96 



The white smuts, or Entylomata, are neitlicr numerous nor 

 particularly destructive, as a rule, to their hosts, and if they are, 

 It IS often a blessin<,r to the crop grower, for the hosts are mostly 

 insignificant or weedy plants. Saccardo* enumerates thirty-six 

 species, while Wintert stops at half that number. The following 

 are the species found in this country: Entyloma microsporhnn, 

 Schrt. on Ranniicliis rcpcns.— E. Thaliciri, Schrt. on Thalic/nim 

 dioicnm. E. LobcEuc, Farl. on T.ohclia inflata. E. Linaii(E, Schrt. 

 on Veronica percgrina. This last species was found by the 

 writer last autumn upon Liiiaria vulgaris, in New Jersey, and is 

 probably the first time it has been thus met with .in this country. An 

 opportunity was therefore offered to compare this species (which 

 agrees with foreign specimens kindly loaned me by Mr. J. B- 

 Ellis) with the form so abundant upon and sometimes so destruc- 

 tive to the Veronica peregrina. As Entylomata go, there are 

 some marked difierences between the two ; the most important 

 of which are in the size and shape of the spores. Those upon the 

 Veronica:xr(t darker and much larger than the typical form of the 

 Linaria. While the latter has the spores 9-12/' by 11-T4// those 

 of the Veronica are 12-15// by 17-20//. The mature sori are 

 consequently darker In the J^eronica, and other differences 

 noticeable which, were the spores alike, might be accounted for, 

 possibly, as host peculiarities. The Entyloma of the Veronica 

 appears in early spring— a matter of necessity, as the host is 

 short-lived — while the one upon the Linaria matures in autumn. 

 There may not be sufficient ground for a separate species, but it 

 seems proper that a form at least should be reco^mized as follows : 



are 



with the differences as above stated. 



/ 



./ 



W 



iflorum\ E. polyspoinum, Fl. on Ambrosia trifida; E. 

 'k. on Sauicula Mary!andica\ E. Coinpositarum, Fl. 



piDitceus, Ambrosia artcviisc^foli 



proscrp 



Entyh 



* Sylh^i- Ftiugomm^ \\\, pp. 487-496. 

 f Die Pilzc, i. pp. 111-116. 



