192 Transactions British Mycological Society. 



germinating spores. This tuft extends to the base of the mass 

 but does not spread to any extent over the surrounding mycehum. 

 The fungus under consideration clearly belongs to the genus 

 Monochaetia, which is distinguished from Pestalozzia (of which 

 it previously formed a part) by the presence of a single seta. A 

 considerable number of species have been described in the 

 former genus but few of these occur on conifers and we have 

 been unable to find any of which the description agrees with 

 the present fungus. In consequence we propose to make this 

 a new species under the name Monochaetia Cryptomeriae. There 

 is no evidence to show that the species is parasitic, the fructi- 

 fications only being found on the dead leaves lying on the 

 ground. 



Monochaetia Cryptomeriae, n. sp. 



Acervulis amphigenis, circularibus vel ovoideis, sparsis, sub- 

 nigris, opacis baud nitentibus, laevibus, innato-erumpentibus, 

 •75-1 mm. diam. ; sporulis fusiformibus, utrinque acutiusculis, 

 4-septatis, vix constrictis, 22-30 x 7-5-10 /x, brunneis, loculis 

 terminalibus hyahnis, apice setula, 20-32 x i /x, hyahna, fiHformi, 

 curva dein rectiuscula terminatis; sporophoris filiformibus, 

 hyalinis, 4-20 x 1-2 {j,. 



Hab. in Scotia, Raith, Fife, in foliis dejectis Cryptomeriae 

 japonicae. 



DESCRIPTION OF PLATE VIII. 



Figs I, 2, 6 and 7 are from photographs; figs 3, 4 and 5 are from camera 

 lucida drawings. 



Fig. I. Transverse section of the leaf of Cryptomeria japonica showing the 

 young fructification, x 190. 



Fig. 2. Similar section of a mature fructification, x 190. 



Fig. 3. Spores in different stages of development: a, proximal, e, distal ter- 

 minal cells; b, c, d, central cells; /, g, are probably early stages of develop- 

 ment. X 610. 



Fig. 4. Spores germinating in water; at a, the germ-tube is bifurcating, x 6ro. 



Fig. 5. Mycelium from culture: a, stout hyphae containing aggregations of 

 pink material; b, strands of hyphae. x 610. 



Fig. 6. Section of fructification from culture, x 190. 



Fig. 7. Central portion of a culture showing fructifications which have 

 extruded their spores in masses of mucilage (natural size). 



