48 



capsule, including the wings, 13-15 mm. long, 16-19 "^^- wide, 

 two of the wings semicircular or slightly bulging near the apex, 

 the third wing with a rounded point, making it truncate on the 

 upper side : seed oval, 0.24-0.26 mm. long and o. I 5-0. 17 mm. 

 wide, brown. 



It is a pleasure to name this interesting plant in honor of the 

 collector, who spent so many months traversing the wild regions 

 of the Andean country, and who brought back a large and valu- 

 able collection of plants. 



A FUNGUS PARASITIC ON A MOSS 



By George Massee 



Some time ago Mrs. N. L. Britton placed in my hands for 

 examination a moss, Wcisia viridula, collected by Mrs. A. L. 

 Taylor, at Thomasville, Ga., which was considered to be attacked 

 by a parasitic fungus. On examination this assumption proved 

 to be correct. The capsule of this moss under normal condi- 

 tions is usually erect and symmetrical, but when attacked by the 

 parasite it becomes distinctly curved and unsymmetrical. 



Notwithstanding the fact that over one hundred and fifty spe- 

 cies of fungi are listed as occurring on mosses, some as parasites, 

 others as saprophytes, the fungus under consideration belongs to 

 Epicocciun, a genus not included in this list. Furthermore, the 

 specific characters unfortunately do not conform with those of 

 any described member of the genus, hence there appears to be 

 no alternative to the establishment of what is usually termed " a 

 new species," which, from its treatment of the host, must hereafter 

 be known as Epicoccnui torquens. 



So far as observation goes E. torquens confines its attention to 

 the fruit or capsule of the moss, where it forms minute, scattered 

 or crowded, dark-colored warts. 



The mycelium is strictly localized, and each pustule formed 

 implies an independent infection ; hyphae permeate the entire 

 thickness of the wall of the capsule, but are prevented by the air 

 cavity from reaching the spore-sac. 



The genus Epicoccum stands in need of revision. On turning 



