MONOGKAPH OF THE LABOULBENIACE^E. 



369 



Moschomyces insignis Thaxter. Plate XI, figs. 16-19. 



Proc. Am. Acad. Arts and Sci. Vol. XXIX, p. 97. 



Perithecium pale straw-colored, becoming tinged with brown, the lower portion slightly 

 inflated and abruptly contracted at the base, the distal portion sub-conical, sometimes slightly 

 bent to one side, the apex narrow, truncate, symmetrical, the surface marked by two series of 

 ridges extending around the perithecium, each series composed of four distinct and prominent 

 ridges placed somewhat irregularly and indicating the lines of separation between the middle 

 and the upper and lower series of cells which form the walls of the main body of the perithe- 

 cium; basal cells of the perithecium small, four in number, not distinguished from it, but some- 

 what abruptly distinguished from the distal stalk-cell, which is long, sub-cylindrical, sometimes 

 inflated and curved ; the basal stalk-cell usually shorter and smaller, bearing distally a single 

 slender, simple, rather closely septate, tapering appendage, usually about as long as the distal 

 stalk-cell. The appendages, which together with the single stalked perithecium spring in groups 

 of three or four from the distal ends of large cylindrical cells projecting from the sucker-like 

 receptacle (more rarely arising from the latter directly), are simple or once branched, either 

 sterile or producing the solitary antheridia on short branches near their extremities. Spores 

 very minute, acicular, septate near the middle, 12 x3/x. Asci sub-cylindrical, 40-45 x 7.5 n, 

 eight-spored, the spores sub-distichous. Perithecia, 225-290 x 55-75 /t, the stalk-cells (longest), 

 425 /i, average, 375-25 /t. Appendages, 175-375 n long. Breadth of sucker-like receptacle, 

 75/t. 



On Sunius prolixus Er., Waverly, Mass. 



This form, which is among the most remarkable in the whole group, inhabits only the softer 

 chitinous membranes of its host, beneath the elytra and at the bases of the legs or between the 

 segments, which it perforates by the intrusion of its sucker-like base. From its large size it is 

 readily seen, and when growing from the base of its host's legs projects upward, sometimes on 

 both sides of the thorax, so that the whole or part of the perithecium rises free into the air. It 

 appears to be decidedly rare, yet it will doubtless be found sufficiently abundant in localities 

 where its host is more common than it has been found to be by the writer. It varies consider- 

 ably as to the number of perithecia which it produces as well as the size and number of cells in 

 its intruded base. 



ZODIOMYCES Thaxter. Plate XXIII. 



Proc. Am. Acad. Arts and Sci. Vol. XXIV, p. 263. 



Receptacle attached by a single basal cell, above which it is parenchymatously multicellular, 

 expanding distally ; its extremity cup-shaped with a distinct rim, from the inner surface of which 

 arise numerous sterile appendages, surrounding numerous stalked appendiculate perithecia and 

 antheridial branches originating from the central parenchyma. Antherozoids exogenous, rod- 

 like, terminal or short fertile appendages. Spores once-septate near their base. 



The present genus is without doubt the most remarkable of the many remarkable members 

 of the family, and presents a degree of vegetative development scarcely to have been looked for 



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