78 
ON ERYSIPHE POLYCHJSTA. 
the discrimination of genera. Nevertheless, as pointed out by 
Cooke in “ Grevillea,” Vol. xi., p. 35, we have, in the present 
instance, a genus established by Saccardo, the leading character of 
which consists in the straight appendages. The genus includes a 
single species, the appendages of which are described as incurved. 
It may safely be accepted that there is no such genus as Pleochceta 
in nature, Pleochceta Curtisii, Sacc. and Speg., being a true 
Uncinula. Finally, S. M. Tracy and B. T. Galloway, in the 
“ Botanical Gazette,” Yol. xiii., p. 29, in an article headed 
“ Uncinula polychceta , B. & C.,” say : — “ Although this species 
has been known for more than ten years it is believed that an 
attempt to reconcile the differences in published descriptions, with 
the addition of such facts as have been noted in a recent examina- 
tion of fresh specimens collected on Sand Creek, five miles east of 
Starkville, Miss., will be of interest to mycologists.” The speci- 
mens collected five miles east of Starkville by the last-mentioned 
authors agree in many points with Erysiphe polychceta , B. & C., 
and may possibly be the same species, but the authors’ idea of 
reconciliation with Uncinula polychceta , B. & C. (not “ Uncinula 
pleochceta ”), is on a par with that of Ellis, and is as follows : — 
“ Berkeley & Cortis,” “ about 28 ” probably being a misprint for 
“ about 280.” It is curious to note that in every instance where 
an Uncinula has been met with on Celtis it has been considered as 
the U. polychceta of B. & C., and that any discrepancy between the 
characters presented and Berkeley’s brief description was due to 
the author’s inaccuracy, whereas in reality there are two species of 
Uncinula on the same species of Celtis , the synonymy of which are 
as follows : — 
1. Uncinula polychceta (B. & C.), Massee (= Erysiphe poly - 
chceta , |B. & C.), Grev., Yol. iv., p. 159 ; Pleochceta Curtisii , 
Sacc. & Speg., Fung. Arg. Pug. ii., p. 44 ; Sacc. Syll., Yol. i., 
No. 32 ; Sacc. Addit., No. 32 (in part). Uncinula polychceta , 
Rav. Fung. Carol. Exs., fasc. 4, No. 68. 
2. Uncinula confusa , Massee (= Uncinula polychceta, B. & C.), 
Grev., Yol. iv., p. 159 ; Pleochceta Curtisii , Sacc. and Speg., 
Fung. Arg. Pug. ii., p. 44; Sacc. Syll., Yol. i., No. 32; Sacc. 
Addit. Syll., No. 32 (in part). 
As Erysiphe polychceta, B. & C., has been shown to be a true 
Uncinula and is the commonest species, in addition to being already 
known as Uncinula polychceta, the original specific name has been 
retained. As to priority, it is not a matter of dates, but only to 
standing higher on the same page than Uncinula polychceta , B. & 
C., the specific name of which has been changed as above. 
George Massee. 
