Esculent. Cooke.
Cohort PYRENOMYCETES.
FAMILY.—HYPOCREACEÆ.
HYPO´MYCES Fr.
Gr—under; Gr—fungus.
Perithecia (the hollow narrow-mouthed cases which contain the spores) gregarious, with a cottony stroma in which they are more or less immersed. Mostly parasitic on various Hymenomycetes or Discomycetes; bright colored, with papilliform (nipple-shaped) or slightly elongated ostiola (apertures). Asci mostly cylindrical, 8-spored, without paraphyses. Sporidia oblong or fusoid, uniseptate, hyaline. Conidial stage represented by Asterophora, etc.
This parasite attacks several species of fungi, and so alters their structure and appearance that it is difficult to distinguish the host-plant. The attack is made in the extreme youth of the plant. The writer is fully satisfied from his own observation that H. lactifluorum and H. purpurea infest Lactarius piperatus. The milk cells are so changed by H. lactifluorum that they yield no milk. When attacked by H. purpurea the milk is a beautiful purple. In both cases the pepperiness of the host-plant is destroyed. I have seen the same host plant attacked by both forms of the Hypomyces. After the host-plant of Hypomyces lactifluorum is fully grown, and infested, it is frequently attacked by Hypomyces purpureus. Purple spots appear, which gradually spread until the entire plant is covered. This Hypomyces seems to affect the milk cells. A beautiful, profuse, purple fluid results.
The parasite is proving itself an enemy to fungi, but a friend to man. Upon L. piperatus and upon Amanita rubescens it very much adds to the weight of the plants, and improves the texture and edible qualities. The same may be said of L. volemus, but not to such a degree. Prof. M.W. Easton in August, 1899, found this species at Mt. Gretna, Pa., attacked by a parasitic fungus in such a manner as to destroy its milk-giving quality and completely transform its gills into a corrugated, granular surface.
Professor Peck, to whom I submitted the parasite, thinks it a new species and calls it H. volemi.