6 BULLETIN 380, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Tulasnes (83, p. 87-89) do not appear to have regarded Endothia as 

 distinct from Melogramma, to which they referred E. gyrosa. The 

 type of Melogramma, however, is M. melogramma (Bull.), which has 

 a somewhat similar stroma, but the ascospores are 3-septate and dark 

 colored and the perithecia not separable from the stroma, while the 

 pycnospores are long, slender, and curved. 



STUDY OF EARLY COLLECTIONS AND TYPES. 



There has always been more or less uncertainty in regard to the 

 identity of the older species of this genus of fungi. In order to get 

 more light on this subject, a thorough study of all the available ma- 

 terial in the way of literature, type specimens, and manuscripts was 

 made. The first species to be described in this country was Sphaeria 

 gyrosa Schw. This was collected by Schweinitz at Salem, N. C, and 

 published in 1822 (72, p. 3). 1 Two hosts were given in the original 

 description, Fagus and Juglans. 



As Schweinitz's description was prepared before the advent of 

 careful microscopical studies and spore measurements, it is impossible 

 to identify the organism satisfactorily from the original description. 

 It was, therefore, important, if possible, to locate the type specimens 

 upon which the description was based. Schweinitz's herbarium was 

 left at his death, in 1834, to the Philadelphia Academy of Science. 

 His specimens of fungi at the time they were transferred to the acad- 

 emy were contained in small, folded paper packets, as shown in Plates 

 V and VI. These packets were then inclosed in other heavy paper 

 wrappers, folded to small quarto size, and three or four of these large 

 packets, each bearing a manuscript list of the species contained, were 

 then inclosed in quarto pasteboard covers, tied with tape. The in- 

 dividual species packets were labeled in Schweinitz's handwriting, 

 with the name of the species and the locality of the collection, as 

 shown in Plate V, figure 2. 



These species packets frequently bore the names of several locali- 

 ties, but usually two, Salem [N. C] and Bethlehem [Pa.], as most of 

 his collecting was done at these places. This fact, in addition to the 

 evidence afforded by the specimens in the packets, clearly indicates 

 Schweinitz's method of handling his specimens. 



Frequently some of the specimens in a packet show the remains of 

 a gummed strip. This will be noticed in Plate III, which indicates 



1 24. Sphaeria gyrosa Sz. 



8. suoperipherica minor gregaria subconfluens aurantio miniata, sphaerulis gyrosis farc- 

 tis demum prominulis pulverulentis, stromate lutescenta. 



In cortice nondum corrupto etiam vivo Fagorum et Iuglandum. Junior planiuscula. ubi 

 adolevit sistit corpus subrotundum, tuberculis minimis et magoribus asperum et gyrosum. 

 Sphaerulae farctae, teretes, supra gyrosae, paucae, radiatim divergentes a superflcie ad 

 centrum fere stromatis continnantur, primum sublantes, demum prominulae, cortice puU 

 verulento ; ipsum tamen centrum farinacea came componitur. Gelatina ascipbora albet 

 Ostiola indistincta. — Transitum facit ad Spbaerias septimae divisionis. 



