661 



zoned. Perithecia monostichous, obo void-oblong, 1 mm. or a little 

 'more in length and about \ mm. broad, more or less angular from 

 mutual pressure. Ostiola slightly prominent, punctifbrm, minute. 

 Sporidia obliquely uniseriate, inequi laterally elliptical, dark brown 

 and finally opake, 12-15x7-10 /i. Asci long-pedicellate, 80-100 x 

 8-10 fi (p. sp.), with long, filiform paraphyses. 



On dead trunks of various deciduous trees, common from New 

 England to California, and from Canada to Louisiana and Mexico. 



D. vernieosa, (Schw.) 



Sphczria vernicosa, Schw. Syn. N. Am. 1175. 

 Daldinia vernicosa, Ces. & De Not. 1. c. 

 Exsicc. EH- N. A. F. 166. 



Stroma large (2 J 3 x 1 J cm.), subturbinate, suddenly contracted 

 below into a thick, stipe-like base which is sometimes concentrically 

 wrinkled: surface of the stroma ferruginous at first from the conidial 

 layer, finally black and shining. Perithecia peripherical, subglobose 

 (sec. Schw.), but in all the specimens we have seen, ovoid-oblong 

 about the same in size and shape as in the preceding species. Sae- 

 cardo in Sylloge says perithecia polystichous, but we have never found 

 them so, though a vertical section through one side of the stroma shows 

 them apparently in more than one layer; but this is only apparent, as 

 may be seen in a vertical section through the center of the stroma. 

 We find the asci and sporidia about as in the preceding species, though 

 in the Sylloge they are said to be longer and narrower. This is dis- 

 tinguished from. D. concentrica by its shining-black stroma, and the 

 looser texture of the radiate-fibrous inner substance which is cut by 

 8-12 dark colored, membranaceous horizontal layers or plates. These 

 are very noticeable in a vertical section even in the young plant, while 

 it is still covered with the conidial layer and before the terminal, sub- 

 globose, ascigerous stroma has begun to appear. In the mature state, 

 the fibrous inner substance and the horizontal membranes disappear 

 to a greater or less extent, and leave the stroma more or less hollow, 

 so that it may be easily crushed with the fingers, but in D. concentrica 

 the inner substance remains firm and is also of a darker color. 



On fence pickets, Salem, North Carolina, (Schw.), on trunks of 

 dead oak trees, Newfield, N. J.; also sent from New England and New 

 York. 



D. cingulata, (Lev.) 



Sphceria cingulata, Lev. Ann. Sci. Nat. Ser. Ill, (1845), p. 47. 

 Daldinia cingulata, Sacc. Syll. 1521. 



