268 



ASCOMYCETES. 



Epidemics of great magnitude have been ascribed to attacks 

 by the Botrytis-iorms of this Solerotinia. Thus on lilies in 

 England,^ on yellow gentian,^ on male flowers of Conifers, and 

 on the twigs of Conifers and other plants. This is especially 

 the case in houses under glass, where the fungus, favoured by 

 the moist atmosphere, lives as a saprophyte on dead plant-remains, 

 and multiplies till it becomes strong enough to act as a 

 parasite. It is, however, quite possible that conidial forms of 

 other sclerotia {e.g. Scl. sclerotiorum) may be confounded with 

 this species. 



Fig. liLSotrytis cinerea (Set. Fuckeliana). Branch of P}-unus triloba with two 

 diseased shoots, withered and dead. (v. Tubeuf phot.) 



The presence of Botrytis and allied forms on the vine is the 

 cause of a disease of great economic importance, because severe 

 loss may be incurred through rotting of the grapes and the 

 injurious after-effects on the "most." 



A decay of the potato-plant is said to be caused by sclerotia 

 formed inside the stems, and also by a Botrytis? Smith^ has 

 figured similar sclerotia, which he ascribes to Peziza postuma 

 Berk, and Wil. 



1 H. M. Ward, Annals of Botany, 1888. 

 ' Kissling, Hedwiyia, 1889. 



^ B.itzema.-'Boa., Zeitsch. /. Pjkmzenhrankheiten, 1894; 0. Kirchner, Wurtemhurg. 

 Wochenhlatl f. Landwirth., 1893. 

 * Worth! 11 gton 6. Smith, Diseases of Field and Garden Crops. London, 1884. 



