556 



soid and comparatively thin and small, or subtubercular and much 

 larger. The sporidia in all the specc. we have examined are mostly 

 about 15x8/*. South American specc. from Spegazini, on a woody 

 species of Solanum, have the sporidia mostly less than 15 p. long, while 

 most of the U. S. specc. have sporidia 15-18, and occasionally even 

 30 f long. 



Sydow, M. Marchica, 2145, is Anthostoma, sporidia continu- 

 ous, brown. Roum. F. Gall. 5230, is only the spermogonial stage of 

 some Valsa, and Thiim. M. U. 466, is a Fenestellct] sporidia 3-4-sep- 

 tate and submuriform. 



V. Farlowiana, Sacc. Mich. II, p. 137. (Plate 36) 



Acervuli (stromata) depressed-pulvinate, gregarious, 1-1 mm. 

 diam., black, at first subcutaneous, but when the bark falls away, 

 denuded and seated on the blackened wood. Perithecia numerous, 

 globulose. Ostiola erumpent in a circular, umbilicate disk. Asci 

 cylindrical, evanescent, 8-spored. Sporidia obliquely uniseriate, ob- 

 long-ellipsoid, rounded at the ends, slightly constricted, uniseptate, 

 dark brown, 15-18x7-8'//. 



On branches of Berberis vulgaris, Cambridge, Mass. (Farlow). 



This does not seem to us specifically distinct from V. insitiva, 

 but is separated from that species by Saccardo, on account of the car- 

 bonaceous stroma and umbilicate disk. Specc. from Farlow do not 

 agree with the description published, having the stroma much larger 

 (3 mm.-l| cm. diam.), and where the bark has fallen away, with the 

 margin abrupt. The outer layer in these denuded stromata is sub- 

 carbonaceous, which results apparently from exposure, the inside being 

 of the usual color and consistence. The same subcarbonized surface 

 has been noted in specc. found at Newfield, N. J., on decorticated 

 limbs of apple trees. 



V. exasperans, (Gerard). 



Diatrype exasperans, Ger. in Bull. Torr. Bot. Club, V, p. 40, (Sept. 1874). 

 Diatrype obesa, B. & C. in Herb. 



Diatrype quadrata, Schw. (fide Berk, in Grev. IV, p. 94. 

 Sphceria aspera, Fr. in Herb. Schw. 1440. 

 Exsicc. Thum. M. U. 467, 2261. Rehm Asc. 325. Rav. F. Am. 665. Rav. Car. IV, No. 47. 

 EH. N. A. F. 493. 



Stromata scattered or seriately confluent, orbicular, oblong or 

 variously shaped, flattened below and enclosed in a distinct con- 

 ceptacle, open above, sides rising abruptly 1J-2 mm. high, subcarnose 

 and dirty blackish- or yellowish-brown inside, the tawny-yellow apex 

 erumpent and closely embraced by the epidermis, seated on the sur- 

 face of the inner bark. Perithecia polystichous, subglobose, about 

 I mm. diam. or a little over, coriaceous, black, necks cylindrical, rising 



