"92 MICEOSCOPIC FUNGI. 



ijhe spores in all tlie species associated in tliis 

 genus are interesting objects for tlie microscope. 

 Tlie species on tlie buttercup may be found tbrougb 

 tlie summer and autumn on Ranuncidus rej)ens, 

 •especially whenever tliat plant is met witii in 

 very damp situations. We have seldom found 

 the plant in any profusion without its attendant 

 fungous. 



Another species of these many-celled smuts is 

 not uncommon in gardens, on the sweet violet, 

 attacking the footstalks of the leaves more com- 

 monly than the leaves themselves, and swelling and 

 ■contorting them (plate IX. fig. 185). In general 

 structure the spores are very similar to those of 

 the last species, save that the cells are smaller, 

 and a larger number are collected together (plate 

 IX. fig. 186). So far as we have yet examined the 

 spores of this and the preceding species, they 

 appear to consist of separate and distinct vesicles 

 (spores and pseudo-spores), collected together in 

 unequal masses, and 7iot to be a single spore divided 

 into cells by numerous septa. 



A species of equal interest {Polycystis Colchici, 

 Tul.) is found on the autumnal crocus, or meadow 

 saifron (ColcMcum autumnale). The spores ap- 

 proach nearer to those of the last than of the prior 

 species. 



A fourth species occurs on the leaves of rye 

 (plate IX. fig. 187), forming elongated parallel 

 l)lackish lines (Polycystis parallela, B. & Br.). It 



