MEI. 



Family III. CONIOMYCETES 



Spores eitlier solitary or concatenate, produced on the tips of 

 generally short threads, which are either naked, or contained in 

 a perithecium, rarely compacted into a gelatinous mass. — Berh. 

 Outlp.813. 



This family is distinguislaed by the vast predominance of the reproductive 

 bodies over the rest of the plant, if not in size, at least in abundance, and from 

 the ease with which in general they fall from the point of attachment, in con- 

 sequence of which, as the name implies, they have a dusty appearance, and 

 often soil the fingers of those who handle them. In some cases there is a 

 decided perithecium or peridium ; in others there is no approach to such an 

 organ, and in very nearly allied productions, it may be either present or en- 

 tirely absent. Many of the genera are doubtless conditions of higher forms. 

  — See Berk. Introd. p. 315. 



A. — Growing on dead or dying plants. 

 Subcutaneous. 



Perithecium more or less distinct . 

 Perithecium obsolete or wanting . 

 Superficial. 



Fructifying surface naked. 



Spores compound or tomiparous 



B. — Parasitic on living plants . 



Peridium distinctly cellular 



Peridium none. 



Spores subglobose, simple, or deciduous 

 Spores mostly oblong, usually septate 



Sphceronemei. 

 Xfelanconiei. 



Torulacei. 



uEcidiacei. 



Cceomacei. 

 Puccinicei. 



Order XII. SPH^RONEMEI. 



Perithecium more or less distinct, free, or erumpent ; spores 

 basal or parietal, simple, or septate, sometimes oozing out by the 

 contraction of the perithecial walls. — Berk. Introd. p. 330. 



The structure of a greater part of them is much the same ; an obscurely 

 developed perithecium, minute sporophores, and microscopic spores. It is 

 quite certain that a large portion of the so-called species of Phoma, Lejotos- 

 troma, Dijjlodia, Hendersonia, Ci/tispora, SejAoria, &c , are mere cases of dua- 

 lism. All, indeed, are interesting, so far as ascertained dualism is con- 

 cerned, or as far as there may be a prospect of showing that they are the 

 spermatogonia or pycnidia of ascophorous species.- M.J.B. 



J..— Spores oozing out in tendrils. 

 Perithecia delicate, simple. 

 Distinct. 



Spores uniseptate or simple . 

 Spores with a row of sporidiola 

 Seated on discoloured spots. 

 Spores ovoid or oblong 



Ascochyta. 

 Darluca, 



Phyllosticta. 



