FiTZPATRICK : ROSTRONITSCHKIA 



165 



sphaeria, and possesses others not described for any species in 

 either of these genera. The perithecium is firm, coriaceous to 

 carbonaceous, does not collapse, and is provided with a prominent, 

 long, stout, sulcate beak which resembles strikingly that in cer- 

 tain species of Eutypa. The ascus contains eight, distinctly yel- 

 lowish, allantoid spores. The species has the perithecial charac- 

 ters of a Eutypa rather than those of a Nitschkia. The stroma, 

 however, is not effuse as in Eutypa, and the perithecia are seated 

 on the stroma rather than immersed in it. Moreover the fungus 

 possesses a conidial stage unlike any which the writer has found 

 described either in Eutypa or Nitschkia. Professor F. L. Stevens, 

 although citing his own material of this species tentatively under 

 the name Nitschkia nervincola, has stated in a letter to the writer 

 that he sees no reason at all for so classifying the fungus. 



Material was recently submitted by the writer to Doctor C. L. 

 Shear with the request that he examine it, and state whether in 

 his opinion this fungus could be regarded properly as a species 

 either of Eutypa or Nitschkia. He writes that he prefers not to 

 place the species in either of these genera. Assuming that a 

 genus to which it could be referred has not been described re- 

 cently, he would regard it as the representative of an undescribed 

 genus. Although there are several recently described genera 

 characterized by allantoid spores, in none of these is the peri- 

 thecium similar to that of the fungus on Gesneria. The writer 

 feels justified, therefore, in regarding this species as representa- 

 tive of an undescribed genus. Since the genus falls properly in 

 the Cucurbitariaceae near Nitschkia, and on account of the pres- 

 ence of a perithecium with a long, sulcate beak the following 

 name is proposed. 



Rostronitschkia gen. nov. 



Stromata black, formed within the host, later erumpent, bear- 

 ing first conidiophores, and later perithecia. Conidiophores united 

 to form stout, capitate coremia or stalked sporodochia (Plate ii. 

 Figs. 3, 4), bearing hyaline to yellowish, ovate, unicellular conidia. 

 Perithecia developed beneath the conidial layer, pushing upward, 

 at maturity seated in a single row on the stroma ; not cespitose as 

 in Nitschkia. Perithecial wall black, coriaceous to carbonaceous, 

 prominently wrinkled and roughened, not collapsing, provided 

 with a long, stout, 4-sulcate beak, resembling that in some species 



