The genus Epicoccum Link

A study has been made of 70 isolates of Epicoccum, 47 of which sporulated, and also of 19 type specimens and 96 other herbarium specimens. The 70 strains cultured under normal laboratory conditions are red, yellow or olivaceous in different shades. Colour, however, cannot be used as a dependable taxonomie character because it is too much influenced by various factors such as medium, light and pH. The pluricellular structure of the ripe spore has been proved by aid of microtome sections; the spores germinate with many germ tubes. The number of the cells in a spore varies up to fifteen. The thickness of the epispore, which causes the roughness of the spore, and that of the spore wall, the shape and size of the spore, even in one and the same strain, and the size of the sporodochia are far too variable to be of specific value. A wide divergence appears in the spore measurements of 47 strains. A thorough examination of herbarium material led to the conclusion that no real difference exists between those species which proved to belong to Epicoccum. They could all be reduced to synonymy with the type, E. nigrum Link, together with the 70 strains in culture. Eight species are considered doubtful or must be eliminated as not belonging to the genus Epicoccum. The genus Cerebella should be discarded; the only species is included in Epicoccum as E. andropogonis (Ces.) nov.comb.