06 Seaver: Studies in pyrophilous fungi 



states: "Es wirt angegcben dass Pyronema auf Brandstellen 

 haufig vorkomme. Haufig kann aber wohl der Pilz nicht sein, 

 da ich ihn bishernurein einziges Mai — bei Eberswalde — im Freien 

 fand. So oft ich sonst sowohl bei Freiburg wie bei Berlin solche 

 Stellen absuchte, hatte ich keinen Erfolg." 



While nothing can be said here as to the occurrence of the 

 fungus in Europe, the fact remains that it is fairly common in 

 America so far as our knowledge goes. Of course its occurrence 

 in nature depends upon the presence of recently burned areas 

 accompanied by a reasonable amount of precipitation. Given 

 these conditions, and the fungus is common. It has been collected 

 by the writer in Indiana, Iowa, New York, and North Dakota 

 and has been frequently reported by collectors from other states. 



If it should happen that the fungus is not common in a given 

 locality, or as is more likely to be the case, has never been recog- 

 nized, it has been shown in previous papers that the fungus is 

 easily cultivated in the laboratory; and now having proved the 

 long viability of the spores which enables the plant to be carried 

 over for an indefinite length of time in the laboratory, there is no 

 longer any reason for considering Pyronema an uncommon fungus. 

 If the fungus is worth knowing from a morphological point of 

 view it is also worth seeing. 



Directions for cultivation and preservation of the spores 



Heat good rich, unfertilized, garden soil by placing it in pots 

 or other receptacle. The heating can be accomplished by steam 

 or dry heat in an autoclave or sterilizing oven. If dry heat is used 

 run the temperature up to I50°-I70° C. If neither autoclave 

 nor sterilizing oven is available, bake in an ordinary oven for an 

 hour or more at ordinary baking temperature. Cool and water 

 with tap water. Plant the spores and place the pot under a bell 

 jar. Growth of mycelium should be abundant in two or three 

 days at room temperature; sex organs should appear in about a 

 week and mature ascocarps a few days later. 



When through with the study of plants, scrape off the old 

 ascocarps together with a little dirt, place them in an envelope 

 and keep dry until they are desired for study the next year, then 

 prepare substratum and plant as before. 



New York Botanical Garden. 



