68 RESEARCHES ON FUNGI 



with a most beautiful biological significance. In the morphogenic 

 effect of the Hypomyces upon its host we have something analogous 

 to the action of gall-insects in moulding the leaves and stems of 

 Flowering Plants into food pockets, strong boxes, etc., i.e. into 

 such forms as physically appear to be best adapted to suit the 

 requirements of the larvae. 



It is interesting to compare the attacks of Ustilago tritici upon 

 a Wheat plant, and of Hypomyces lactifluorum on Lactarius. In 

 both cases, the parasite takes up its residence in that part of its 

 host to which food materials normally flow in large quantities for 

 storage in the reproductive bodies. These food materials are then 

 appropriated, so that those which would normally go to fill the 

 endosperm of the Wheat grain eventually come to fill the chlamydo- 

 spores of the Ustilago, while those which, in the ordinary course 

 of events, are destined to be stored in the basidiospores of the 

 Lactarius, eventually find themselves in the ascospores of the 

 Hypomyces. The parasites do not kill their host-plants or diminish 

 their vigour, but they render them quite sterile, so that the Wheat 

 plant ripens not a single grain and the fruit-body of the Lactarius 

 not a single spore. The Smut Fungus produces its chlamydospores 

 in the organs of dissemination of its host : it prevents the proper 

 development of the embryo and endosperm, but the pericarp is 

 less affected so that it constitutes a protective chamber-wall whilst 

 the chlamydospores are in course of formation. The Hypomyces 

 prevents the development not only of the hymenium of the Lactarius 

 but also of the gills. On the other hand, it builds its own chambers, 

 the pear-shaped perithecia, in which it may produce its ascospores. 

 To sum up, one may say that both of the host-plants are completely 

 mastered by their respective parasites. 



In conclusion, it may be remarked that the parasitised Lactarius 

 fruit-bodies are edible. Cut up into pieces and set in a dry place, 

 they quickly dry up and then form hard masses reminding one of 

 slices of dried apples. In this state the fungus can be preserved 

 indefinitely. At Winnipeg, Galician immigrants and others collect 

 the fruit-bodies in late summer, cut them up, dry them in the sun, 

 and store them in bags for the winter. One such immigrant said 

 that, when he desires to cook the fungus in winter-time, he takes 



