364 



5-septate, brown, 15-20 (mostly 15) x 2 p, scarcely constricted at the 

 septa, and occasionally with one joint (near the upper end) swollen. 



On dead herbaceous stems (apparently of some umbelliferous 

 plant), Utah (S. J. Harkness). 



L. planiuscula, (Riess.) 



Sphceria planiuscula, Riess. Hedw. I, tab. IV, fig. 7. 

 Sphceria Virginica, C. & E. Grev. VIII, p. 16. 

 Leptosphceria planiuscula, Ces. & De Not, Schema, p. 61. 

 Exsicc. Thum. M. U. 1847. Myc. March. 2372. Rehm Asc. 685. EH. N. A. F. 579. Rab. 

 F. E. 946. 



Perithecia scattered or gregarious, at first covered by the epider- 

 mis, then bare and free, depressed-spherical, 300-400 /j. diam., black, 

 smooth, shining, glabrous, with a small, flattened, perforated ostiolum. 

 Asci clavate, 105-115 x 14-16 /a stipitate, paraphysate. Sporidia 

 biseriate, fusoid, straight, at first uniseptate and nucleate, becoming 

 5-septate and brown, 40-55 x 6-7 fx. 



On dead stems of Lepidium Virginicum, Newfield, N. J., and on 

 L. intermedium, Manhattan, Kansas. 



The American specc. agree with the form on Cruciferous plants 

 in Rehm's Asc. 1. c. and can hardly be specifically distinct from the 

 usual European form on Solidago Virgaurea. 



L. comatella, (C. & E.) 



Sphceria comatella, C. & E. Grev. V, p. 52. 

 Leptosphceria Asparagi, Pk. 40th Rep. p. 70. 

 Leptosphceria comatella, Sacc. Syll. 2965. 

 Heptameria comatella, Cke. Syn. 4762. 

 Exsicc. EH. N. A. F. 190. 



Gregarious or scattered. Perithecia ovate, dark brown, covered. 

 Ostiola erumpent, surrounded by short, erect, rigid, black hairs. Asci 

 clavate, subsessile, paraphysate, 8-spored, 75-80x15 p. Sporidia 

 crowded-biseriate, abruptly fusiform, 5-septate, constricted at the 

 septa, hyaline, at length brown, 20-25 x 7-8 p. (35-40 x9//, Cke.). 



On various dead herbaceous stems, Asparagus, Verbascum, 

 Gerardia, Desmodium, Baptisia, Phaseolus (cult.), Daucus, Tan- 

 acetum, and Aralia, Newfield, N. J. 



Var. Lespedezw, E. & E., has the sporidia 6-7- septate, 35 x 8 p 7 

 slightly curved, with one of the joints swollen. The bristles around 

 the ostiolum are sometimes wanting. 



L. Mertensiae, (Ell.) 



Sphceria Mertensice, EH. Bull. Torr. Bot. Club, VIII, p. 90. 

 Leptosphceria Mertensice, Sacc. Syll. 2972. 

 Heptamerice Mertensice, Cke. Syn. 4772. 



Perithecia subcuticular, at length erumpent, about \ mm. diam v 



