126 ILLINOIS STATE ACADEMY OF .SCIENCE 



NEW SPECIES OF FUNGI FROM ILLINOIS 



H. W. Andeeson, Univeesity of Illinois 



In spite of the fact that Illinois in the past has been 

 the collecting ground for a number of our most noted 

 mycologists such as Seymour, Earle, Burrill, Waite and 

 Clinton, there are still numerous species of undescribed 

 fungi to be found parasitizing its rich flora. Illinois is 

 on the border line between the hardwood forests of the 

 east and the prairies of the west. To the north are the 

 sand dunes of the lake and swamps of the Kankakee. 

 To the south are the unglaciated hills. To the west we 

 have large areas of river bottom with bluffs and ravines, 

 while in the center is a great level prairie region. 

 Through the central part of the state from north to south 

 runs the broad right of way of the Illinois Central, and 

 along this are many almost undisturbed areas where 

 collecting is especially profitable. The cream has been 

 skimmed from many choice collecting grounds by the 

 industrious older mycologists, but there is little doubt 

 that a systematic search in almost any locality would 

 reveal many new species. As an example of this, I may 

 sight a recent collection of an entirely new rust on 

 Laportea canadensis {Urticastrum clivaricatum Ktze) 

 in a woods near Urbaiia which has been the favorite 

 collecting ground of Burrill and his students for years. 

 This rust {Cerotelimn dicentrae Mains & And.) is of 

 especial interest because it served to connect up the 

 Aecidium on Dutchmans Breeches {Aecidium Dicen- 

 trae), a connection which has been puzzling the students 

 of the rusts for many years. In this same woods two of 

 the new species to be described were also found. 



The five new species here described represent only a 

 small part of a collection of ' * unkno\viis " which have 

 been filed away for future w^ork. The material can be 

 examined only at odd times and it has been my desire 

 to avoid making new species if possible. The recently 

 organized plant disease survey of the state is responsible 

 in part for the presentation of these new species since 

 it was felt that all available material should be placed 



