— 215 — 



the common origin of the latter llius being difficult to recognize. In 

 this our fungus reminds of the Microascus sordidiis Zukal (Bericht. Deutsch. 

 Bot. Gesellsch. 1899 p. 297), the ripe asci namely appearing isolated in 

 their respective cavities (fig. 2 a). 



When trying on base of the above investigations of the fungus to 

 place it in the system a difficulty arises from the fact that its relatives 

 evidently are to be sought for among little known forms, which are not 

 until now decidedly placed themselves, namely the Phymatosphaeriaceae. 

 This family was founded by Spegazzini 1888 (Fung. Guaran. II p. 55) 

 and by this author looked upon as related to the Tuberaceae, differing 

 however from these "vegetatione aerea parasitica vel saprophytica, minutie 

 et loto habitu." Saccardo (Syll. VIII p. 743) repeats Spegazzini' s 

 remarks without adding any critical note. In his work: Ascomyceten der 

 ersten Regnellschen Expedition (Bihang K. Svenska Vetensk.-Akad. Handl. 

 Bd. 25, Afd. Ill nr. 1 p. 37) Starback reconsiderates the question of 

 the systematic placing of the Phymatosphaeriaceae, for which he claims 

 the name Myriangiaceae, the genus Phymatosphaeria Pass, being identic 

 with Myriangium Mont, et Berk, and this latter being formerly created^). 



As chief-result of his examinations Starback states that the rela- 

 tionship between the Myriangiaceae and the Tuberaceae (i. e. the Plect- 

 ascineae of Fischer) is not to be overlooked — while on the other 

 side the Myriangiaceae are connected with the Hypocreales and particularly 

 the Dothideales. According to this author a likeness with the Hypocreales 

 is to be found in the structure of the stroma, while on the other hand 

 a difference arises from the fact that the Myriangiaceae are totally wanting 

 perithecium-walls. As to this character they are in accordance with the 

 Dothideales, because of which the author puts forward the view that a 

 fungus of Myriangiuin' s typus is to be compared to a Dothidea with 

 polystichous perithecia, whereof each contains a single ascus. 



It seems to us that a connection between the Myriangiaceae and the 

 Plectascineae of Fischer is more obvious at least as to such tender 

 forms as Ascomycetella and Cookella. We have not been able to examine 

 any material of the genus Ascomycetella, while a Cookella is at hand in 

 Rabenhorst's Fungi Europ. et extraeurop. {Cookella quercina (Peck) 

 Sacc, nr. 3040). The rather rich and well preserved material of this 

 last fungus being submitted to a closer investigation we found a certain 

 amount of likeness to Myxotheca, while on the other side there is a 

 distinct difference between the two types. The stroma of Cookella though 



^) In his treatise: Des genres ^Ific/ua Fw., Myriancfium Mont, et Berk., Nae- 

 frocymbc Koerb. (Strasbourg 1869) even Millardet states that the Myri- 

 angiaceae are to be regarded as genuine fungi, because of their being 

 quite without gonidia during their whole course of development- 



