932 REPORT — 1900. 



these layers are cells filled with starch grains, often in various stages of dis- 

 organisation, embedded in a very granular protoplasm, much resembling bacteria. 



The organism is usually present as a globular sporangium at the end of a short 

 hypha : these bodies are densely packed within the cells ; their life-history, though 

 as yet obscure, presents several different phases. Towards the base of the nodule 

 are strands of cells occupied by disorganised contents indicating a previous tract of 

 growth of the organism : this is succeeded by groups of cells filled with the 

 organism in various stages. Towards the apex, and immediately behind the 

 growing point, the cells containing the sporangia are immediately followed by cells 

 tilled with fine hyphal filaments which may be seen to penetrate the walls of the 

 young adjacent cells. 



These observations, which are as yet in a preliminary stage, were made in the 

 Botanical Laboratory, Cambridge, through the kindness of Professor H. Marshall 

 Ward, to whom I am greatly indebted for much help and encouragement. 



8. Fungi found in Ceylon growing upon Scale-insects (Coccidas and 

 Aleurodidse).^ By J. Parkin, M.A., Trinity College, Cambridge. 



The author's attention was called to these fungi by Mr. E. E. Green, Entomo- 

 logist to the Government of Ceylon. The greater part of the specimens was 

 supplied by him. A few examples were collected by the author. 



Fungi associated with scale-insects have till recently been little studied. A 

 few species have been mentioned from time to time as growing upon scales of dead 

 coccids, but, till within the last few years, hardly any attention has been called to 

 their probable parasitic character or to the capability of their being employed to 

 check the ravages of scale-pests. Webber - in 1807 points out for the first time 

 the parasitic habit of certain species — five in all — of Aschersonia on scale-insects 

 infesting the orange and other plants in Florida. Zimmermann ^ in the following 

 year in Java gives a preliminary account oi a. i\xi\o;us {Cephalosporium) attacking 

 the green bug {Lecanium viride), so harmful to the coflee, and describes how_ it 

 may be artificially cultivated for infecting experiments. Green is also conducting 

 such experiments in Ceylon. 



The various kinds here brought to notice are referable to the following genera : 



Pyrenomycetes-Hypocreales : Nectria, Torrubiflla. 



Fungi imperfect!: Aschersonia, Cephalospormm, Verticillium, Microcera, 

 Campsotrichum (?). 



Nectria.—The conidial stage belongs to the Fusarvnn type, with large multi- 

 septate curved conidia. Two distinct species are perliaps recognisable. One has 

 been found on several occasions growing on scale-insects, belonging to three 

 genera of the tribe Diaspidinae. It may perhaps be identical with N. aurantiicola, 

 B. and Br.,* which is mentioned incidentally as growing apparently from some 

 coccus on orange twigs. The other was found on a scale {Asterolecanium miliaris) 

 infesting a bamboo. 



The only allusions to this habitat for Nectrla that the author has found, besides 

 the above one, are two:^ regarding Bra2ilian .species {N. coccorMm, Speg., and 

 JS'. coccogena, Speg.), both described as growing on dead cocci on leaves. 



Torrubiella. — This genus, with thread-like ascospores, consists so far of only 



' The paper was illustrated by dried specimens and coloured drawdngs by Mr. 

 Wm. de Alwis, the Sinhalese draughtsman attached to the Royal Botanical Gardens, 

 Peradeniya. 



- Webber, 'Sooty Mold of the Orange and its Treatment,' U.S. Depart, cf Agric. : 

 Div. of Veg. Physiol, and Pathol, 1897, No. 13. 



' Zimmermann, ' Over eene Schimmelepidemie dcr Groene Luizen,' Voorloopig 

 Eapport, 1898. Buitenzorg, .Java. 



* Berkeley and Broome, ' Fungi of Ceylon,' Journ. Linn. Soc, xiv. 1875, p. 117. 



* Saccardo's Sylloge Fungorum, Additamenta to vols. i,-iv. 1886, p. 203, and 

 vol. ix. 1891, p. 959. 



