GYMNOASCACEAE. ] 1 



Gymnoascaceae, Baranetzky, Bot. Ztg., 1872, p. 158; 

 emended by Saccardo, Syll. viii., p. 811. 



The leading characteristic of the present family consists in 

 the entire absence of the excipulum, the asci being naked 

 throughout their length, and from the first. Some of tho 

 species are true parasites, causing peculiar malformations 

 and distortions on living branches, leaves, fruit, &c., and 

 known popularly as " birds' nests," " witches' brooms," 

 " plum-pockets," &c. Others occur as saprophytes, under the 

 form of minute cottony tufts, on the dung of various 

 animals. 



Taken altogether the members of the present family illus- 

 trate the Ascomycetes in their most reduced condition, 

 nothing remaining but the ascus-bearing hyphae, no trace of 

 perithecium or protective covering of any kind being present. 

 An approach to this condition of things occurs in the 

 Sticteae. 



Subfam. I. ASCOMYCEAE. Mass. 



Asci parallel, densely crowded, sessile or furnished with a 

 basal or stem-cell. Parasitic on living plants. 



Subfam. II. GYMNOASCEAE. Baran. 



Asci scattered or clustered, not parallel ; more or less sur- 

 rounded by a weft of hyphae. Saprophytes. 



ANALYSIS OF THE GENEEA. 



ASCOMYCEAE. 

 Ascomyces. Parasitic on living plants. 



GYMNOASCEAE. 

 Gyxnnoascus. Asci scattered, 8-spored. 



Ascodesmis. Asci parallel, crowded, 8-spored, para- 

 physes present, also trace of ascophore. (Forms a 

 transition to the Ascoboleae.} 



