220 Mycologia 



Sclerotia subcylindric, horn-shaped, or clavate. 

 Sclerotia in the inflorescence of grasses. 

 Sclerotia purplish-black. 



Sclerotia large, 1-2 cm. long. i. 5. Clavus. 



Sclerotia small, not more than 5 mm. long. 2. S. microcephala. 



Sclerotia cinereous. 3. S. cinerea. 



Sclerotia formed in the inflorescence of sedges. 4. 5". nigricans, 



Sclerotia subglobose, or conical. 

 Occurring on Paspalum. 



Perithecia 340 X 119 mic. 5. S.Stevcnsii. 



Perithecia 816 X 225 mic. 6. S.Rolfsii. 



Occurring on Tripsacum dactyloides. 7. 5". Tripsaci. 



I. Spermoedia Clavus (DC.) Fries, Syst. Myc. 2: 268. 1822 



Sclerotium Clavus DC. Fl. Fr. 6: 115. 1815. 



Sphaeria purpurea Fries, Syst. Myc. 2 ; 325. 1823. 



Sphacelia Segetum Lev. Mem. Soc. Linn. Paris 5 : 578. 1827. 



Claznceps purpurea L. Tul. Ann. Sci. Nat. IIL 20: 45. 1853. 



Sclerotia formed in the young ovaries of various species of 

 grasses, at first soft and viscid, at maturity hard, purplish-black 

 externally, whitish within, 1-2 cm. long; stromata often as many 

 as 20-30 from a single sclerotium ; stem very slender, flexuous or 

 spirally twisted and of a dark-brownish color; head subglobose 

 with the margin partially free, about 1-2 mm. in diameter, red- 

 dish-brown in color and roughened by the slightly protruding 

 necks of the perithecia ; perithecia entirely immersed or very 

 slightly protruding, flask-shaped, 150-175X200-250 mic; asci 

 very long, cylindric, 100-125 X 4 mic 



In the inflorescence of rye, and of other wild and cultivated 

 grasses. 



Type locality : France. 



Distribution : New York to Montana and Utah, and probably 

 throughout North America ; also in Europe. 



Illustrations: Ann. Sci. Nat. III. 20: pi. i, 2, 5; Rab. Krypt. 

 Fl. i2 : /. i-y, E. & P. Nat. Pfl. i^ : /. 24J, B-L. 



Exsiccati : Ellis & Everh. Fungi Columb. 1614, 1816, 2216, 

 132^; D. Griff. W. Am. Fungi 42; Brenckle, Fungi Dak. 4. 

 Other specimens examined : Colorado, Tracy; Kansas, Bartholo- 

 mew'; Montana, Anderson, Kclsey; Ohio, Craig; Wisconsin, 

 Davis, Panuncl, T. .1. JJ'illiams. 



