HOESE HAIR BLIGHTS. 
45 
record of its occurrence at higher elevations than Peradeniya 
(1,600 feet, rainfall 82 inches), though another species with 
slightly different mycelium occurs in the jungle at Hakgala 
(5,600 feet). In accordance with the idea that Peradeniya 
is its upper limit, we find that it does not spread there to any 
extent. The Nutmeg Grove in which it grows consists of 
closely planted old trees, whose branches interlace and create 
a dense shade. There horse-hair blight is practically confined 
to the lower branches of two trees, both of which are overhung 
by tall specimens of Derris dalhergioides. It would appear 
that the fungus prefers the moist low-country, and that it 
flourishes best on bushes which are shaded by trees. 
The black mycelial cords are cylindrical, smooth, and 
shining. Towards the growing point the colour becomes 
paler, and the last millimetre is brownish-white. The cross 
section is circular or slightly oval, and as the component 
hyphæ run parallel and adhere to each other throughout the 
whole length of the cord, the section presents a ring of 
polygonal ‘‘ cells,” which are 2 to 4 (x in diameter. In the 
older regions the external hyphæ are blackish-brown, and the 
colour becomes paler inwardly through brown and yellow- 
brown until the internal hyphæ are hyaline. The full-grown 
cord is hollow, the cavity occupying half the thickness of the 
cord ; near the growing point the cord is solid, and the colour 
varies internally from pale brown to hyaline, while the 
diameter is only about 60 
The growing point is protected by a cap, easily discemible 
without a lens, which bears a striking resemblance to a 
root cap. This cap is 220 to 280 ^ long and about 120 (J- 
broad, and is rather darker than the cord immediately behind 
it. The tip is conical, the breadth increasing uniformly to the 
middle, after which the remainder is cyhndric, or diminishes 
almost to the diameter of the immature cord. The conical 
tip is solid and its outer edge is amorphous, ^.e., it shows no 
trace of constituent hyphæ when mounted ; but the hinder 
half of the cap forms a free curtain round the stem, and in it 
the constituent hyphæ are distinguishable in mounted speci- 
mens. The free edge of this fringe or curtain is irregularly 
laciniate. As a rule, the fringe is continuous with the outer 
