Synopsis of Some Genera of the Large Pyrenomycetes | Page 6

the same as Thamnomyces chordalis, but a much larger plant.
The fruit bodies (perithecia?) are more slender and are short, stalked.
Our figure, which is about half the spike, will show exactly the
difference between the two species. The plant was named by Berkeley
from specimens collected in Brazil by Spruce, and to this day is only
known from this old collection. The name is from the habits, "those of
a fucus rather than a fungus," a far-fetched comparison, for my
impression is there are no fuci that are carbonous, or have much
resemblance to this plant.
RELATED PLANTS.
The following plants are compiled in the section Thamnomyces in
Saccardo. None of them are true Thamnomyces, and most of them
could go into Fries' genera Rhizomorpha. I do not believe, however, it
is possible to keep Rhizomorpha separate from Xylaria. The type

species Xylaria setosa is quite different from the normal type of
Xylarias in having entirely carbonous, filiform stems and superficial
perithecia, but both of these features merge into Xylaria through so
many intermediate species that there is no drawing the line of
demarcation.
[Illustration: #Fig. 853.#]
XYLARIA SETOSA (Fig. 853).--Stem densely fasciculate, filiform,
black, entirely carbonous. Perithecia ovate, sparse, rarely developed.
Spores (teste Fuckel), ovoid, dark, 10 × 16 mic.
This is a rare plant in Europe, growing on old sacks, matting, carpets,
and similar refuse. It is generally found in cellars. I think it is not
known on wood nor recorded in the United States. It resembles
carbonized horse hair and was called "horse hair usnea" by old
Dillenius. Our photograph of the specimen at Kew will give a good
idea of it, although from the account it grows erect, and is not matted.
Both Bulliard and Sowerby gave characteristic figures, both from
plants growing in cellars, on old mats. It has had a great number of
names, and is recorded in Saccardo as Xylaria hippotrichoides, the
specific name proposed by Sowerby and used by Persoon. Some very
recent juggler, I have forgotten who, dug up the old name setosa, which
I adopt as being less cumbersome. Occasionally these jugglers do
propose some improvement in names, and I believe in encouraging
them, when their wonderful date dictionary discoveries are really better
names. Saccardo gives the following synonyms: Sphaeria
hippotrichoides, Ceratonema hippotrichoides, Hypoxylon loculiferum,
Rhizomorpha tuberculosa, Cryptothamnium usneaeforme,
Rhizomorpha setiformis, Chaenocarpus setosus, Chaenocarpus
Simonini. The date expert must have had quite a job.
Xylaria adnata as described by Fuckel (Rhizomorpha adnata), and
unknown to me, is evidently very similar to the preceding plant, but
grows closely adnate to rotten beech wood.
Xylaria fragilis (Rhizomorpha fragilis) is imperfectly known from old
records in Europe. It is probably same as above.

Xylaria hispidissima (Rhizomorpha hispidissima) from East Indies is
known only from old description. It is an evident Xylaria and seems to
be same as recently collected, adventitious in a hot house in Hungary,
and distributed as Xylaria hungarica.
Xylaria annulata, described in 1820 from West Indies as Thamnomyces
annulatus and unknown otherwise, reads like Thamnomyces chardalis,
but the branches of the latter are not known to be "annulated under a
lens."
[Illustration: #Fig. 854.#]
XYLARIA ANNULIPES, described and figured by Montagne as
Thamnomyces annulipes from Brazil, is same as since named Xylaria
marasmoides (Fig. 854) by Berkeley. Berkeley does not mention the
rings on the stem as shown so plainly in Montagne's enlarged figure,
nor can I note them with a lens on my photograph of Berkeley's or
Montagne's types. Spegazzini refers marasmoides as a synonym for
annulipes, no doubt correctly. Theissen refers it as a synonym for
Xylaria aristata, an evident error. Xylaria vermiculus, recently
published from Brazil by Sydow, as "Saccardo n. sp. in litt.," is, both
from description and photograph, evidently the same as Xylaria
annulipes.
[Illustration: #Fig. 855.#]
XYLARIA MELANURA (Fig. 855), West Indies, described as
Chaenocarpus melanurus and compiled in Saccardo in section
Thamnomyces, is evidently same as Xylaria gracillima in sense of
Berkeley and Montagne, but not I believe as to Fries. We present a
photograph made from Léveillé's cotype.
Xylaria axillaris was not compiled in Thamnomyces in Saccardo, but is
evidently a very similar if not the same plant as Xylaria setosa, and is
only known from Currey's original account from Africa. It is about a
half inch high, with filiform stem, and few, superficial perithecia.
Spores are given as 25 to 32 mic., which are much larger than those of
setosa.

Xylaria patagonica as named by Crombie as Thamnomyces and
compiled in Saccardo, Vol. 9, was based on Dillenius' old (1741) figure
t. 13, f. 11, from Patagonia, which, as far as the figure goes, could be
Xylaria setosa. Of course, nothing as known about it.
Xylaria Schwackei, named by Hennings from Brazil, seems from
description to be Xylaria melanura.
Xylaria Warburgii, named by