1 68 British FunH. 



Brefeld, wlio considers tlie pairing of tlie primary 

 sporidia as analogous to tlie blending of distinct 

 branches of mycelium already described as taking 

 place in the mycelium of BoinjiU and other fungi, and 

 as not being of a sexual nature. 



The special parts in which spores are formed is 

 constant in each species, in most instances some por- 

 tion of the flower, more especially the ovary is the 

 portion where the reproductive organs of the fungus 

 are developed, the spores at maturity forming a black 

 soot-like mass, as in wheat, oats, barley, and other 

 grasses, and popularly known as '^ smut/' '^ brand,'^ &c. 

 In other species the sori, or heaps of spores, are con- 

 stantly formed in the tissues of the leaves or stem, 

 becoming exposed by the rupture of the cuticle at 

 maturity. In the classification of Fries the UstUagineds 

 were included along with the Uredlnew under the 

 division Hypodermii, on account of resemblances in 

 habitat and appearance in the mature condition. 

 This arrangement was shown by De Bary ^ to be 

 erroneous. True rej^roductive organs are so greatly 

 suppressed, and never of functional value in the 

 JJstilaginese that the species are conspicuous owing 

 to the excessive development of resting-spores, or 

 clilamy do spores as they are called by Brefeld, and 

 the sporophores supporting the terminal resting-spores 

 va.Bntyloma2,iidi TiUetia closely resemble basidia, and 

 hence show a transition to the Basidiomycetes. 



According to Ed. Fischer* the genus Graphiola be- 

 longs to the TJstilar/iness. If this idea is corroborated, 



* Brandpilze, p. 28 (1853). 



^ Beitr. z. Kennin. d. Gattung Graphiola, Bot. Ztg., 1883. 



