Diseases  of  Trees. 
267 
An  interesting  case  was  found  of  a fungus  belonging  to  the 
genus  PJioma,  which  covered  the  scales  of  a cedar  cone  received 
from  Hampshire.  Several  species  of  Phoma  cause  serious 
diseases,  as,  for  instance,  Phoma  Bette  Fr.  on  mangel,  or  P. 
Napohrassicce  Rostr.  on  turnip.  Whether  the  species  observed 
on  the  cones  is  parasitic  has  not  as  yet  been  ascertained,  but  it 
is  not  at  all  unlikely,  as  a species  of  this  genus  (P.  ahietina)  has 
been  described  by  the  late  Professor  Hartig  as  attacking  and 
killing  silver  firs  in  Germany.  It  covers  the  bark  of  the 
smaller  branches  with  numerous  black  pycnidia.  The  spores 
of  the  Phoma  on  cedar  were  spindle  shaped,  unicellular,  and 
closely  resembled  Professor  Hartig’s  species  found  on  the  silver 
fir.  Small  portions  of  a diseased  Corsican  pine  were  sent  from 
Herefordshire.  Some  fungoid  growth  was  found  adhering  to 
the  leaves  which  was  ascertained  to  be  a stage  of  Goleosporinm 
Senedonis  Fries.  In  the  first  stage  of  its  life  the  fungus  attacks 
groundsel  and  other  plants  of  the  genus  Senecio,  producing  on 
the  leaves  and  stem  small  yellow  cushions  of  fungal  filaments  ; 
these  bear  small  spores  (uredospores)  which  are  shed  in  June. 
The  second  stage  forms  red  patches  of  teleutospores  on  the 
same  plant.  These  hibernate,  and  in  spring  they  produce 
small  sporidia,  which  germinate  on  the  leaves  of  pines  and 
form  the  disease  observed  in  the  present  case.  The  mycelium 
penetrates  into  the  intercellular  tissues  of  the  leaves  and 
obtains  nourishment  thei-e.  The  spores  produced  in  this  stage 
(aecidiospores)  only  germinate  on  groundsel  or  i-elated  species, 
and  then  the  fungus  enters  again  upon  its  well-known  cj^cle. 
By  the  eradication  of  all  plants  of  groundsel  where  pines  are 
thus  affected  the  disease  will  be  arrested. 
In  March  I received  from  the  Society's  Zoologist  a small 
twig  of  a lime  tree,  which  was  sent  to  him  hy  a member  from 
Hampshire,  supposing  that  his  trees  were  infested  by  Cryptialus 
Tilite,  recently  described  by  the  Zoologist.’  The  twig  appeared 
at  first  sight  to  be  attacked  by  this  insect.  On  closer  examina- 
tion it  was,  however,  found  that  numerous  small  black  fungi 
had  taken  possession  of  the  hast  layer.  As  many  as  190  fruits 
(perithecia)  of  the  fungus  were  counted  on  an  average  on  a 
square  inch.  As  the  material  was  insufficient  for  identification, 
a visit  was  paid  in  April  to  the  locality,  and  it  was  found  that 
the  injury  had  hold  of  all  the  limes  there ; and  in  a churchj^ard 
a mile  distant  it  was  also  observed.  Some  dead  branches 
with  the  disease  in  different  stages  were  taken,  and  the  cause 
investigated  in  the  laboratory.  The  black  bodies  were  the 
fruits  of  a fungus,  called  VaUaria  TiUce  de-Not.,  which 
possesses  different  forms  in  its  life-history,  all  of  which  were 
found  to  be  present.  As,  however,  this  fungus  is  nowhere 
’ Journal  R.A.S.E.,  Vol.  62,  1900,  page  269. 
