A LILY DISEASE 161 



'A LILY DISEASE' 



(Sclerotinia, sp. ) 



Professor Marshall Ward has described the Botrytis 

 form of a Sclerotinia which forms orange-brown and buff 

 specks on the stem, pedicels, leaves, and buds of the white 

 lily (Lilium candiduni). The ascigerous condition is not 

 yet known, and this is mentioned more especially for 

 the purpose of directing attention to the very elaborate 

 account of the fungus under consideration, which deals 

 in a masterly manner with the mode of life of the parasite, 

 and indicates the method by which the mycelium is 

 enabled to pass through the living tissues of a host-plant. 



Marshall Ward, Annals of Botany, vol. ii. p. 319, pi. 

 xx.-xxiv. (1889). 



Several other species of Sclerotinia attack cultivated and 

 wild plants. In those cases where injury is experienced, 

 the only means of prevention is to destroy diseased plants, 

 and desist from cultivating susceptible plants in soil con- 

 taining sclerotia. 



Peziza vesiculosa, Bull. Tubeuf gives an account of this 

 fungus, which is so common as a saprophyte on old manure- 

 heaps and on richly manured ground. It attacks species 

 of Balsamina, Hyacinthus, Sidalcea, etc., in gardens. 

 Plants supposed to have been killed by the fungus were 

 placed under a bell jar, and were soon covered with 

 the conidial form of Peziza vesiculosa, as described by 

 Brefeld. 



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