^> 



452 



Stroma effused, short and narrow or continuous and surrounding- 

 the entire stem, which is finally blackened on the surface and pene- 

 trated by the black, stromatic lines. Perithecia globose or sub- 

 depressed, scattered irregularly or oftener in closely packed groups, 

 buried in the matrix, attenuated above into short necks. Ostiola more 

 or less elongated, with a conical base, more or less nodulose, generally 

 straight, moderately exserted. Asci oblong-clavate, 8-spored, 40-50 x 

 6-8 p. Sporidia biseriate, fusoid, mostly straight, 2-celled, not con- 

 stricted, subobtuse, 3-4 nucleate, hyaline, 10-14 x 3-4 p. 



On dead stems of Solidago, Aster, and Achillea, New Jersey. 



Yar. Lactucm, E. & E., has the surface of the stem uniformly 

 blackened, and the sporidia only 8-10 a long. On dead stems of 

 Lactuca Canadensis, New Jersey and Louisiana, 



D. aculeata, (Schw.) 



Sphceria aculeata. Schw. Syn. N. Am. 1287. 

 Diapor the aculeata, Sacc. Syll. 2534, Cke. Syn. 2310. 

 Exsicc. Hll. N. A. F. 589 (as D. spiciclosa). 



Extensively and indefinitely effused. Perithecia deeply buried in 

 the substance of the stem, depressed-globose, black, scattered, their 

 long, cylindrical ostiola erumpent through a thin, black crust, lying 

 just beneath the thin cuticle, and at length exposed, or where more 

 scattered, rising through a small, elongated, black, superficial tubercle. 

 Asci p. sp. about 5 x 7 p. Sporidia biseriate, fusiform, with 4 large 

 nuclei which, by crowding against each other, causethe sporidium to 

 appear 3-septate, not constricted, ends subacute, 11-13 x2|-3 pu 



On dead stems of Phytolacca decandra. Common wherever this 

 plant is found. 



D. seiniinsciilpta, Sacc. Syll. 2528. 



Sphczria semiimmersa, B. & C. Grev. IV, p. 146. (non Nits.) 



"Perithecia immersed below, above subcylindrical or subcorneal. 

 Sporidia linear, oblong, curved, 15 p long." 



On dead herbaceous stems, Connecticut (Wright). 



** Q fl monocotyledonous plants. 



I). Maydis, (Berk.) 



Sphceria Maydis, Berk. Hook. London Journ. Bot. Vol. 6, p. 326. 



" Spots minute, elevated, often purple-brown, punctiform or sub- 

 elliptical, rarely linear, containing very few perithecia with a single. 

 broad-conical ostiolum. Sporidia oblong, slightly curved, uniseptate. 



