Oct. 1902 ] 
New Genera of Basidiomycetes . 
107 
by H. H. Whetzel. The basidia are curved, transversely divided, 
and formed on the outside of the long, slender, erect, fruit body. 
It represents the type of a new genus for which I propose the 
name Eocronartium. The use of this name does not imply that 
this plant is the direct progenitor of Cronartium of the Uredineae, 
but its form, habitat, and fructification forcibly suggest that it 
represents a type of the lower Basidiomycetes closely related phy- 
logenetically with Cronartium. This suggestion is even more 
striking when we know that the long, slender, columnar fruit 
body of Cronartium forms the curved, transversely septate pro- 
mycelia, bearing the sporidia, as soon as mature; and the question 
may well be asked if the Uredineae do not represent a group of 
later development than the Auriculariaceae, and greatly special¬ 
ized through a long period of parasitism. 
The new genus may be provisionally characterized as fol¬ 
lows : 
Eocronartium Atkinson n. g. — Plants standing out 
from the substratum, more or less erect, filiform, or columnar, 
tough, subgelatinous when fresh. Hymenium covering all sides, 
and exposed. B'asidia curved or flexuous, slender, transversely 
divided, sterigmata about four (vary 3-5, etc.). Spores continu¬ 
ous, white, hyaline, germinating without division and forming 
one or several threads. One species at present known. 
Eocronartium typhuloides Atkinson n. sp. — Plants pal¬ 
lid, or white, filiform, tapering gradually downward to a very slen¬ 
der base, 10-15 mm - high, .5-1 mm. thick. Bases free, but when 
the plants are numerous the clavulae of several adjacent ones may 
touch and in the course of development become grown together 
so that it gives the appearance of a stout, longitudinally grooved 
body with several stalks. Where the plants are more scattered, 
they remain simple. Basidia curved or more or less sinuous, 25- 
40x6-9 ft, 3-5 septate. Sterigmata flexuous elongate, usually 
10-20 x 3-4 /x. Spores fusoid, curved or inequilateral granular, 
18-24x3.5-5 fi. 
The plants are tough, pallid when fresh, but whiter when dry. 
In attempting to cut or break them, they stretch slightly, suggest¬ 
ing the consistency of rubber. Parasitic on mosses, Cascadilla 
woods, Ithaca, N. Y., July 8, 1902, C. U. herb. No. 9693; and 
other places at Ithaca. 
Botanical Department, Cornell University. 
