Notes and Brief Articles 



347 



that the form genera Septoria and Phleospora, though separate, 

 are very closely related, and hence keeps their ascogenous forms 

 together. In certain other species of Mycosphaerclla, as M. punc- 

 tiformis, M. Fragariae and M. maculiformis, Ramularia is shown 

 to be the conidial form ; while in other species, as M . cerasella, 

 a Cercospora is produced. The author concludes, therefore, that 

 in spite of the morphological similarity of the ascogenous forms of 

 the various species of Mycosphaerclla they are no more closely 

 related than their corresponding lower spore forms. Cercospora 

 is said by the author to be closely related to Ramularia, but is con- 

 sidered distinct in lacking chains of conidia and in the color of the 

 mycelium when young. In culture Cercospora is said to be strik- 

 ingly different from Ramularia. On account of these differences 

 in the lower forms found in the species of Mycosphaerclla studied, 

 three new generic names are proposed: Septorisphacrclla, Ramu- 

 larisphaerella and Cercosphaerella. 



This is an innovation in nomenclature which needs serious con- 

 sideration. The purpose of these compound names is evidently to 

 suggest at once the life history of the fungus by combining the 

 names of the perfect and imperfect stages. In the first place this 

 plan seems to set aside all claims of priority for previous generic 

 names and apparently proposes the substitution of entirely new 

 names for genera as fast as their life histories are known. This,, 

 alone is a radical departure from established usage. It would also* ' 

 lead to frequent violation of the rule against sesquipedalian names.. 

 To be consistent in the application of this method it would be: 

 necessary to combine the names of the various form genera in 

 cases where 3 or 4 spore stages or form genera are known to 

 belong to the life history of a single organism. The combination 

 of so many different generic names in one would evidently be 

 impracticable. Supposing, however, that the plan were feasible; 

 in the present state of uncertainty as to the types of genera and. 

 the application of generic names such combinations would be un- 

 certain in their significance and would not mean the same thing to 

 different mycologists. The reviewer is forced to conclude, there- 

 fore, that however laudable the author's purpose in adopting these 

 new names, there is much more to be said against the plan than 

 for it. 



