627 



N. punctulata, (B. & Rav.) 



Diatrype punctulata, B. & Rav. Grev. IV, p. 94. 

 - Hypoxylon punctulatum, Cke. Syn. 995. 

 Nnmmularia punctulata, Sacc. Syll. 1534. 

 Exsicc. Rav. F. Car. Ill, No. 51. Rav. F. Am. 652. Ell. N. A. F. 84. 



Originating beneath the cuticle which is soon thrown off, closely 

 adnate, black, smooth and polished, effused and spreading for 5-20 cm. 

 or more, but not projecting above the bark. Ostiola punctiform, 

 depressed, appearing like minute punctures made with the point of a 

 pin, margin sterile, thin. Perithecia monostichous, elongated-ovoid, 

 rather more than J mm. high, covered above by the thin, carbonaceous 

 stroma. Asci cylindrical, with a slender base, 100 x 7 /i, with filiform 

 paraphyses, (p. sp. 75-80 p. long). Sporidia uniseriate, elliptical, 

 yellowish-hyaline, 2-nucleate, 7-8 x 5 /*, ends flattened while lying in 

 the asci. We have not seen them free, and cannot say whether they 

 become opake. The asci and sporidia are generally poorly developed. 



On bark of dead oak, common. 



N. tinctor, (Berk.) 



Spheeria tinctor, Berk. Hook. I,ond. Journ. Bot. IV, p. 311. 

 Hypoxylon tinctor, Cke. Syn. 996. 

 Exsicc. EH. & Evrht. N. A. F. 2d Ser. 1789. 



Stroma effused, dull black, very hard, exhibiting all the ineqnah 

 ities of the matrix, 1 mm, thick, 5-20 cm. long, and 2-5 cm. wide. 

 margin thin and sterile, surface nearly smooth, but under the lens 

 distinctly papillose from the the slightly prominent ostiola. The sub- 

 jacent wood is deeply tinged orange-red, and is rendered very hard. 

 Perithecia monostichous, crowded, elongated (j mm.), covered above 

 with the hard, brittle, shining black stromatic layer. Asci 112 (p. sp. 

 90-1 00) x 7-8 p., with abundant, filiform paraphyses. Sporidia uni- 

 seriate, pale brown, with a single rather large nucleus, oblong- 

 navicular, 15x6 fi. with the ends subobtuse. 



On dead trunks and limbs of various deciduous trees, from Ohio 

 west to Kansas, and south to Louisiana, Florida, and Texas. 



The stroma originates under the cuticle which is soon thrown off. 

 The general appearance is that of H. punctulatum, B. & Rav., and it 

 has the same hard, brittle stroma as that species. 



N. clypeus, (Schw.) 



Sphceria clypeus, Schw. Syn. Car. No. 42. 

 Diatrype clypeus, B. & C. Grev. IV, p. 95. 

 Nummularia clypeus, Cke. Grev. XII, p. 6. 



Elliptical in outline, flattened, immersed, shining-black, roughened 



