Oct. 1903] 
Minor Mycological Notes. I 
169 
MINOR MYCOLOGICAL NOTES. I. 
W. A. KELLERMAN. 
It may possibly be worth while to put on record occasional 
notes on fungi of more or less interest, here and there observed 
incidentally. These may pertain to distribution, habit, habitat, 
or any other single phase — but paragraph-headings will be used 
to enable the reader to select any note that may be of probable 
interest. 
Puccinia Veratri. —This Rust was observed in enormous 
abundance in the Cheat Mountains, alt. 3,600 ft., near Cheat 
Bridge, Randolph Co., West Virginia. Along the Cheat River 
the host occurred in great quantity, and every plant noticed was 
affected. Usually every leaf contained the Rust, and mostly the 
entire surface was thoroughly blackened by the parasite. 
Elfvingia Fomentarius (Fomes Fomentarius). —This 
Polypore is a widely distributed species, Europe, Asia, North 
America; said to occur on Birch and Beech. “Hab. ad Fagos 
abunde optimus, vegetior copiosum fomentum molle quotannis 
edens, minor, macrior et durior ad Betulas etc.” (Saccardo). It 
was noticed as the commonest species (save perhaps here and 
there the Elfvingia megaloma (Polyporus leucophasus, or Fomes 
applanatus as usually recorded) in the Mountains of West Vir¬ 
ginia. In the uncleared forest regions old trees and prostrate 
trunks were the conspicuous matrix for the saprophyte — but it 
occurred almost exclusively on the Yellow Birch, a very common 
tree in the section referred to. It was seen, but very rarely, also 
on Beech and Nyssa. The climate can perhaps as well as the host, 
be regarded as very agreeable to this conspicuous fungus; on 
numerous trunks, standing or occasionally felled, young plants 
and those of mature age — say twenty years — were seen. It was 
thought that a photograph of some of the plants might not be 
amiss in connection with a note—and on the page opposite 
is given a half-tone reproduction (Plate III) showing some young 
plants, one with the hymenium in view, and a sample of one of 
age. 
Late Infection of Phyllosticta Asimin^e.— A quan¬ 
tity of this fungus was found this season coming to ma¬ 
turity as late as the middle of October. It had been observed 
in the same locality in this and previous years developing its 
spores at the usual time—early in the summer. A portion of the 
thicket of papaw bushes of considerable area was removed by 
plow and road scraper during the season and then left undis¬ 
turbed, when young sprouts appeared in great abundance. It 
was on these leaves, developed late in the season, that extensive 
infection was noticed, and careful examination showed that the 
