36 
Cooke and Mas see— On a New 
(90-100 x 1 2 m)* Stroma conidiifera = Ephelis trinitensis , 
Cooke & Massee. 
On inflorescence of Panicum palmifolium , from Trinidad. 
Com. J. H. Hart. 
The above will be seen to differ from Balansia Claviceps , 
Speg., as described by Saccardo 1 , in the following points : — 
1. In its development from the effete discs of a species of 
Ephelis , of which it appears to be the ultimate and ascigerous 
condition. 
2. In the stems of the capitate stromata being distinctly 
squamulose ; and 
3. In the smaller size of the asci and ascospores. 
Externally there is very little difference in the appearance of 
the two species, and in the manner in which the spikes of the 
grass are deformed ; but the association of the ascigerous 
fungus in such an intimate manner with an Ephelis , seems to 
warrant either the description of a new species, or the modi- 
fication of the diagnosis of the previous one to an extent which 
could certainly not be justified without the consent of the 
author. M. C. Cooke. 
Morphology. 
The inflorescence of Panicum palmifolium is a loose panicle 
from 14-18 cm. long, and when attacked by the fungus is 
converted into a rigid, black, simple spike, about 4 mm. thick 
(Fig. 1) ; sometimes one or two of the lower branches 
remain free, although attacked by the fungus (Fig. 1 a, a). 
Owing to the material arriving in a dried condition, and for 
the most part fully developed, but little can be ascertained 
respecting the earliest stages of development. The stroma of 
the fungus is formed while the inflorescence is yet surrounded 
by the leaf-sheath, with its branches closely appressed to the 
main axis, and in all probability the young flowers are first 
attacked, from which the hyphae extend in all directions, 
and form a continuous felt-like sheath enclosing the branches 
and main axis of the inflorescence, a transverse section 
presenting the appearance of a stem with scattered vascular 
1 Sylloge Additamenta, p. 220. 
