292 Transactions British Mycological Society. 
Schellenberg’s description of 
S. Mespili summarized 
Diam. of cup 6-8 mm. 
Apothecium bell-shaped to cup- 
shaped without recurved margin; 
margin becomes split irregularly. 
Asci 160-180 x 8-12 (3 asci are 
figured all with several vacuoles); 
apical pore stained blue with iodine. 
Paraphyses as long as asci, slightly 
swollen at apex (figured as simple 
or with one branch). 
Ascospores ellipsoid to ovoid often 
with a point at each pole, 
I2-15 xQ-II pb 
The Medlar Sclerotinia described 
in this paper - 
Diam. of cup 3-9 mm. 
Apothecium funnel-shaped to cup- or 
saucer-shaped, at length plane or 
even slightly convex, and lobed by 
the splitting of the margin. 
Asci: (a) with no vacuoles or several 
small ones 144-171 x 7°5-9°OW. 
(b) with one large vacuole 
159-210 X Q°5-I2 M3 
apical pore stained blue with iodine. 
Paraphyses about as long as asci, un- 
branched or with one branch, 
usually swollen at tip. 
Ascospores rather irregular, usually 
ellipsoid to ovoid, but often pyri- 
form or fusiform, sometimes almost 
pointed, 10-19°5 x 5-7-5, mostly 
12-16 x6-74. Average size 
136 xO-4 pm. 
The mode of development of the ascophore from the mum- 
mified fruit is described by Schellenberg as follows: “‘ Wenn aus 
dem Sclerotium sich ein Apothecium bildet, so tritt die Ablage 
[? Anlage] als kleiner fleischiger Hocker aus der Frucht heraus. 
Diese wird gestielt und das knopfférmige Ende breitet sich nach 
und nach zur Glockenform aus*.’”’ This is not in accordance 
with my own observations, for when the fruits were brought 
indoors they were under daily observation and it was found 
that, instead of the primary protuberance becoming stalked 
and raised up to form the cup, it elongated at its apex; it was 
thus attenuated upwards and at that stage was more or less 
conical or flask-shaped so that there was some doubt as to 
whether it was really a Sclerotinia or whether it was a Sordaria, 
a genus characterized by a flask-shaped perithecitum. No pore 
appeared however until there was further apical elongation and 
the development of a terminal head which finally expanded to 
form the cup. 
Schellenberg describes and figures the infection of Medlar 
leaves with the ascospores. Attempts to induce germination of 
the ascospores of the Wye specimens failed both in water and 
on agar plates. Ascospores isolated on the surface of prune 
juice agar gradually disintegrated without even the protrusion 
of germ tubes. That fully matured spores behaved thus was 
shown by catching, on the agar, spores actually shot out from 
the asci; these could be seen under the microscope in groups of 
eight and were kept under observation for a week or more, but 
no germ tubes were developed. Apothecia were then attached 
* Loc. cit. p. 190. 
