(137) 
SOUTH AFRICAN PERISPORIACEAE. 
By Ethel M. Doidge. • 
(With Plates VII and VIII.) 
V. Notes on an Interesting Collection from Natal. 
During July of this year an interesting collection of leaf fungi was made 
at three localities in Natal. The largest number of specimens was obtained 
at Buccleuch, near Cramond, on the 16tli and 17th ; smaller collections were 
made at Zwartkop on the 19th and at Hilton Road on the 21st of that 
month. A large proportion of the fungi belong to the genus Meliola, and 
include a number of undescribed species, some of which have been collected 
on previous occasions in an immature condition, or so overgrown with para- 
sites as to make a careful study impossible. A number of species previously 
recorded have also been collected on different hosts. 
Meliola ampJiitricha, Fr. 
On Olea laurifolia Buccleuch (11557). 
On Plectronia giiienzii Buccleuch (1576). 
This species was collected on Olea laurifolia in the Woodbush and 
occurs on a variety of hosts belonging to the Ruhiaceae, Oleaceae, and 
Sapindaceae. It has not been previously recorded on a Plectronia, the 
species most commonly found on this host being Meliola falcata Syd. 
Meliola (Fig. 1). 
On leaves of an nnknown shrub, probably belonging to the Myrtaceae, 
Zwartkop (11594). This fungus is chiefly epiphyllous and forms small, 
sooty black, crustaceous growths which are easily separated from the leaf 
surface. The leaf tissues covered by the mycelium are brown and discoloured. 
Meliola atra n. sp. 
Amphigena, plerumque epiphylla, maculas atras, crustaceas, 3-4 fx diam. 
efficiens ; hyphis fuscis, 7-10 /x crassis, cellulis brevis, 12-16 jj. long., inter- 
dum ad septa constrictis ; ramis plerumque oppositis ; hyphopodiis capitatis 
alternis vel unilateralibus, breviter stipitatis, 20-27 x 16-20 fx, cellula 
superiore magna, inaequaliter lobulata ; hyphopodiis mucronatis non 
numerosis, oppositis v. unilateralibus, pyriformibus v. sub-conicis, 10-13 
11 
