i 5 8 



PYRENOMYCETES 



[CH. 



mucilage {Sordaria macrospora, S. fimicola, etc.), in others (fig. 2e) one or 

 two appendages are produced (S. fimiseda, S. coprophila, Podospora anserina, 

 etc.). These may be gelatinous and derived wholly or partly from the epi- 

 plasm apparently much as the ordinary thickening of the spore wall is 

 derived, or they may form part of the young spore. In the latter case they 

 are at first rich in protoplasm, but later most of their contents pass into the 

 middle portion of the spore, which becomes ovoid, and the appendage is cut 

 off by a wall (S. globosd). Both types of appendage may occur on the same 

 spore. They are sometimes hooked and they become twisted together and 

 serve to attach the spores one to another. The uppermost appendage appears, 

 in some cases at any rate, to become fastened to the tip of the ascus (S- 

 Brefeldii. 



SORDARIACEAE : BIBLIOGRAPHY 



1883 Zopf, YV. Zur Kenntniss der anatomischen Anpassung der Pilzefruchte an die 

 Funktion der Sporentleerung. Zeitschr. fur Naturwiss. iv ; ii, p. 540. 



1886 WORONIN, M. Sphaeria Lemaneae, Sordaria fimiseda, Sordaria coprophila und 

 Arthrobotrys oligospora. Beit, zur Morph. und Phys. der Pilze, iii, p. 325. 



1901 MASSEE, G., and SALMON, E. Researches on Coprophilous Fungi. Ann. Bot. xv, 



P- 315- 

 1907 DANGEARD, P. A. Recherches sur le developpement du perithcce chez les Ascomy- 



cetes. Le Botaniste, x, p. 333. 

 1912 WOLF, F. A. Spore Formation in Podospora anserina, (Rabh.J Wint. Ann. Myc. 

 x, p. 60. 



Sphaeriaceae 



The perithecia of the Sphaeriaceae are superficial, and are borne singly 

 or in groups; the peridium may be smooth or beset with hairs or spines. 

 The papillate ostiole distinguishes this family from the succeeding forms 

 with free perithecia. 



The majority are saprophytic on plant remains, frequently on wood; 



some are parasites, such as the species 

 of Coleroa (fig. 118), which occur on the 

 leaves of Potentilla, Rubtis, and other 

 flowering plants. 



Rosellina quercina, the oak root fun- 

 gus, attacks the roots of oak seedlings; 

 the hyphae enter the living cells of the 

 cortex and pith ; they are at first hyaline, 

 later dark in colour, and become twisted 

 together into strands, the so-called rhi- 

 zoctonia; these attack the roots of neigh- 

 bouring oak plants, wrap a weft of hyphae 

 about them and enter their cells. The 



Fig. 118. Coleroa Potenlillae (rr.) Wint.; 



perithecia, x 192. fungus may form black, chambered scle- 



