406 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [DECEMBER 
It is interesting now to note the form of the individual plants 
from which cultures were attempted. One of them resembled in 
shape S pathularia flavida, as if it might have been somewhat arrested 
in development (pl. XIV, fig. 1, b), while others resembled Clavaria 
ligula, and one was more or less deformed, curved strongly, and with 
a broad groove on the concave side. ‘These forms would seem to 
satisfy the wish of the most ardent advocate of the parasite theory 
who does not attempt to put the theory to the crucial test. In struc- 
ture, however, there was no indication of a difference of the structural 
elements such as one might expect to find were the plant parasitic on 
Clavaria ligula or Spathularia, and an advocate of this theory would 
be compelled to join WINTER in saying that the parasite and host 
were completely merged. It should also be said that no normal 
specimens of Clavaria ligula or of Spathularia were at the time grow- 
ing in the immediate vicinity of the Hypocrea. 
Of course, during the next five weeks, while collecting fungi in the 
mountains of North Carolina, I was on the lookout for Hypocrea 
alutacea and its relation to either of these supposed hosts. I found 
one day a large colony of Spathularia clavata growing under a white 
pine tree. The Spathularia extended over an area of 75 t0 100 
square feet. Among the Spathularia plants I found four or five 
specimens of H ypocrea alutacea. These were growing not on wood, 
but apparently from decaying organic matter among the pine needles, 
and, as far as one could judge, their habitat was the same as that 
of the Spathularia. Singularly, the form of these specimens Was 
quite regular. The form was not, however, similar to that of the 
Spathularia, but more like that of Clavaria ligula. But no specimens 
of the latter plant were found growing in the immediate vicinity. 
No other specimens were found during that season. 
On returning to Ithaca in the latter part of September, I hastened 
to examine my tube cultures of the Hypocrea. There were 7 
perfect specimens, one in each of two tubes. Both of them possessed 
the Clavaria-like form and stood up clearly from the substratum. 
Here, then, were two specimens of H ypocrea alutacea in pure culture 
from the ascospores, and the form in general like that of the ee 
found in their natural environment. Moreover, they were certainly 
growing as saprophytes and not as parasites. This, I believe, demon 
