REVISIONS OF CEYLON FUNGI. 429 



. All the examples are on species of Lecanium except the 

 last-quoted, and that is on a Lecaniid. 



The fungus occurs either on the upper or under side of a leaf 

 or on the stem. The position of a Hypocrella, though usually 

 included in its description, is immaterial, since it is governed 

 merely by the position of the insect. As a rule the specimens 

 are scattered, but they sometimes occur in crowded clusters, 

 especially on the stem, and are then variously distorted. The 

 colour varies, being bright orange, orange-red, red, buff, or 

 clay-coloured ; when growth ceases, it gradually becomes 

 dark slate-coloured, or blackish, sometimes quite black. 

 This change of colour occurs when growth stops, not when the 

 fungus has attained any given stage or size, and it usually 

 begins in patches. The blackening is often intensified by the 

 growth of Meliola or Asterina over the specimen. Internally 

 the colour varies from pale yellow to orange. The stromata 

 are usually hemispherical or about two- thirds of a sphere ; 

 young examples may be pulvinate and flattened. As a rule 

 there is no hypothallus. These subglobose examples vary 

 from 1*5 to 10 mm. in diameter. A marked variation (or 

 stage of growth ?) occurs in some collections where several 

 examples have a pulvinate covering over the scale insect with 

 a conical or rounded elevation in the centre (Parkin, Fig. 43). 

 It is probable that this marks a less luxuriant growth than the 

 subglobose examples. This is exceptionally well marked in 

 the specimen illustrated in Parkin's figure 23 ; in these, the 

 stromata are circular and up to 7 • 5 mm. diameter at the base , 

 rising gradually for a width of about 2 mm. , and then more 

 abruptly until they attain a height of about 4 mm. ; in this 

 case the variation is probably due in part to the scale insect, 

 since the specimens are gro\ving on Lecanium expansum which 

 is flattened, almost circular, 5 to 7 mm. long and 4-5 to 6*5 

 mm. broad, whereas L. nigrum is oval, convex, 3 to 5 mm. 

 long and 2 to 3 mm. broad. 



Young specimens are almost smooth : old specimens are 

 tuberculate. The- pycnidial and perithecial orifices are 

 usually inconspicuous (at first) ; the former are indicated by 

 darker reddish dots, and do not project ; the latter occasionally 

 have a projecting ostiolum for about 50 /^, but generally it is 



7(12)09 (56) 



