240 Griffiths : A New Ergot 



pleted and unpublished experiments conducted in the greenhouse 

 of Columbia University during the winter of 1898-99. 



The above were planted under practically the same conditions 

 as the Arizona specimens. The sclerotia from fifteen species of 

 northwestern grasses were planted at this time, but only these three 

 grew. On the 19th of January, duplicates of these fifteen specimens 

 were planted, thoroughly moistened, and placed out of doors dur- 

 ing freezing weather for two days. The first to show development 

 were those of Agropyron spicatum which produced mature stromata 

 in forty-four days. Without check cultures it can not be positively 

 stated whether the shortening of the period was due to the freezing 

 or to the natural consequence of the period of rest. The main point 

 of interest results from a comparison of these periods of develop- 

 ment with those of the Arizona species. 



This species, which is very distinct in the sclerotial stage from 

 all published species, may be characterized as follows : 



Claviceps cinereum sp. nov. 



Sclerotia clavate, gradually tapering upward, straight, curved, 

 twisted or contorted, 1.5 to 3 cm. in length by 1.75 to 2.5 mm. 

 in diameter at the base, very viscid while developing, the base per- 

 manently invested by the flowering glumes of the host, which are 

 smooth, shining, black and closely adherent ; smooth as far as 

 covered by the glumes, but reticulated for some distance above 

 this ; the reticulations gradually disappearing upward and merging 

 into closely placed longitudinal striations which in turn disappear 

 near the apex, where the surface is nearly smooth or irregularly 

 roughened ; dark gray at base, but gradually fading out to a very 

 light gray or almost white at the apex. In section the base pos- 

 sesses an external zone of a dark gray color on the outside, within 

 which is a much wider distinctly marked zone of a very light 

 gray, while the center, less definitely bounded, is almost pure 

 white ; at the apex these divisions are absent. Stroma erect, 

 erumpent with a cylindrical or usually slightly fusiform, short, 

 stout almost white stalk, and a subglobose head usually slightly 

 flattened below and overlapping the upper end of the stalk, 1.7 5- 

 2.75 mm. in diameter; head light gray, almost smooth, viscid, 

 punctiform with small darker points indicating positions of perithecia. 

 Perithecia sunken, not projecting above stromatic mass, ovate to very 

 slightly pyriform, 190-225 fi x 60-90 //. Asci 8-spored, fascicu- 

 lated, narrowly cylindrical, slightly narrowed below into rather 



