ASYMMETRICA-DIVARICATA 321 



bearing tubes are borne in small clusters of 3 to 6 and produce chains of 

 spores which tend to adhere into narrow, short columns; conidia globose or 

 nearly so mostly 3.2 to 3.6At in diameter with walls thin, smooth or slightly 

 irregular. 



Colonies on steep agar growing somewhat more rapidlj" than on Czapek's 

 solution agar, 3.5 to 4.0 cm. in diameter in 10 to 12 days, loose-textured, 

 lanose, 2 to 3 mm. deep, more or less zonate with areas of vegetative growth 

 definitely pink and areas of heaviest conidial development in fairly bright 

 yellow-green .shades (Ridgway, PL XLA'II); exudate limited, as noted 

 above; colony reverse deep maroon with surrounding agar similarly 

 colored; penicilli as on Czapek agar. 



Colonies on malt extract agar 3.0 to 3.5 cm. in 10 to 12 days, compara- 

 tively thin, loose-textured, lanose to velvety, plane, conspicuouslj'' zonate 

 with marginal area 2 mm. wide, yellow-white and sterile (fig. 85D), shad- 

 ing to fairly bright yellow-green shades in areas of ripening conidia toward 

 the colony center; no exudate; reverse in rich brown shades; penicilli as 

 above but conidial chains longer and columns somewhat tangled and less 

 well defined. 



Species description based upon Laxa's type strain, XRRL 911 (Thom's 

 No. 5337.2), received from him in April 1933. This culture was reported to 

 be the principal species associated with the ripening of Ellischauer cheese 

 (of the Camembert type), in Xalzovy, Southern Bohemia — hence the name. 

 The production of appreciable red pigment is associated with the growth of 

 this mold on cheese and in laboratory culture, and this character was em- 

 phasized by Laxa in his original description. On whey gelatine and whey 

 agar, colonies were at first white, later shading to faintly greenish to 

 greenish gray with colony reverse at first cherry, then blood red. Casein 

 is digested rapidly with an accumulation of amino acids and ammonia. 



Penicillium nalgiovensis is included in the Divaricata upon the basis of 

 its fruiting structures, but the proper placement of this species remains in 

 doubt. The general appearance of the colonies, the comparatively large 

 globose conidia, the coloration of conidial areas, and finall}' the production 

 of a diffusible red pigment in the culture medium all suggest relationship 

 to P. aurantio-virens in the Lanata. There is little evidence, except for a 

 deep flocculent colony, suggesting relationship to the P. camemberti series, 

 although the mold was isolated from a similar type of cheese. It is en- 

 tirely possible that we are here dealing with some member of the Lanata 

 which during many years use in a particular cultural environment (cheese 

 manufacture) has developed a rather unique cultural aspect and fruiting 

 pattern. There is also the possibility that it is related to P. psittacinum 

 Thorn (see p. 4-1:5). In areas of heavy conidial production, and generally 

 upon malt extract agar, colony colors approach the bright yellow-greens 



