Speare: Entomogenous Fungi 



71 



probably this species belongs with the fungi mentioned above, it 

 should perhaps be regarded as a distinct form on account of the 

 knob-like processes which occur upon the synnemata. 



II 



Synnematium Jonesii gen. et sp. nov. 



This fungus was found upon specimens of Mezira emarginata 

 Say. and M. lobata Say.,* which were sent to the writer by T. 

 H. Jones of Baton Rouge, La. 



Although a large number of the insects showed the Isaria-like 

 synnemata which characterize the fruiting stage of the organism, 

 other specimens, although dead, showed no external signs of 

 fungus parasitism. The latter were placed in a moist chamber 

 and in a few weeks fruiting bodies of the fungus, Plate 5, Fig. 

 5, appeared on all but one or two of the individuals. 



Artificial cultures on potato agar were readily obtained from 

 the fresh viable material, and at the present time the organism 

 is growing vigorously, although it has been sub-cultured several 

 times since the original isolation in March, 191 9. 



The fruiting bodies of this form, like those of Hirsutella, con- 

 sist of erect, stilbaceous fascicles of cohering hyphae. When 

 young, Plate 5, Fig. 5, the fascicles are white and the hyphae of 

 which they are composed are loosely coherent, presenting a floccu- 

 lent appearance such as that illustrated. Later in their develop- 

 ment, however, the synnemata are brown in color, and the hyphal 

 elements are more closely associated so that a fully developed 

 fruiting body appears to the naked eye quite like that of Hirsu- 

 tella or like the fruiting stalk of many species of Cordyceps. 



The structure of the stalk is illustrated on Plate 4, Fig. 1. The 

 sporophores which are produced at the sides and at the tips of the 

 synnemata are long and slender, tapering gradually and uni- 

 formly from the base to the tip, in this respect being unlike the 

 homologous organs of Hirsutella. Those at the tip of the syn- 

 nemata, while clearly differentiated from the elements of the 



* Determined by Prof. H. M. Parshley through the courtesy of Mr. E. H. 

 Gibson. 



