THE 



blue" fungus. 23 



bristlo-lilvo nock several times us long- as the diameter of the perithc- 

 eium (PI. VII. tl). This neek becomes very brittle as soon as the peri- 

 thecium is mature, and breaks oti" at the slightest jar or touch. The 

 tips of the hyphfe composing the neck remain joined at the top until 

 the spores are discharged; they then separate and form a sort of cup- 

 shaped support for the spore mass (PI. VII, 9). The body of the peri- 

 thecium when mature is about 18»»/< in diameter and lOO/f high, and is 

 covered with scattering Ijrown hyph.v. The neck averages about 1,050/^ 

 in length and 20/< in thickness. 



The spores of Ceratostomella are elongated and somewhat curved 

 (PI. VII, S). They are very small, and the asci in which they are 

 borne are almost round or egg-shaped (PI. VII, 7) and exceedingly 

 evanescent, so much so that it is very difficult to find them. Hun- 

 dreds of perithecia \\\ all stages may be examined without showing 

 a sign of asci. When the spores are mature, they arc discharged 

 through the neck, either in the form of a large drop (PI. VII, 5, .s), 

 or in a long, worm-like mass. The spores are held together ])V a 

 mucilaginous material, which will not mix with water. It is suggested 

 that this serves admirably to spread the spores through the agency of 

 crawling insects and worms, both common on w^ood where the peri- 

 thecia are likely to be found. The spores germinate in water afttu- a 

 few hours, sending out a short hyaline germ tube, which In-anches 

 very soon after its appearance. The discharge of the spores takes 

 place when a certain amount of moisture has accumulated within the 

 perithecium. A rain storm often brings about a worm-like discharge 

 from ripening perithecia. In cultures a globular discharge takes place, 

 probabl}^ because of the more equitable distribution of water. The 

 spores measure 5. 5/< by 2.5yw, average. 



GROWTH IN ARTIFICIAL, MEDIA." 



The ''blue" fungus grows quite readily in artilicial media. In pine 

 agar the mycelium develops rapidly; less so in ordinar}^ agar or gela- 

 tin. Cultures are most readily obtainable in pure condition by inoc- 

 ulating pine agar tubes with pieces of blued wood removed (with care 

 so as keep them sterile) from the inner portion of a blued log. The 

 hyphi« grow out from the blued pieces and soon grow through the 

 agar to the surface. On nearly all cultures of this character peri- 

 thecia developed on the surface of the agar within a week. The asco- 

 spores germinate in a few hours, and at the end of thirt3"-six to forty- 

 eight hours a colorless mycelium bearing large numbers of conidiahas 

 developed. At first these conidia were regarded as contaminations, 

 but their repeated appearance in cultures made from pure cultures of the 



« The cultural work was carried on in conjunction with Mr. George G. Hedgcock, 

 assistant in pathology. 



