MYRIANGIALES 163 



Myriangiales 



The Alyriangiales are stromatic angiocarpous fungi. The 

 stromata are cushion-shaped in many of them, and the asci are 

 borne irregularly dispersed, either singly or in layers within 

 chambers or locules. Many of these fungi occur on leaves, fruits, 

 and bark, and some are parasitic upon insects, especially in the 

 tropics. 



Relatively few species have been thoroughly studied; hence 

 mycologists are not in accord on which species properly belong 

 in the Alyriangiales. Speculations concerning relationships to 

 other orders and to phylogeny are believed to be quite futile 

 because of this lack of kno^\•ledge.. For the present purpose the 

 following families are regarded as comprising the order: Alyr- 

 iangiaceae, Elsinoeaceae, Saccardiaceae, Dothioraceae, and 

 Pseudosphaeriaceae. These may be separated as follows: 



1. Asci arising at different levels 



2. Stroma massive, of homogeneous texture, without a rind 



Alyriangiaceae 



2. Stroma effuse, interior gelatinous, exterior crustose Elsinoeaceae 

 1. Asci arising at one level 3 



3. Stroma naked Saccardiaceae 

 3. Stroma with crustose rind 4 



4. Multiloculate Dothioraceae 



4. Uniloculate or perithecium-like Pseudosphaeriaceae 



AIyriangiaceae. a recent study by Aliller (1938) on the 

 morphology and cytology of Alyriangium diiriaei and M. ciirtisii 

 provides the basis for an understanding of this family. Both of 

 these species occur as parasites on scale insects that attack Nyssa 

 syhatica, Carya illiiweusis, and other broad-leaved trees in the 

 southeastern United States. Both species of Alyriangium possess 

 cushion-like stromata, from the upper surface of which extend 

 aggregates of black cupules. The interior of the cupules consists 

 of thin-walled fungus parenchyma, in which asci are dispersed, 

 one ascus in each locule. As the interascal tissues are weathered 

 away, the asci become exposed, and spores are liberated. 



Young ascocarps contain multicellular, coiled ascogones that 

 extend to the surface of the stromata. From the archicarps 

 numerous ascogenous hyphae arise and bud off binucleate cells 

 that are to become asci. In Myrianghnn diiriaei there is a single 



