475] MELIOLA IN PORTO RICO — STEVENS 



THE GENUS MELIOLA IN PORTO RICO 



The genus Meliola while not the largest or the most important genus 

 of parasitic fungi in Porto Rico possesses features of special interest. 

 As at present understood from the monograph of Gaillard, it constitutes 

 a well defined, clearly marked genus with a fairly large number of species. 

 In the Sylloge Fungorum of Saccardo 234 species and varieties are 

 included; 63 additional species have since been described, making 297 

 species and varieties recognized prior to the present paper. The fungi 

 are especially beautiful in contour, superficial with small penetrating 

 haustoria. Usually their effect upon the host is slight though in some 

 instances well marked pathological effects are discernible. They are 

 among the most common genera of leaf inhabiting fungi in Porto Rico, 

 and may be found in all parts of the island in great abundance, usually, 

 though not always, causing conspicuous black blotches upon one or 

 both surfaces of the leaf, more rarely upon stems. 



The present study is based almost entirely upon collections made 

 by the writer during the years 1912, 1913, and 1915. Cognizance is ta- 

 ken also of the collections of Heller reported by Earle. Nearly every 

 species noted by earlier writers is included in my own collections and is 

 usually reported upon several hosts and from numerous localities. 



A narrative of the two collecting trips which furnished those speci- 

 mens is given in the Journal of the New York Botanical Garden, June 

 1916. 



A reference to the time involved has been made by Arthur.^ 



The specimens, types, cotypes, etc. of this collection have been depos- 

 ited as indicated by Miss E. Young.- Other articles based on these col- 

 lections have been published by P. Garman,' E. Young,* J. C. Arthur.' 



^Mycologia 7:168, 1915, and 8:20, 1916. 



2Mycologia 7:143, 1915. 



sMycologia 7 -.333, 1915. 



■*Mycologia 8:42, 1916. 



'Mycologia 7:168, 227, 315, 1915; 8:16, 1916. 



