59 



small round receptacles (Fig. 2) witli triquetrous propagula devoid 

 of hairs (Figs. 3 and 4). It had therefore to be described as a new 

 species of which the following is the diagnosis : 



w 



A. dominicana, Cotton; ab A, Tondnzo, Mang. et, Pat., tri- 

 quetris propagulis differt. 



Thallus gelatinosus, nigricans, applanatus, stellato-ramosus, 

 oontextu ex filamentis torulosis muco immersis constitute, articulis 

 Byalinis ovoideis vel pyriformibus 5-10 fi longis, ultimis fuligi- 

 nosis minoribus globosis, Rami horizontales, patentes, simplices 

 aut furcati, teretes, fertiles inflato-nodulosi. Asci sub superficie 

 dispositi, in ramis normalibus aut intuniescentibus propriis 

 evoluti, 45-50x25-28 m, sporis hyalinis bicellularibus ovoideis 

 utrinque rotundatis medio constrictis 17-20x8-10 /^, Propagula 

 (conidia in gregos collecta) in corbulis rotundis facie superiore 

 thalli ovoluia, triquctra 20-30 /a longa, ex cellulis ovalis 5-6x4 m 

 composita, absque pila. 



Hab. In foliis Citri Medicaey saepo ad scutellis Lepidosaphis 



beckii. 

 West Indies. Dominica: Senhouse Estate, J. Jones 139. 



Life-History and Biology. 



With regard to the biology of Atichia the following items may 

 be recorded. Of the early stages of the plant little is known, but 

 the material forwarded from Dominica supplied a series of speci- 

 mens showing all stages from the budding propagulum to the 

 mature plant. Some of the leaves received were covered with the 

 mycelium of one of the Sooty Moulds (Capnodiaceae), and on this 

 the propagula had become entangled. In the earliest stages their 

 triquetrous outline is still visible, but owing to successive budding 

 this is soon lost and the mass becomes spherical. When about 

 50 /x in diameter these masses begin to assume, but on a com- 

 pressed scale, the same type of structure as the mature plant, and 

 show diUerentiaiion into a soft loosely arranged interior, and a 

 denser cortical layer. These observations are important in show- 

 ing that Atichia is a distinct fungus, and not a stage in the life- 

 history of Capnodium or other genus as some writers have thought. 

 Proof of this, however, was not needed, as Mangin and Pat- 

 ouillard's researches place the question beyond doubt. The ray- 

 like branches begin to protrude as lateral outgrowths when the 

 plant is quite young (about 1 mm. in diameter), four or five rays 

 first appearing, but others follow so that the mature plant may be 

 7-10 rayed. The rays, which are of unequal length, often remain 

 simple, but occasionally they fork or produce short lateral 

 branches. A considerable variation in form is thus found, even 

 in specimens occurring close to each other ; a point which should 

 inculcate caution with regard to the use of external form in this 

 genus. An even greater variation appears to be displayed bj 

 A. Millardeti and A, Tondnzi. 



"From what has been said it will be seen that there is no neces- 

 sary connection l>etween the fungus A. dominicano. and the scale 

 Lepidosaphes becJcii, though as a fact it is often found attached to 

 the latter. Some of the lime leaves forwarded were very badly 



