186 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



nightcap on ; and, also, we were told that occasionally he would 

 put it on during the day if he got teased much and wanted to be 

 left alone. 



[This paper was illustrated with a series of thirty-four limelight 

 views. — Ed. Vict. Nat.'] 



THE FIRST RECORDED FUNGUS-PARASITE ON 

 EPACRIS. 



By D. M'Alpine, Government Vegetable Pathologist. 



{Read before the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, 14th Jan., 1901.) 



Towards the end of August I received from Mr. C. French, 

 F.L.S., specimens of Epacris impressa, Labill., obtained at 

 Caulfield, the plants having a general unhealthy appearance, and 

 the leaves of an ashy-grey tint. Large areas were thus affected, 

 and the disease was evidently destroying the plants, especially the 

 top parts of the young shoots, and causing them prematurely to 

 shed their leaves. 



The cause of the disease turned out to be a fungus, and as this 

 is the first time, to my knowledge, that any fungus growth has 

 been found on Epacris, the fact is worthy of special record. 



It is evidently about this season that the fungus is attaining its 

 full development, for on the 22nd of July Mr. French collected 

 specimens in which the ashy-grey appearance of the leaves was 

 evident, but no definite fructification of any fungus could be found. 

 He was, however, certain that a serious disease was attacking the 

 plants, and sent me more specimens an the 27th August, when I 

 found the fruiting stage of the fungus. 



The leaves of the Epacridese are stiff and harsh, and from their 

 very nature rather unfavourable to fungus-life, hence their com- 

 parative freedom from parasites of a fungus nature. Cooke found 

 a new fungus, Nectria femiginea, on the living leaves and bracts 

 of a species of Styphelia, from Omeo, and this is the only instance 

 recorded in Australia. 



The plants affected by Cladosporium epacridis, n. sp., are 

 readily distinguished from healthy plants by the ashy-grey appear- 

 ance of the leaves, which often fall away and leave the stem 

 bare. Some of the diseased specimens bore flowers, which were 

 evidently retarded in their development. 



Cladosporium epacridis, n. sp. 



Tufts globose, compact, minute, punctiform, black, scattered, 

 bursting through upper surface of leaf, which is ashy-grey, average 

 120 /x broad. 



Hyphse clustered and forming a glomerule, olivaceous, septate, 

 branched, average 4 \x diam. 



