214 PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY 



collection, Dr. Farlow's private collection, and the exsiccati of vai-ious 

 authors. The specimens from these three sources form the basis for 

 the following notes. 



The Curtis collection contained one specimen of i?. Indica, Berk. 

 In this specimen the fungus occurred as a large patch of heads on one 

 side of an acacia pod. The single heads, when removed from the host 

 and softened in a solution of potassic hydrate, appeared as in Figure 17. 

 They consisted of a dark brown spore-mass subtended by cyst-cells, 

 which, after being treated with potash, swelled, and hung from the 

 lower edge of the spore-mass like a series of inflated bags. The stalk, 

 although treated in the same manner as that of R. c/landulaformis, 

 showed nothing indicative of a compound nature. It appeared, more- 

 over, to be attached at a central point on the lower face of the spore- 

 mass, and was apparently not connected with the cyst-cells. Of all 

 the species which we have examined, E. Indica has the longest stem, 

 its leneth often being two or three times the breadth of the head. 



The specimen referred to above wa^ the only authenticated one 

 representing this species in the collection. Besides this, however, 

 there was some material from Mexico, which in its general habit was 

 similar to that of JR. Indica except that it occurred on the leaflets, and 

 not the pods, of Acacia. Upon microscopic examination, the heads of 

 the Indian (Fig. 17) and the Mexican form (Fig. 19) proved so like 

 each other that they were practically indistinguishable. Since the 

 only diiference between these two forms was in their position on the 

 host, we feel confident that the Ravenelia before us is no other than 

 E. Indica. This species, we believe, has never before been found in 

 America, and we take pleasure in announcing its discovery by Mr. 

 C. G. Pringle, who collected it on Acacia anisophyUa, Watson, and 

 A. crassifolia. Gray, at Jimulco, Mexico. 



In the Mexican specimens the heads occurred in dense dark brown 

 patches on the upper surface of the leaflets of the two species oi Acacia 

 before mentioned. The patches are so large that they at times cover 

 the leaflets on which they are situated. Single heads or small groups 

 of heads may be found on both surfaces of the leaflet, but especially 

 on the under side, directly below each large patch. The heads occur 

 also here and there on the leaf rhachis. 



A transverse section of a leaflet in the region of one of these 

 patches shows the leaf tissue permeated in all directions by a firm- 

 walled mycelium, which, under the patch, passes outward between the 

 epidermal cells of the leaflet, and gives rise to a hymenium on the 

 outer surface of the leaflet, whence arise the teleutosporic heads. 



