Observations on Loramyces, an Undescribed Aquatic Ascomycete

SummaryThe foregoing paper discusses a minute perithecial Ascomycete found growing on softened culms of Juncus militaris Bigelow, submerged from a few inches to two or three feet in a small freshwater pond on Nashawena Island, southwest of Woods Hole, Massachusetts, in July and August of several summers from 1915 to 1927 and in a similar pond at French Watering Place on Naushon Island in August 1927.The morphology and reproduction of the fungus are considered, and the peculiarities in the structure, discharge, distribution, attachment and germination of the spores, in their conformity to the aquatic mode of life, are emphasized as especially noteworthy.Certain aspects of the present limited occurrence of the organism on this restricted substratum in these small ponds are touched upon, and the possible means by which it might spread to other similar pools in the region are noted.As the fungus, although quite distinctive, appears to be one as yet undescribed, it is established as a new genus Loramyces and species L. juncicola; the distinguishing characteristics and dimensions are given, and the possible relationships noted.