176 



Mycologia 



conidial stage of this species was also described as Verticillium 

 tuherculoides Speg. 



Creonectria seminicola Seaver, which, as stated in a previous 

 paper, is closely related to the above, has also a Verticillium as its 

 conidial stage. 



Nectria Bainii Massee, which occurs an cacao pods in the West 

 Indies, is also associated with a Verticillium. Our conclusion is 

 here based on the examination of material collected in the West 

 Indies, the identification of which has been confirmed at Kew 

 and the specimens pronounced to be typical Nectria Bainii Massee. 

 This species differs from the two preceding only in the slightly 

 larger ascospores. 



Recent studies of two undescribed species of nectriaceous 

 plants, both of which have been found to be associated with 

 Verticillieae, have furnished the data for the present paper. 



The first of these, collected in Mexico during the winter of 

 1910 by Dr. W.' A. Murrill, was reported to be a parasite on the 

 stems of an undetermined palm. The original collection showed 

 numerous pinkish stromata covering the stems of the host. A 

 study of the microscopic characters showed the fungus to be one 

 of the Verticillieae, and it was at once suspected that the fungus 

 might be the conidial phase of a Nectria or one of the related 

 genera. This suspicion was confirmed by the finding of other 

 specimens of the host with both the conidia and perithecia. The 

 conidia and perithecia were so intimately associated that it seemed 

 likely that they represented two stages in the life history of the 

 same fungus. 



The ascospores are of an olivaceous or smoky-brown color, 

 which character would place the fungus in the genus Machridella. 

 This genus was founded by the writer* to include two species of 

 colored-spored, stromatic Nectrieae, both of which were collected 

 in Central America. The occurrence of a new and third species 

 of this genus in Mexico is of interest from the standpoint of dis- 

 tribution. It is also of interest to note that a fourth species which 

 would properly belong to this genus has been reported from 

 South America. These facts would indicate that the genus is 

 composed largely of tropical species. The three North American 



* Mycologia i : 195. 1909. 



