A New Species of Arachniotus

Abstract

The genus Arachniotus was created by Schroter in 1893 for the reception of A. candidus (Eidam) Schrot. (1, 2a, 3), and A. aureus (Eidam) Schrot. (2a, 3), previously referred to the genus Gymnoascus. In these species the ascospores are hyaline, yellowish, or red; the f ruit-body globose or sub-globose, and the peridium composed of loosely interwoven hyphae of more or less uniform size and without any special appendages. On these characteristics the new genus, Arachniotus, was based. The first species, considered the type, was found growing on well-rotted manure in Germany, and in 1901 on an old nest of wild bees, and on dung of the common Roe at Kew, England (1) ; the fruit-bodies .5-2 mm. in diameter, hyaline; asci ovate; ascospores 3-3.5^, hyaline and smooth. The second species was found on decaying vegetables, on wet paper, and on bread in Silesia; the fruit-bodies globose, 1.5-1 mm. in diameter, yellow, hyphae somewhat spiral; asci 8-spored; ascospores 3.5-4/*, yellowish, and minutely spiny. Later A. ruber (Van Teigh.) Schrot. (2b, 4) was transferred to this genus. It is a coprophilous form reported from France, Ger? many, and Britain in Europe and from the Gold Coast in Africa. The distinguishing character of this species is the color of the fruit-body which is pale-yellow at first, but soon turning orange,