M. epipterygia, M. galopus, M. pura, M. sanguinolenta, and M. 

 zephira collected in woods were found to have luminous gills. 

 From Bothe's observations we may conclude that the luminescence 

 of decaying leaves in forests is in part, if not entirely, due to the 

 mycelium of various species of Mycena. 



The Gemmifers of Sclerotium cofifeicola. — Sclerofium coffeicola 2 

 Stahel is a parasitic fungus, probably of hymenomycetous origin, 

 which is similar to Omphalia flavida in that it attacks Coffee plants 

 and produces large numbers of gemmifers. A gemmifer of Sclerotium 

 coffeicola, although differing in form, resembles in function a gemmifer 

 of Omphalia flavida. 



Our knowledge of Sclerotium coffeicola and of the disease which 

 it causes is chiefly due to Stahel ^ who published his researches in 

 1921. I myself know the fungus only from spirit specimens on 

 diseased Coffee berries and from a culture kindly sent to me by 

 IVIr. S. F. Ashby. 



With a view to extending our knowledge of gemmifers in general, 



1 F. Bothe, Joe. cit., 1931, p. 764. The mycelium of the following Mycenae, as 

 so far cultivated, also appeared to Bothe to be non-luminous : M. alkalina, M. 

 crocata, M. haematopus, M. janthina, M. metata, M. vulgaris, and four other undeter- 

 mined wood-destroyers. 



2 Stahel wTote the specific name coffeicolum, but I have changed this to coffeicola 

 in accordance with the Latin rule that the inhabitant of a place is denoted by a 

 word ending in cola. Here the specific name is not an adjective but a noun in 

 apposition. Cf. Sclerotium lichenicola Svendsen. 



^ G. Stahel,." De Sclerotium-ziekte van de Liberiakoffie in Suriname," Departe- 

 ment van der Landbouw in Suriname, Bull. No. 2, 1921, pp. 1-34, Plates I-XI. 



