The Parasitic Slime-Moulds.
Ligniera bellidis Schwartz, E. J. Ann. Botany, Vol. 27. Pp. 227-2.40, 1914- Ligniera menthe Schwartz, E. J. Ann, Botany, Vol. 27- Pp. 227-240. 1914. Ligniera alismalis Schwartz, E. J. Ann. Botany, Vol. 27. Pp. 227-240. 1914.
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Anisamyxa plantaginis Nemec, B. Bull Internat. de l'Acad. Sci. Bohême. Vol. 18.
Pp. 18-32. 1916.
Ligniera pilorum Fron, G. and Gaillait, G. Bull. Soc. Mycol. France. Vol. 41. Pp.
388-390. 1925.
Spores spherical, with thin hyaline walls; 4-7 in diameter.
On
germination they give rise to fresh plasmodia. Zoosporangia from 15-20μ in diameter. Mature plasmodia produce either spores or zoosporangia. The organism does not cause any hypertrophy of the host tisues, and ocurs chiefly in the cortical layers of the roots of various Phanerogamic plants. It has been recorded from both England and France.
The recorded host plants on which L. Junci has been found are Poa annua, Juncus articulatus, J. obtusiflorus, J. lamprocarpus, J. bufonius, Callitriche stagnalis, Alisma plantago, Potamogeton natans, Polygonum Hydropiper, Iris pseudocorus, Ranunculus circinatus, R. aquatilis, Plantago major, Mentha Pulegium, Cerastium vulgatum, Veronica Beccabunga, Bellis perennis, and Chrysanthemum Leucanthemum. From such a variety of hosts it seems probable that L. Junci is able to infect any phanerogamie plant under suitable environmental conditions.
2.
L. verrucosa Maire & Tison. (Pl. 18, fig. 1).
Maire, R. & Tison, A. Comptes Rendus Acad. Sci. Paris. Vol. 152.
P. 206. 1911.
Spores spherical with sharply warted or spiny walls, 4-5 in diameter. Spores may be either aggregated in masses, or, more rarely, arranged in single rows. On germination they give rise to plasmodia, which produce spores. The organism occurs in the cortex of the roots and in the root hairs, but in neither instance is any hypertrophy_caused.
It has been recorded in Veronica arvensis and in several species of grasses in France.
This species is distinguished from L. Junci by the verrucose markings of the spores.
In putting together these descriptions of the species which have so far been found, my object has been to describe them in such a way that they can be easily recognised from one another. To this end I have added photomicrographs of the spore masses, which I have taken either from material I have personally collected, or from slides sent me by the original investigators. I have been unable to obtain slides of P. Fici-repentis from Dr. Andreucci, and since he does not illustrate his original description we still have no figure to shew the appearance of the spores of that species. All the others I have seen myself. It is in hope that, with the addition of a Key and the photomicrographs any investigator finding any one of the known species will be able to recognise it. At the same time I should be very pleased to examine material of either new species, or those already described, which are collected in Eastern Asia.
Supplement No. 1, 1932.
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