BIVERTICTLLATA-SYMMETRICA 025 



and earlier investigations. This species is one of the most tangible mem- 

 bers of this section and appears to be one of the least variable. The first 

 of the above listed cultures was received in 1922 from Putterill, Cape Town, 

 iSoiith Africa, and Avas discussed by Thom in his Monograph as repre- 

 sentative of the species (No. 4658.144.2). It has remained unchanged 

 during the ensuing years of laboratory cultivation. Other strains, held 

 for similar lengths of time have remained equalh^ stable, and neAv isolates 

 are commonly encovmtered which duplicate the above in cultural and mi- 

 croscopic characteristics. 



This species was correctly placed in the series with PeniciUium Juyiicu- 

 losum b}^ Thom in 1930. It differs from the latter species, however, in its 

 more restricted growth, in the production of more orange-red aerial hyphae, 

 and in the development of shorter hyphal ropes or funicles. 



Sopp based his species upon a culture found on the Island of Skyr, Nor- 

 way. Cultures were reported to grow best at 20° to 25°C., but continued 

 to grow at 8°C. and at 38°C. The species grew best upon acid media and 

 upon substrates rich in starch. Conidia remained viable more than three 

 years. 



The species appears to be very abundant and widespread in nature and 

 may be regarded as representing a normal member of the mycoflora of al- 

 most all soils. It was encountered several times among molds isolated 

 from deterioi'ating military equipment. 



PeniciUium varians Smith, in Brit. Mycol. Soc. Trans. 18: 89-90; PI. IV, 



fig. 3. 1933. 



Author's diagnosis as follows: 



"Colonies growing moderately well on all usual media at temperatures up to 37°C.; 

 on wort agar slightly floccose, bluish green rapidly becoming greyish green then grey, 

 in age covered with sterile mycelium, dirty white, often with patches of pink or yel- 

 low; on Czapek agar slightly floccose or funiculose with irregular production of 

 conidial areas bluish green, turning grey, sometimes with basal felt of gelatinous 

 masses of hj-phae, pale brown to orange-brown; reverse variously colourless spotted 

 with faint purple or, in cultures exposed to light, definitel}^ coloured brownish orange; 

 conidiophores arising as short branches from interlacing hyphae or definite ropes of 

 hyphae, articulate, slightly roughened, definitely coloured pale yellowish brown but 

 not dematiaceous, 40- 50m by 2-2.8/*; penicilli symmetrically biverticillate; metulae 

 10-14/x, occasionally longer, by 2-2. 5m; sterigmata closely packed, acuminate, 10-15m 

 by 2m; conidia ovate or pyriform, smooth, 3-^m by 1.5-2.0m." 



The type strain was isolated as a single colony on a plate from a sample 

 of cotton yarn showing no sign of mildew, and was regarded as a part of the 

 "latent infection" of the sample. The species is known only as the type. 



Our notes follow: 



Colonies on Czapek's solution agar growing rather restrictedly, about 



