CLASSIFICATION OF FUNGI 53 



relationship between conidial and ascosporic stages is 

 unknown, and therefore botanists are unable to place 

 them in their proper positions. 1 It is also probable that 

 some species have lost their ascosporic stage, and are 

 entirely dependent upon the conidia for perpetuation. 

 Our lack of knowledge concerning this group makes it 

 a very difficult study for both scientific and economic 

 purposes. 



As a matter of convenience the class has been 

 divided into three groups or orders, the Hyphomycetes 

 (or Moniliales), the Melanconiales, and the Sphaer- 

 opsidales. 



Order 1. HYPHOMYCETES or MONILIALES. This is 

 the largest order of the Fungi Imperfecti. Many of 

 the species are probably the conidial stages of Ascomy- 

 cetous fungi. It is a sort of waste-basket order in 

 which have been thrown many fungi, of which we have 

 an imperfect knowledge. It contains a very large 

 number of species, the majority of which are saprophytic. 

 It is subdivided into four families as follows : 



Family Moniliaceae, which contains many leaf 

 parasites. 



Family Dematiaceae, which includes Cladosporium, 

 Heterosporium, Helminthosporium, Cercospora, Macro- 

 sporium, and Alternaria, all of which are abundant, 

 and cause many very destructive diseases. 



The species belonging to the genus Cladosporium 

 are the cause of many diseases, although most of them 

 are saprophytic. The diseases are usually known as 

 " scabs." The conidia vary somewhat in form, but in 

 general may be said to be globose or ovoid, and one to 

 four-celled. Among the most important species are 

 C. carpophUwm, Thum, of the peach ; C. fulvum, Cke., 

 of the tomato ; C. brunneoatrum, of the orange ; and 

 C. elegans, Penz, and C. citri, B. & F., of the lemon 

 (see pp. 119, 124, 217). 



1 An illustration of this is Glomerella yossypii, (Southworth) Edgerton, 

 which was known as Colletotrichum gossypii, Sou., until Dr. Edgerton dis- 

 covered the ascosporic stage. 



