162 FUXGOLD PESTS OF CULTIVATED PLANTS. 



CONSERVATORY PARASITES. 



Separate from the fungi which affect garden plants there are a few 

 that are troublesome in the stove and conservatory, and these could not 

 be excluded from the present enumeration. In this connection the list 

 might have been much extended, but the persons interested would be 

 necessarily limited, as compared with those who confine themselves to out- 

 door culture. 



SOOTY MOULD OF ORANGE. 

 Fumago vagans (Pers.), PL XIV. fig. 21. 



This black mould is familiar enough, as it occurs on the foliage of 

 numerous trees in this country, and especially such as are subject ta 

 honeydew. It forms black patches on the leaves, to such an extent as to 

 form a crust ; but in this condition it is simply an imperfect fungus, 

 and may develop into a species of Capnodium or Meliola, as the case 

 may be. 



The creeping mycelium is branching, and closely adnate to the 

 matrix, sometimes confluent and forming cellular ganglia, or torulose, like 

 a string of beads, constituting an effused thinly membranaceous stratum, 

 which is apt to flake off when dry, and resembling a coating of soot. 

 Short fertile branches arise from this mycelium, which are more or less 

 branched ; conidia at the tips of the branches, often forming short chains, 

 sometimes one-celled, usually two-celled, and sometimes three-celled 

 (5-15 yu long), dark brown. 



It is found throughout Europe and North America, and in parts of 

 Asia, but it is scarcely probable that we shall be troubled with the 

 advanced stages in this country, whether Capnodium, Meliola, or any of 

 their kindred. 



Sacc. Syll. iv. 2618 ; Journ. E.H.S. iv. 251 ; U.S.A. Dep. AgrL 

 Bull. 8, pi. vii. ; Mass. PL Dis. p. 101, f. 17. 



Specking of Citrus fruits, in Australia, has been attributed to a mould 

 fungus Penicillium digitatum, causing a loss of from 2 to 50 per cent, on 

 fruit shipped during the season. 



Journ. B.H.S. xxviii. p. 243. 



ORANGE SOOTY BLOTCH. 



Several kinds of " sooty blotch " are recorded, but it is doubtful if any 

 of them are British. 



The Italian sooty blotch, Meliola Penzigii (Sacc. " Fungi Italici," figs. 

 1132-1135), is found in South Europe, and of this Capnodium Citri 

 (Desm.) is possibly a form. 



Sicilian blotch, Meliola Citri (B. & P.), is found on Orange leaves in 

 Sicily. 



Australian blotch, Capnodium citricola (McAlp.), occurs on leaves 

 of Orange and Lemon in Australia. (Mass. PL Dis. p. 103.) 



