the Genus Cordyceps . 
9 
Classification. 
From what has already been said relating to the structure 
and affinities of the genus under consideration, it is evident 
that two distinct factors — morphological and biological — are 
available as affording the basis of a systematic arrangement. 
If grouped from a morphological stand-point, the genera 
Cor dy lia> Claviceps , and Corallomyces , at least, would be 
absorbed in the older genus Cordyceps ; this would necessitate 
the formation of subgenera, which are objectionable from 
every point of view ; hence the biological character is here 
preferred, as limiting Cordyceps to those species parasitic on 
insects, the ascigerous condition arising from a sclerotium 
formed within the body of the host. 
Cordyceps, Fries (emended). 
Entomogenous. Conidial state forming an effused downy 
weft, or an erect, clavate, simple or variously branched stroma, 
consisting of loosely compacted hyphae, which bear the 
hyaline, continuous, minute conidia at the tips of short 
branchlets. Ascigerous stage springing from a compact scle- 
rotium formed within the body of the host ; stroma differ- 
entiated into an erect stem-like, simple or branched, sterile 
portion, which bears at its apex the fleshy, globose or 
elongated ascigerous portion ; rarely the sterile axis is con- 
tinued above the ascigerous part, or several elongated fertile 
branches spring laterally from the erect, sterile stroma. 
Perithecia ovate or flask-shaped, either entirely immersed in 
the fleshy stroma, partly immersed, or quite superficial ; asci 
very long, narrowly cylindric-clavate, slightly constricted just 
below the capitate apex, narrowed downwards into a long, 
slender base, 8-spored, not becoming blue with iodine ; spores 
almost as long as the ascus, filiform, the apical third often 
slightly thickest, multiseptate, rarely continuous, hyaline, 
arranged in a parallel fascicle ; more or less flexuous when 
free, and often breaking up into their component cells ; 
paraphyses absent. 
