Griffiths : A New Ergot 



239 



matter of common observation in the arid regions of the South- 

 west that in a very few days after a rain, whether this comes in 

 July or September, the mesa reveals an abundance of seedlings 

 which spring up and grow vigorously as long as favorable con- 

 ditions obtain. It is well known that the seeds of some plants, at 

 least, will germinate immediately upon maturity in marked con- 

 trast with the period of rest required by the seeds of the majority 

 of the natives of the cooler and moister regions. Something 

 analagous appears to be true regarding the development of the 

 stroma from the sclerotium of this ergot. The proper conditions 

 of heat and moisture cause them to develop immediately upon 

 maturity, while, as is well known, the same structures in Claviceps 

 purpurea apparently require a longer or shorter period of rest. 



The sclerotia of this ergot were collected on the 16th of Oc- 

 tober in a sticky viscid condition. They were removed from the 

 glumes of the grass and planted in clean building sand in the uni- 

 versity greenhouse on the 26th of the same month. On the 

 25th of November, stromata containing mature ascospores were 

 found in abundance. Previous experience in the germination of 

 sclerotia led me to examine the cultures but casually, because they 

 were not expected to develop inside of about two months. Not 

 knowing, therefore, just when the stromata first appeared in this 

 culture another lot of sclerotia was planted on the following day. 

 These were carefully watched and sprinkled with water once each 

 day for twenty days when mature stromata were again secured from 

 the most superficial sclerotia. Both of the cultures continued to 

 produce stromata until the first of January when they were aban- 

 doned. The development of mature stromata within twenty days 

 of planting, especially when planting follows so closely upon the 

 maturity of the sclerotia, I believe to be out of the ordinary ex- 

 perience. 



It will be of interest to compare the above periods of develop- 

 ment with the following data taken from my notes upon uncom- 



Host plant. 



Setanion ely 

 moides. 



Elymus con- 

 densatus. 



Date of Col- 

 lection. 



Aug. 30, '98 



Aug. 22, '98 



Locality. 



Billings, 

 Mont. 



Buffalo, 

 Wyo. 



Date of Plant 

 ing. 



Oct. 29, '98 

 Oct. 29, '9 8 



Date of Maturity Period of 



of Stroma. 



Development 



Feb. 20, '99 114 days 



March 15/99 



137 days 



