LASIOJnPLODIA. 457 



admit that the species in the latter subgenus may form 

 isolated pycnidia as well as stromata. 



The present writer's opinion has been expressed (17) as 

 follows : " Botryodiplodia elasticce affords another instance 

 of the multiphcation of names wliicli results from the transmis- 

 sion of specimens of tropical diseases to Europe. Species of 

 THplodia occur everywhere in the tropics, on all kinds of plants, 

 and the majority of them are merely saprophytic , i.e., they 

 grow only on dead tissues. If a Diplodia occurs in masses, 

 it is known as Botryodiplodia, and if the masses are sur- 

 rounded by loose hyphae, it is known as Lasiodiplodia. But, 

 unfortunately, these apparent distinctions break down in 

 practice, for the same species may exhibit all three forms. 

 In that case, it usually gets three different names, according 

 to the form which each describer happens to have. Botryo- 

 diplodia is a convenient name for those species wliich may 

 sometimes grow in masses and sometimes singly, and dis- 

 tinguishes them from those species which always grow singly, 

 but Lasiodiplodia is a purely herbarium distinction for which 

 we have no use in practice." 



The adoption of the views enunciated above would reduce 

 the classification to the following : — 



A. — Pycnidia isolated, stroma wanting. 



(a) Pycnidia rostrate. 



§ pycnidia superficial Rhynchodiplodia. 



§§ pycnidia sub-superficial Pelliondla. 



(b) Pycnidia not rostrate. 



§ pycnidia innate or erumpent. 



t spores exceeding 15 jx Diplodia. 



11 spores not exceeding 15 jj, Microdiplodia. 



tf f spores large, surrounded by mucus Macrodiplodia. 

 §§ pycnidia sub-superficial, hgnicolous Diplodiella. 



B. — Pycnidia sometimes united into a stroma, 

 sometimes isolated Botryodiplodia. 



It may be noted that there is only one species in each of 

 the subgenera Rhynchodiplodia and Pellionella, and that 

 practically only the pilose character of the former separates 

 them ; as this character has been proved inconstant in other 



