Fig. 1027. 



XYLARIA CLAVUS, FROM J. P. MOUSSET, JAVA 

 (Fig. 1027). Plant 1-3 cm. high, with a dull, black surface: capitate 

 tapering to the base, sometimes with slender stipe. 

 Context solid, white, firm. Perithecia imbedded, 

 near the surface of the head only. Spores 7 x 

 20-22, dark, rather acute at the end. 



We have had this among our unnamed Xyla- 

 rias for several years, and have concluded to name 

 it in connection with Daldinia angolensis, which 

 it resembles in shape. This is, however, a true 

 Xylaria with white, hard, fleshy context. It re- 

 sembles a nail, hence the name. Fries named 

 from Brazil in 1830 a Sphaeria Clavus which is 

 now included in Kretzschmaria and must not be confused with this 

 plant. 



DALDINIA ANGOLENSIS, FROM T. HUNTER, AFRICA 



(Fig. 1028). This is the first time we have received this species, or 

 have seen specimens. It was figured fifty 

 years ago by Currey from Angola, Africa 

 (cfr. note 473), and named Hypoxylon 

 angolense. It was compiled in Saccardo, 

 Vol. I, as Daldinia angolensis, but Cooke 

 arranged it in Rhopalopsis and later Sac- 

 cardo changed it into the latter genus 

 under the name Kretzschmaria. He had 

 better have left it where it was. Both 

 Saccardo and Cooke were guessing, and 

 Saccardo made the best guess. It is a 

 typical Daldinia as to spongy, zonate con- 

 text, and Daldinia rests on this character. 

 It is the first species, however, of Daldinia 

 where the stipe is strongly distinct from 

 the fruiting portion. Dal- 

 dinia vernicosus has a 

 stipelike base, but not 

 strongly distinct. The 

 plant is capitate, tapering 

 to the base, and in shape 

 resembles a round headed 

 nail. The surface has a 

 black, shiny crust. The 

 texture of the stipe is hard, black, carbonous; of the head is soft, 

 spongy, greyish, with a zone of harder black tissue beneath the perithe- 

 cia, which are imbedded near the surface of the head. Spores are 

 6-7 x 12-14, obtuse, dark, when young paler and guttulate. We pre- 

 sent a figure 1028 natural size and 1029 enlarged. As far as known, 

 this species only occurs in tropical Africa. We have, very rarely, in 

 our southern United States a similar plant (externally), known as 

 Xylaria Cudoma, which may prove to be the same species. (Cfr. 

 Letter I\o. 64, page 3.) 



Fig. 1028. 



Fig. 1029. 



