22 



ROSELLINIA OVALIS (ELL.) SACC. 



By William A. Riley 



Mr. Ellis has described * under the name Sphaeria ovalis, a 

 pyrenomycete occurring on Artemisia in Utah. Specimens were 

 issued as No. 896 of N. A. F. A careful comparison of these 

 with specimens of Rosellinia pulveracea (Ehr.) shows no essential 

 differences and has led me to question the validity of the 

 species. 



In North American Pyrenomycetes, Mr. Ellis says regarding 

 the new species : " Closely allied to R. pulveracea, differing prin- 

 cipally in its perithecia." A careful study of the two species 

 reveals individual perithecia of each which correspond perfectly. 

 Those of R. pulveracea are in some cases subovate, while, on the 

 other hand, those of R. ovalis are sometimes subglobose. Even 

 in the descriptions there is not brought out any marked distinc- 

 tion. As an aid to comparison, I tabulate Ellis's descriptions 

 of the two species : 



Rosellinia ovalis (Ell.) Sacc. 



Perithecia gregarious or sub- 



caespitose. 

 Ovate. 

 Rough. 



250-300 ft in diameter. 

 Ostiolum obtusely papilliform. 



6. Asci cylindrical, 60— 65 ,uX 6, a. 



7. Stipe 15-20 ft. 



8. Spores short-elliptical to ob- 



long, 8-12 ft x 5-7 ft. 



Rosellinia pulveracea (Ehr.) Fckl. 



1. Perithecia densely gregarious, 



often forming continuous 

 crustaceous layer and some- 

 times scattered. 



2. Ovate-globose. 



3. Minutely tubercular-rough- 



ened. 



4. One-third mm. in diameter. 



5. Ostiolum papilliform. 



6. Asci cylindrical 60-70 ft x 10 



7. Stipe 20-30 ft. 



8. Spores elliptical, 8-15, a x 6 



- 9f t. 



The above table shows some little distinction in size of asci 



*Bull. Torr. Club, 8 : 125. 1881. 



