192 
Geo. K. Sutherland. 
fissure, almost equal in length to the dark, irregularly shaped, 
carbonaceous, surface smear, but more often the slit is shorter. 
These perithecia arise from hyphal strands, which become thickened, 
and massed between the cells immediately below the epidermis as 
in Fig. 3, 4 a. They are usually dark coloured from the first, but 
numerous, fine, hyaline filaments are produced inside, and the mass 
swells quickly. Its longitudinal growth is the more rapid, probably 
owing to the wedge-like extension of the ends. Along the epidermis 
a dark stroma-like streak is produced, marking the line of subsequent 
rupture. In the early stages short filaments grow inwards and 
cause the perithecia to look very much like pycnidia (Fig. 3, 4, b). 
The conidiophore-like ingrowths with the hollow, central cavity 
closely resemble such a structure. But in no case, in the numerous 
sections examined, have pycnidiospores been observed. Later the 
entire cavity becomes filled with the ingrowing hyphae, which, in the 
basal portion, form a compact tissue. The central mass stains 
more deeply and later in it appear numerous globular or clavate 
swellings—the young asci. These develop quickly and crush out 
most of the sterile hyphae except the basal pad. 
The mature perithecia (frequently regarded as apothecia) are 
usually elongate with pointed ends; occasionally semi-globose forms 
were noted, hut these are the exception. Peculiar branched or 
clawed forms, connected by woven strands, as in Fig. 3, 4 d, are 
frequent. Such connections are indicated also in the surface view 
(Fig, 3, 2). The depth to which they penetrate into the tissue 
corresponds very nearly to their length. The bases, normally 
rounded, are in many cases almost flat. The peridia are thick and 
carbonaceous at the tip, remaining membranous, although dark- 
coloured below. The asci and the paraphyses are grouped together 
on the basal cushion as in Fig. 3, 4 c. The former are club-shaped 
or fusiform and possess thin walls, while the latter are numerous, 
simple, and filamentous, with the tips usually bent or slightly 
dilated. The biseriate, fusiform, or ovoid ascospores have rounded 
or slightly pointed ends and thick, mucilaginous walls. At first 
they are distinctly hyaline, but usually at maturity a faint yellowing 
has been noticed. These mature spores are often guttulate as in 
Fig. 3, 5 c. They are shed from the wide ostioles in great numbers, 
or may be set free by the rapid disintegration of the entire infected 
cortex. 
This fungus belongs undoubtedly to the Hypodermataceae, and 
is interesting inasmuch as it is the first of this group to be recorded 
