290 A MANUAL OF THE PENICILLIA 



mata (fig. 78B). Dimensions of parts vary greatly in different fruits 

 and sharp separation into metulae and sterigmata at specific levels is 

 often lacking, but metulae usually occur in groups of 3 to 5 in larger 

 structures and measure about 7 to 10m by 2.0 to 2.5m, and sterigmata in 

 verticils of 3 to 7 and measure 8 to 10m by about 2.0m in width in the basal 

 portion with the apical half tapering to a thin point-like tube, not exceed- 

 ing 0.5m in diameter, upon which theconidia are borne. Conidia strongly 

 elliptical, with ends usually pointed, mostly 3.0 to 3.5m by 2.0 to 2.5m 

 (fig. 78C), with walls smooth or finely roughened, pale vinaceous in mass. 



Colonies on steep agar growing somewhat more rapidly, looser in tex- 

 ture, heavier sporing, at 10 days ranging in color from lavender to verbena 

 violet (R., PI. XXXVI), generally becoming more highly colored in age; 

 exudate lacking or limited in amount; odor indefinite; reverse of colonies 

 intense yellow with surrounding agar colored in the same shades; fruiting 

 structures as described above. 



Colonies on malt agar commonly smaller than the above (fig. 77D), 

 loose-textured, conspicuously floccose in some strains, definitely thinner 

 in others, medium to heavy sporing with conidial areas colored as on steep 

 agar, reverse in bright yellow to golden yellow shades; fruiting structures 

 as above but with conidial chains commonly longer. 



Species description based upon the type strain NRRL 901 (Thorn's 

 No. 4894.4) isolated from soil and received from Oilman and Abbott in 

 1927. Represented also by numerous isolations and accessions subse- 

 quently studied, including NRRL 1770, a soil isolate from C. W. Hessel- 

 tine. University of Wisconsin; and NRRL 2015 isolated by us from soil 

 from Mexico. 



Spicaria violacea in its typical form is clearly distinct from Penicillium 

 lilacinuni. Conidial areas are in blue-violet rather than reddish violet 

 (vinaceous) shades, colonies in reverse show bright yellow rather than 

 vinaceous shades, and fruiting structures are typically more divergent and 

 show sterigmata tapering more gradually to thinner conidium-bearing 



tips. 



Many isolates, however, appear intermediate between strains that are 

 typical of Spicaria violacea and others that are typical of Penicillium 

 lilacinum. The relationship of the two forms is not entirely clear and 

 there is some question whether the whole P. lilacinum series, exclusive of 

 P. humuli V. Beyma, should not be removed from Penicillium and con- 

 sidered as true representatives of the genus Spicana. If the above con- 

 siderations could be made alone this course might seem warranted. There 

 are, however, other intergrading forms which seem to align P. lilacinum 

 with the P. janthinellum series through P. simplicissimum (Oud.) Thom. 



We believe the best course is to recognize the species Spicaria violacea, 



