448 THE FUNGI WHICH CAUSE PLANT DISEASE 



M. plicatus Wak. 



Pileus submembranous, convex or subcampanulate, glabrous, 

 sulcate-striate, chestnut or light wine-colored; gills rather distant, 

 white, basally attached; stipe slender, glabrous above, white 

 downy below. 



Marasmius parasitism of sugar cane was first described by 

 Wakker in 1895 ^*^ later by Howard.'"^ In these cases M. sacchari 

 or varieties of it were identified. In 1908 Fulton described M. 

 plicatus Wak. as the cause of serious sugar cane troubles in IjOuIs- 

 iana.^"' This fimgus which exists first as a saprophyte resides 

 primarily in the soil from which it grows over the stools and 

 eventually penetrates living tissue, destroys many roots and 

 smothers the developing buds. The white mycelium is found 

 cementing the lower leaf sheaths to the cane. It is probable that 

 several species are concerned. 



M. sacchari Wak. occurs on sugar cane in the oriental tropics. 



M. hawiiensis Cobb, is reported as associated with the preceding 

 species in Hawaii. M. semiustus B. & C. affects the stems, pedun- 

 cles and inflorescence of the banana. M. equicrinis MttU. Banc, 

 causes horse-hair blight of cacao and M. sannentosus Fr. a simi- 

 lar disease of the tea plant and of forest trees in India. 



Agaricese (p. 443) 



This tribe contains all the gill fungi and is characterized by a 

 fleshy, putrescent sporophore; gills fleshy, rarely tough or leathery, 

 weak, easily broken, not deliquescent, without milky juice. It is 

 the largest tribe of the family. The genera are conveniently 

 grouped as black, browTi, rusty, pink or red, and white-spored 

 forms. None of the black-spored species are known as parasites. 



AmauTosporese (brown-spored series) 



With a volva at base 1. Chitonia. 



Without a volva. 

 Veil remaining on the stem as an annulus 



Gills free from the stem 2. Agaricus. 



Gills united with the stem 3. Stropharia. 



