Seaver: Studies in tropical Ascomycetes 309 



The species has been found only in the one locality in Porto 

 Rico. The host on which the fungus preys, however, occurs 

 from Cuba to Hispaniola and Porto Rico and in the Lesser 

 Antilles from Saba to Grenada. Assuming that the fungus is 

 restricted to the one host, as it seems to be, its possible range 

 of distribution then is as indicated above. The only economic 

 bearing which the fungus could have is in connection with the 

 destruction of the seeds of the host. How important this can 

 be cannot be stated. 



Our material from Porto Rico agrees quite closely, so far as 

 we can judge from the description, with Xylaria palmicola 

 Winter,* described from Brazil. No specimens of the South 

 American species have been seen and the host of that species 

 is not named. The fact that the host of the Porto Rican species 

 does not occur in South America, so far as we know, leads the 

 writer to regard ours as distinct. The species is dedicated to 

 Mr. Bruner and a description appended. 



Xylaria Bruneriana, sp. nov. 



Strom. ita growing upon and their mycelium tilling the seeds 

 of their hosl and apparently absorbing the greater part of their 

 contents, reaching a height of 10 12 cm. and a diameter of 2-4 

 mm., consisting of a sterile stem and a fertile club-shaped head, 

 the latter comprising aboul one fourth of the whole stroma and 

 considerably thicker; stem cylindrical, slightly tapering above 

 and becoming twisted (especially when dried); peril hecia sub- 

 globose, aboul 50a j. in diameter; asci subcylindric, eight-spored, 

 reaching a length of 140 ;j., theascus wall being very transparenl 

 and often almost invisible; spores unequal-sided, rather sharp 

 pointed, [6x6 7 y., often slightly flattened, hyaline, becoming 

 dark brown. 



( )n fallen seeds of 1 he mountain palm, Jinlcrpc globosa ( Jaert., 

 El Yunque, February 24, 1923. 



•Grevillea 15: 89. [887. 



