~cmbers of the Tribe Scirpeae Kunth of the Cyperaceae have had a variety of fungi described from its members. Phycomycetous parasites, however, are not common and in Physoderma of the Chytridiales, 3 speeies have been described thus far, namely, P. heleocharidi8 (Fuekel) 8chroeter on Eleocharis, P. schroeteri Krieger on Scirpus, and P. dulichii Johns on Dulichium.
In this paper are recorded miscellaneous notes on fungi referable to Physoderma which occur on species of Eleocharis. A subsequent paper will deal with P. dulichii. Thus far, we have not encountered the parasite of Scirpus in our area and hence can contribute nothing new concerning it.
A few notes 1 and comments derived from a study of herbarium material are appended. A considerable number of collections were examined and a good conception of variability of host symptoms and resting spore characters was obtained. Furthermore, ample material of the types of Physoderma heleocharidis and P. schroeteri was available for examination.
1. Physoderma on Eleocharis compressa Sulliv.
Material of Eleochar~s compre~a collected in a shallow pool at Sedge Point on Douglas Lake at the University of Michigan Biological Station in northern Lower Michigan showed evidence of fungus infection. Both cuhns and basal sheaths bore dark flecks or raised spots. Most commonly these occurred on the upper part of the eulm just beneath the spikelet and were rounded and 1/4--3 mm in diameter, or elongate and 1--4 โข 2--8 ram, with irregular margins. On the sheaths infected areas were less regular in shape and more numerous. Young areas of infection were dark purple to purplish-black with a yellowish halo, whereas fully mature spots were * Contribution No. 1143 from the Botany Department, and from the Biological Station, and Botanical Gardens, University of Michigan. ** Deceased, 1963. 1 Thanks are expressed to the Curators of the following herbaria for the loan of specimens for examination: