ASYMMETRICA-FUNICULOSA 465 



siibmarginal areas; reverse in purple-vinaceoiis shades, thinning toward the 

 margin; penicilH as described above but commonly larger, with cellular 

 elements somewhat longer; conidia more strongly elliptical, capsule- 

 shaped. 



Colonies on malt extract agar broadly spreading, plane, like the preced- 

 ing in pattern and texture but usually heavier sporing, with massed peni- 

 cilli forming crusts of conidia up to 400 or 500/x deep (fig. 120F), develop- 

 ing reddish tints to form shades near deep piu'plish vinaceous to dull 

 Indian purple (R., PI. XLR'); reverse in dull to deep purple-vinaceous 

 shades; conidiophores arising mainly from the substratum; penicilli as 

 described above but commonly larger and more complex, up to 50 or 60m 

 in length, with walls of conidiophores, branches, and metulae conspicu- 

 ously roughened; conidia strongly elliptical or capsule-shaped, 4.0 to 4.5 

 by 2.0 to 2.5yu, smooth-walled. 



Species descriptions based upon XRRL 2146, as tA'-pe, isolated in July 

 1947 as a laboratory' contaminant. The binomial Penicillium lavendidum 

 was based upon the characteristic coloring of the species upon Czapek and 

 steep agars. 



The correct placement of the species remains somewhat in doubt since 

 it typically develops more complexly' branched penicilli than other species 

 belonging to the Penicillium 'pallidum series. The roughened conidio- 

 phores and cellular elements of the penicilli, its strongly elliptical to cap- 

 sule-shaped conidia, and the funiculose character of its colonies on Czapek's 

 agar, however, seem to relate it to the P. 'pallidum series more closely than 

 to any other recognized group. Furthermore, colonies on malt agar 

 occasionally develop limited sectors or overgrowths characterized b}' almost 

 colorless conidia, and isolations made from such areas commonly show 

 little or no pigmentation of conidia. In gross appearance these substrains 

 often strongly suggest such species as P. putterillii and P. pallidum. 



Bainier, in 1906 (Bui. Soc. Mycol. France 22: 207, PL XI, figs. 7-13) 

 described a species, Penicillium rubescens, characterized by strongly ellipti- 

 cal conidia wdth fruiting areas in reddish or rusty shades. Penicilli were 

 described and figured as complex and repeatedly branched, with cellular 

 elements coarse and very short. Were it not for such marked differences 

 in the general patterns of the penicilli of the two forms, our culture might 

 possibly be regarded as representing Bainier's species. 



Occurrence and Significance 



Members of this series are apparently uncommon in nature. In no 

 case has a species been reported frequently, and one species, Penicillium 

 lavendidum, is known only as the type. Smith (1933) isolated P. pallidum 

 originally from yarn, but observed no evidence of mildew. The species has 



