STUDIES OF COPROPHILOUS ASCOMYCETES VII. PREUSSIA

Abstract

The Plectascales and Perisporiales are both artificial taxa each consisting of a miscellaneous assemblage of unrelated genera. The generic name Perisporium is not valid for species of Ascomycota (Ascomycetes). The valid name for those species which produce ascocarps is Preussia Fuckel. The ascocarps are non-ostiolate (cleistothecia) and their development is the same as that in the Loculo-ascomycetes (producing a pseudothecium). The ascocarp of Preussia is thus a cleistothecial pseudothecium. The genus most closely related to Preussia is Sporormia and the two may be included in the same family Sporormiaceae. Preussia is not included in the Phaeotrichaceae on account of the elongated germinal slit and lack of hairs on the peridium of the ascocarp. Twelve species are included with descriptions and illustrations. The type species of Preussia is P. funiculata Fuckel. Three species are transferred to this genus from Perisporium. These are P. punctata (Auersw.) Sacc., P. typharum Sacc, and P. vulgare Corda. One species is transferred from each of the following genera: Sporormia (Sp. fleischhakii Auersw.), Muellerella (M. nigra Routien), Pycnidiophora (P. dispersa Clum), Anixiopsis (A. multispora Saito and Minoura), and Thielavia (T. indica Chattop. and Das Gupta). The following three species are described as new: P. isomera, P. terricola, and P. purpurea.