308 PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY. 



Distichomyces nov. gen. 



Receptacle consisting of a basal and subbasal cell surmounted by two 

 parallel series of cells of indefinite number, any of which may bear 

 either a sterile appendage or an antheridium externally, one of the series 

 ending in a perithecium, the other terminated by the primary appendage. 

 Appendages of the same type as those of Rickia and Peyritschiella. 

 Antheridia at maturity terminal on a unicellular branch, becoming quite 

 free in a compact group. 



A genus very closely resembling Rickia, but differing in its biseriate 

 receptacle, and its free simple antheridia, the terminal cell which in other 

 genera of the Peyritschiellae persists as a common delivery tube, becom- 

 ing apparently completely disorganized, although the early stages of 

 development have not been seen. The primary appendage is borne on a 

 bicellular base, the two series of cells forming the main axis of the recep- 

 tacle resulting from the activities of two cells immediately below this 

 base; one representing an original branch and finally producing the 

 perithecium which terminates this " perithecial axis " ; the other being an 

 intercalary cell, so that the development of this half of the axis, which 

 may be called the " primary axis," is in a sense trichothallic. 



Distichomyces Leptochiri nov. sp. 



Slender and considerably elongated, or sometimes short and stout : the 

 primary axis consisting of from twelve to thirty cells, more or less, above 

 the subbasal cell of the receptacle, somewhat proliferous distallv beyond 

 the base of the primary appendage, the small cells thus formed, one or 

 two of them appendiculate, extending to the free tip of the perithecium ; 

 the perithecial axis consisting of from six to twenty-six cells, more or 

 less ; the perithecium slightly broader, but not distinguished from the 

 axis, wholly united on its inner side to the primary axis, more or less 

 strongly curved outward to its blunt subtruncate free tip. Appendages 

 as in Peyritschiella, hyaline, rather slender, very variably developed, 

 borne on a small triangular cell, separated distallv and externally from 

 the cells of the axis ; sometimes numerous, often few and scattered, or 

 almost wanting except distally, where all the cells of the primary axis are 

 usually appendiculate. Antheridial branches borne like the sterile 

 branches, irregular in position and number, sometimes even absent, 

 usually confined to the lower half of the axis, more often near the base, 

 consisting of a short stalk-cell bearing terminally a compact erect group 

 of flask-shaped antheridia, usually four or five in number, their short 



