399 



the epidermis which is raised into pustules blackened and pierced by 

 the globose-papilliform, perforated ostiolum. Asci clavate-lanceolate, 

 substipitate, 75-90 x 7 /i, paraphysate. Sporidia fasciculate, filiform, 

 multinucleate, curved when free, yellowish, 50-60 x 2 /i. 



On dead stems of SoUdago, Louisiana (Langlois). 



Whether this is really the Sphceria Solidaginis, Fr., we can not 

 say, Vmt it agrees fairly well with the imperfect diagnosis in Blench. 

 1. c. There was not, however, any "white disk" observed, but this, 

 it is said, becomes brown {^'demum fuscescens"). 



SphcBria (Dothidea) Solidaginis, Schw., as shown by specc. in 

 Herb. Schw., is a foliicolous species and quite distinct from this. 



FAMILY. MASSARIEJl. 



Stroma wanting. Perithecia mostly permanently covered by the 

 epidermis, very seldom erumpent, typically with only the small, papil- 

 liform ostiolum piercing the epidermis;- texture firm-coriaceous. Asci 

 paraphysate. Sporidia hyaline or brown, 1- or more-septate. 



MASSARIA, De Not. 



Giorn. Bot. Ital. I, p. 333. 



Perithecia immersed, coriaceous, sphseroid, with erumpent, papil- 

 late ostiolum. Asci ample, mostly 8-spored. Sporidia subbiseriate, 

 oblong, 1-pluriseptate, hyaline or brown, mostly large, and surrounded 

 by a gelatinous envelope. 



Many of the species, especially those with 3-septate sporidia, are 

 with difBculty distinguished from each other, and it is not improbable 

 that a more careful and thorough examination will reduce some of 

 these to mere varieties. 



M. Argus, (B. & Br.) 



Spharia Argus, B. & Br. Not. of Brit. Fungi, No. 626. 

 Massaria Argus, Fres. Beitr. p. 59. 

 Massaria Ntessleana, Rehm Asc. 645. 

 Exsicc. Fckl. F. Rh. 802.— Rab. F. E: 259, 3057. 



Perithecia gregarious, permanently covered by the scarcely 

 raised epidermis, subdepressed-spherical, finally umbilicate, tolerably 

 hard black, 600-800 ji diam., with a small, conical ostiolum, piercing 

 the epidermis in a punctiform manner. Asci cylindric-clavate, short- 

 stipitate, 8-spored, 200-220 x 38-44 (i. Sporidia obscurely biseriate, 

 cylindrical or oblong-clavate, ends rounded, subattenuated below, un- 

 equally divided, the upper thicker half mostly 4- (sometimes 3-)celled, 



