igig] TEHON— PORTO RICAN FUXGI 503 



Capitate h>Tphopodia opposite, exceedingly crowded, intricately- 

 interlocked with the h>phopodia of adjacent filaments, apical cell 

 ovoid to globular, 12X18 ju in diameter, basal cell 3-6 m long. 

 Mucronate hjphopodia few, opposite, situated mostly near the 

 ends of the h>'phae, bottle-shaped, 18 /jl long. Mycelial setae 

 none; perithecial setae few, 6-8, arising subapically, straight, 

 7 X8o M, tips obtuse. 



. Perithecia 120-135 )u in diameter, rough; asci 2-spored, soon 

 evanescent; ascospores brown, 4-septate, obtuse, slightly con- 

 stricted, 40X15 m- 



On leaves of Rhacoma crossopetalum L., Mona Island, December 20, 1913, 

 no. 6147 (type) (figs. 17, 18, 19). 



The compact habit of this species is very remarkable. Starting from a 

 single spore, the spot develops into an exceedingly thick black mass. The 

 hyphae are arranged radially and branch repeatedly, so that when the whole 

 colony is seen under the microscope it is almost impossible to distinguish 

 individual filaments. The radial habit, when the fungus is viewed in place 

 on the host leaf, strongly suggests the radial character of an immensely large 

 Microthyriaceous perithecium. 



■ This Meliola is probably most closely aUied to M. parethesicola Stevens, 

 but can readily be separated from it because of its denser habit and the fact 

 that the perithecial setae arise subapically instead of basally. What appears 

 to be a constant manner of spore germination has repeatedly been seen. From 

 one of the end cells of the spore there is put out a capitate hj^jhopodium (fig. 18) 

 which acts as an anchor for the spore. Following this, filaments are sent out 

 from the other cells of the spore and begin to branch and rebranch immediately. 

 Thus the characteristic compactness of growth is assumed almost with the 

 germination of the spore. 



Meliola perexigua Gaill. Le Genre Meliola. 98. 1892. 



On leaves of Petiveria alliacea L. at Corozal, February- 2i,iQi3,no. 415. 



This species has not hitherto been reported from Porto Rico, or on this 

 host. The specimen, however, agrees thoroughly with Gaillard's description 

 of the species. 



Meliola asterinoides Wint. Hedwigia 96. 1886. 



On the upper surfaces of leaves of Genipa americana L., no. 7135 (figs. 

 11-16). 



This specimen is referred to this species with some hesitation. The descrip- 

 tion given by Gaillard^ characterizes the fungus as forming very small 

 colonies, 0.25-1 mm. in diameter, with only a small number of subdimidiate 



^ Gaillard, a., Le Genre Meliola. 58. 1892. 



