Hypocreaceae 



COHORT PTRENOMTCETES. 

 FAMILY. HYP OGRE AC E-ffi. 



HYPO'MYCES Fr. 



Gr. under; Gr. fungus. 



Perithecia (the hollow narrow-mouthed cases which contain the Hypomyce*. 

 spores) gregarious, with a cottony stroma in which they are more or 

 less immersed. Mostly parasitic on various Hymenomycetes or Dis- 

 comycetes; bright colored, with papilliform (nipple-shaped) or slightly 

 elongated ostiola (apertures). Asci mostly cylindrical, 8-spored, with- 

 out paraphyses. Sporidia oblong or fusoid, uniseptate, hyaline. Co- 

 nidial stage represented by Asterophora, etc. 



This parasite attacks several species of fungi, and so alters their 

 structure and appearance that it is difficult to distinguish the host-plant. 

 The attack is made in the extreme youth of the plant. The writer is 

 fully satisfied from his own observation that H. lactifluorum and H. 

 purpurea infest Lactarius piperatus. The milk cells are so changed by 

 H. lactifluorum that they yield no milk. When attacked by H. pur- 

 purea the milk is a beautiful purple. In both cases the pepperiness of 

 the host-plant is destroyed. I have seen the same host plant attacked 

 by both forms of the Hypomyces. After the host-plant of Hypomyces 

 lactifluorum is fully grown, and infested, it is frequently attacked by 

 Hypomyces purpureus. Purple spots appear, which gradually spread 

 until the entire plant is covered. This Hypomyces seems to affect the 

 milk cells. A beautiful, profuse, purple fluid results. 



The parasite is proving itself an enemy to fungi, but a friend to man. 

 Upon L. piperatus and upon Amanita rubescens it very much adds to 

 the weight of the plants, and improves the texture and edible qualities. 

 The same may be said of L. volemus, but not to such a degree. Prof. 

 M. W. Easton in August, 1899, found this species at Mt. Gretna, Pa., 

 attacked by a parasitic fungus in such a manner as to destroy its milk- 

 36 561 



