HOTSOX. — CULTURE STUDIES OF FUNGI. 259 



Den loprtu iif of tin pi rithecium. — The primordium of the perithecium 

 is quite different from that of the bulbil. In this case a short lateral 

 branch coils up spirally, usually making about four or five turns, but 

 in some cases as many as eight. Figures 1 to 8, Plate 3, represent 

 successh e stages in the development of the spiral. Usually the second 

 and part of the the third turn become enlarged while branches are 

 given off from the first or from the cells below it. These branches grow 

 up around the spiral and often send secondary branches in between 

 the swollen lower coils so that they are forced apart (Figures 7, Plate 3). 

 The branches continue to grow until they have enveloped the whole 

 spiral, which soon loses its characteristic form. It would appear 

 that the upper portion of the spiral either becomes a disorganized mass 

 of mucilaginous material or not infrequently seems to be pinched off 

 and ejected during the formation of the wall of the young perithecium, 

 as is shown in Figure 7, Plate 3. By the time the wall is completed 

 all that can be recognized of the spiral are two or three large cells 

 which come to lie free in a cavity usually towards one side of the peri- 

 thecium and which stain deeply (Figures 9-10, Plate 3). Sometimes 

 branches seem to come off from each of the coils, so that one finds the 

 spiral with a number of very short lateral branches produced from its 

 outer surface. Occasionally also the lateral branch that produces the 

 spiral, while making its first coil, divides into short cells and sends off 

 secondary branches from these, as shown in Figure 3, Plate 3. 

 Whether either or both of these develop into perithecia or bulbils, or 

 are to be regarded as abnormalities, could not be determined, since 

 they were of rare occurrence. 



Gonidia on bottle-shaped sterigmata, similar to those produced by 

 M. papillata also occur in this species (Figure 13, Plate 3). Germi- 

 nating ascospores particularly, produce them abundantly in a dry 

 atmosphere, but they are more sparingly developed on the mycelium. 



This fungus resembles somewhat a form described by Berlese ('92) 

 under the name of Sphaeroderma bulbilliferum, which is referred to 

 below. The former has, however, a slightly smaller perithecium 

 (300-400 fi in diameter) with a papilla about the ostiole, while the 

 latter is 400-500 n in diameter, and has no papilla, the ostiole being 

 flush with the surface. The Sphaeroderma moreover is said to have 

 connected with it large two-celled chlamydospores, which have not 

 been found associated with M. anomala although the writer has re- 

 peatedly searched for them. Berlese does not describe the method of 

 development of the bulbils, but states that " the sporeballs resemble 

 those described by Mattirolo as belonging to Melanospora Gibelliana." 



