171 
§ 3. ECroconIUM. 
ve Melanconium sphaerospermum, Link, Sp. Pl. ii, 1825, 
Pp. 
a species of Melanconium on the Reed-like Grasses have 
been misunderstood to an un eae ak There appear to be 
at least two rather common n Europe, which gi 
each other very closely, but lifer slightly 4 in ake size and shap 
of meus pores. 
haa spores that in face-view appear all but ges 
estar, but when seen in profile exhibit a lens-shaped section 
which is in general equally biconvex, but sometimes approaches 
a plano-convex form, with one side flatter than the other, thoug 
always with a rather acute or somewhat — heer These 
spor es measure about 9-10 mw in diam by about 3-4 pw in 
thickness; they are dark but clear isupeae faa guttules 
or granules. From the sudden change in ref ractive power due to 
the flattened margin, the dark centre, when seen in full face-view, 
appears to be surrounded by a paler semi- -translucent zone; when 
face-view, although in profile they exactly resemble no. 1. 
Both these kinds of spores are borne on short straight sporo- 
phores, which arise from a hee stratum or occasionally 
from a well-developed stroma. In the spore-bearing stratum 
originates beneath the epidermis, ae the spore-mass bursts 
through it in a long slit (or two parallel slits) and pore ni 
effused on the surface of the matrix. The spores are at first m 
r less compacted like those of other Melanconia, but altsnatale 
they break up to form a black pulverulent external stratum which 
ows no signs of its internal origin. 
he apparent thickness of the lens-shaped spore depends 
nies upon the a sy at which it is seen; all possible widths 
af p. up to 0 » can often be seen in the same field. 
i. eee ium sphaerospermum, Link, Sp. Pl. ii. 91 
825) “Sibespon aomgig easy Pers. Obs. Mycol. p- 31, pl. 1, 
z SO 6); Syn. Fung. p. 97 (1801). 
= Melawenncuin Donacis, Thiim. Contr. Myc. Lusit. no. 
190! (¥en Coniosporium Donacis, Sacc.) 
But ange to say, both these e fungi eth also been —— 
by oad to be Hyphomycetes, of the § Dematiei, which i 
ae advanced effused state they much resemble. 
. 1. is Coniosporium esting Sace. Mich. ii. 124 ait 
Sell, iv. 243=Gymnosporium Arundinis, Cord. Ic. Fun 
tab. 8, £. 1 (1838) =Papularia Arundinis, Fr. Summ. Veg. Stes ae 
p. 509 (1846). 
