iqiq] TEHON— PORTO RICAN FUNGI 505 



the circle has reached full development most of its cells will be 

 found to possess terminal indentations (fig. 146), indicative of a 

 dichotomous scheme of branching, and from beneath the outer 

 edges of some cells may already be seen (fig. 14c) the beginning of 

 a new circle similar to the last. 



Thus by the addition outwardly of circle after circle of radiat- 

 ing, dichotomously branching cells (figs. 15, 16) the complete 

 perithecium is formed. Fig. 16 shows a mature perithecium illus- 

 trating the true dimidiate character. On ripening, the central 

 portion becomes black and opaque, so that it is impossible to see the 

 hyphal structure, but around the edge there is always apparent the 

 areola of radiating close lying h>^hae, some of which extend out- 

 ward rather farther than the others and are capped by a 

 hyphopodium-like head cell (fig. i6a). In some cases these elon- 

 gated hyphae from the perithecial areola may even send out 

 capitate hyphopodia laterally. 



The false ostiole is a character which, if taken together with 

 the dimidiate character of the perithecium, may also be of some 

 phylogenetic significance. 



Although Meliola has never been definitely allied to the Micro- 

 thyriaceae, Engler referring it to the Aspergillaceae and Saccardo 

 to the Perisporiaceae, the impression is becoming more and more 

 firmly rooted that Meliola is closely related to the Microthyriaceae. 

 In this connection, the present specimen shows certain characters 

 which strengthen that impression. The specimen may even be 

 regarded as a transitional stage connecting this genus with the 

 typical genera of the Microthyriaceae. 



Meliola cestri, sp. nov. — Colonies epiphyllous, irregularly 

 circular, 1-3 mm. in diameter. Mycelium dark, straight, forming a 

 rather close network, filaments 9-10 /x in diameter. 



Capitate h>phopodia alternate, 35 ju distant, head-cell cylin- 

 drical to globose, 16-20X8-13 ju; basal cell 4-5 ix long. Mucronate 

 hyphopodia opposite, bottle-shaped, 24-28X9 ju- Perithecial setae 

 none; mycelial setae numerous, straight, black, 650-850X10-11 ix, 

 tips obtuse. 



Perithecia numerous, grouped in the center of the colony, sur- 

 rounded by an areola of hyphae when young, smooth, 225-275/4 



