Bessey : An Undescribed Ophiodothella 



57 



stromatic layer a few to several pycnidial cavities which are at 

 first without ostioles. They are i8o to 300 /x in diameter and 

 about 75-100 /X thick in a vertical direction. They are lined on 

 all sides by the very short conidiophores. The conidia are 

 elongate, usually curved, rarely hooked, and slightly clavate, 12- 

 19 X I A^, non-septate, and hyaline or very dilutely brown when 

 examined singly. When the infected leaves are placed in a damp- 

 chamber the conidia ooze out in a worm-like mass, very dark 

 brown or even shining-black in color, to the naked eye, and fusco- 

 ferruginous under the lower magnifications of the microscope. 



The single stromata or groups of stromata occupy yellowish- 

 green spots on the leaves, with ferruginous margins. When 

 abundantly infected the whole leaf takes on a yellowish color, 

 contrasting strongly with the black stromata. Such leaves fall 

 prematurely in great numbers. 



On the leaves of Ficus aurea near Larkins, Dade Co., Florida, 

 Oct. 31, 1907 (type), and January 15, 1908, and at Little River, 

 November 12, 1907, as well as occasionally at other places in the 

 vicinity of Miami, Florida. Type deposited in the Mycological 

 Herbarium of the Bureau of Plant Industry, U. S. Department 

 of Agriculture. 



This fungus belongs without doubt in the vicinity of the genus 



Ophiodothella as limited by Theissen and Sydow, but has para- 



physes in the perithecia, while these authors describe the genus 



as aparaphysate. Furthermore, none of the hitherto recognized 



species of this genus possess a pycnidial stage such as has the 



present species. However, these points do not seem to wairant 



the erection of a new genus. 



Michigan Agricultural College, 

 East Lansing, Michigan. 



Explanation of Plate 5 



Fig. i. Leaf of Ficus aurea affected by Ophiodothella Fici, upper surface. 

 Fig. 2. Ditto, lower surface. 



Fig. 3. Section of stroma: {A) remains of upper epidermis, {B) re- 

 mains of lower cuticle, (C) upper stromatic layer, (D) middle stromatic 

 layer, (£) lower stromatic layer, {F) pycnidium, (G) perithecium, {H) vascu- 

 lar bundle, (/) palisade layer. The outlines of this sketch were made with 

 the aid of a camera lucida. 



Fig. 4. Asci, one showing ascospores in outline; {A) apical end. 



