14 FLORA OP LOWEE COAL MEASURES OF MISSOURI. 



Hysterites Cordaitis Gr. 'Ey. 

 PI. III. • 



1S77. Hysterites Cordaitis Grand 'Eury, Fl. foss. carb. Loire, p. 10, pi. i, flg. 7. 



1892. Hysterites Cordaitis Gr. 'Ey., Meschiuelli, Sylloge Fung. Foss. (ex Saccardo: 



Sylloges Fung., vol. x), p. 37. 



1893. Hysterites Cordaitis Gr. 'By., Potonie, Fl. RotLl. Thiiriugen, p. 25, pi. i, fig. 5. 

 1898. Hysterites Cordaitis Gr. 'Ey., Meschinelli, Fung. Foss. Iconogr., p. 47, pi. xv, 



figs. 7, 9 (uou fig. 10). 



Conceptacles numerous, somewhat massed or scattered upon the leaves 

 of Cordaites, on which their existence seems to depend; quite constant in 

 form; usually elongated in the same direction as the leaf, and opening on 

 one face of the latter by a longitudinal vent of dehiscence, which makes 

 them resemble the Hysterice. 



The above diagnosis, quoted from Grand 'Eury's descriptive remarks, 

 gives a general idea of the superficial aspect of this fungus, the anatomical 

 features of which are still unknown. As is shown in PI. Ill, Fig. la, the 

 perithecia in all our specimens are of the more or less elongated form 

 characteristic of the species, which, as Grand 'Eury remarks, appears to be 

 peculiar to Cordaites. 



The Missouri examples of the species, seen on the leaves of Cordaites 

 commimis Lx., seem to agree well with the description and figures of the 

 original specimens from the basin of the Loire in France. In many cases 

 only the pit remains in the leaf substance, while m others the perithecia 

 are not yet opened. I have seen similar remains on leaves of Cordaites 

 from the anthracite regions of Pennsylvania. None of the remains which 

 I refer to this species are of the form seen in the perithecia shown by 

 Germar m his figure of Neuropteris suhcrenulata The discussion by 

 Grand 'Eury of this figure seems to have led Professor Meschinelli to the 

 en-oneous reference to the latter species as the host of Systerites Cordaitis. 

 It is possible that the round, oval, or oblong pits occurring between the 

 nerves in some species of Neuropteris, and described by several authors as 

 fern fructifications, may really ]-epresent a type of fungus inhabiting the 

 pinnules of Neuropteris, and perhaps related to Hysterites. The question of 

 the relationship of some of these to the living Phyllachora, pertinently 

 suggested by the late Director Stm-, is worthy of consideration. 



Locality. — Pitcher's coal bank, U. S. Nat. Mus., 5418. 



