284 • f&* Botanical Gazette. [October, 



The asci are 8-spored, very large, varying from 450-750 X 

 14//, tapering to a slender point at base, more gradually to- 

 ward the truncated apex. They are very stout at the apex, 

 somewhat like those of Epichloe typhina (Pers.) Tul. and 

 Hypocrella atramcntosa (B. & C.) the end being slightly en- 

 larged, conoid and truncate. 



The ascospores are linear, hyaline, pluriguttulate and pluri- 

 septate, rounded at each end, at maturity separating at the 

 septa and frequently germinating while yet within the peri- 

 thecia, the germ tubes arising from any of the segments, 

 sometimes before the sporidia separate at the septa. In most 

 of the asci there is indication of a narrow slit through the 



Jr> 



apex, represented by a dark line, but I have never seen the 

 spores escape through it. I have observed the same thing in 



Epichloe 



have not been 



able to determine positively whether it is a slit or only an 

 opaque line. 



</< 



Hyp 



ment lies in the fact that the stroma of Epichloe, as charac- 

 terized, entirely surrounds the stem of its host, while those 

 agreeing in all essential parts of structure, but only partially 

 surrounding their hosts, are provided for in Saccardo's genus 

 Hypocrella. It thus frequently transpires that the genetic 

 relationship of some forms is determined by fortuitous circum- 

 stances rather than by structural affinity. 



Hypocrca atratnentosa B. & C. might have been an Epi- 

 chloe were it not for the fact that it appears too early in the 

 season upon the opening buds of Andropogon Virginicus. 

 These it first entirely embraces with its infant stroma, when 

 later Andropogon rises, tears it asunder, bears it only upon 

 the underside of the leaves in the cluster, and leaves it noth 

 ing but a Hypocrella! But, until a monographic study can 

 be made of members of both genera, Hypocrea tuberifonnis, 

 H. & R. should read, Hypocrella tuberifonnis (B. & R.) 

 My specimens were collected on Arundinaria viacrospcnna 

 Michx. var. suffruticosa Munro {Arundinaria tecta Muhl.) 



I take this opportunity of noting the favor extended by Mr. 

 B. T. Galloway, Chief of the Division of Vegetable Pathology, 

 Washington. D. C, in allowing me the use of the Bull, do la 

 Soc. Myc. de France, torn. cit. and Ravenel's two exsiccati, 



