6 



Mycologia 



same species occurs. Since in most cases new infections must 

 originate from the spore, a species may be confined to that eleva- 

 tion and to those conditions of exposure where the most favor- 

 able temperature for spore germination exists for the greatest 

 length of time. After becoming thoroughly established in the 

 substratum the effect of this influence may not be so marked. A 

 higher or lower temperature may then only serve to retard the 

 activity of the mycelium and not endangered its existence. Some 

 fungi, in fact, are truly alpine in habit and are not usually found 

 growing below a certain elevation and will die if transferred to 

 lower altitudes. This fact can be demonstrated experimentally 

 as the following data will show. 



By carefully transplanting (July 3, 1913) three seedlings each 

 of alpine fir and white bark pine infected with Herpotrichia nigra 

 Hartig and Neopeckia coulteri (Pk.) Sacc, respectively, from an 

 elevation of 6735 feet (2052.8 m.) into lowland of 2500 feet 

 (762 m.), the mycelia of these- fungi after making an average 

 growth of eight centimeters ceased altogether in August of the 

 following year or thirteen months after the transfer. Both 

 species died shortly afterward. The hosts continued to live. 

 This result, though based on a single experiment, indicates that 

 an average low temperature may be necessary for the develop- 

 ment of these species.' 2 



The coldest weather anywhere in the Northwest at any eleva- 

 tion is not sufficient to destroy the vitality of the sporophores of 

 the common forest tree fungi. On the return of normal growing 

 conditions, even though this period is short, all vital functions are 

 resumed. The minimum temperature at which the sporophores 

 of the common species are capable of withstanding is extremely 

 low. Buller 3 has demonstrated " that the fruiting bodies of 



2 An interesting fact brought out by this experiment was that the spores 

 of each species produced in perithecia developed while in the new habitat did 

 not undergo any change in color, shape, dimension, number of septa, or ar- 

 rangement in the ascus different from the usual type of spore which has 

 always characterized these plants as two distinct species. 



3 Upon the retention of vitality by dried fruiting bodies of certain Hymeno- 

 mycetes including an account of an experiment with liquid air. Trans, of the 

 British Mycological Society. 1912. P. 112. 



Also Buller and Cameron. On the temporary suspension of vitality in the 



