MILDEW AND BRAND. 57 



prominent distinction may be found in the apices of 

 the spores, which, in this instance, are not attenu- 

 ated, but crowned with a series of little spicules, 

 or teeth, whence the specific name of coronata has 

 been derived (plate IV. fig*. 62). 



The Labiate family of plants and its ally the 

 Scrophulariacese are also subject to the attacks of 

 several kinds of Brand, a name, by the bye, often 

 applied locally to the corn mildew and other similar 

 parasites, and which may have originated in the 

 scorched or burnt appearance which the infected 

 parts generally assume. In the former natural 

 order the different kinds of mint, the ground ivy, 

 ihe wood-sage, and the betony, and in the latter, 

 the water fig-wort and several species of veronica, 

 or speedwell, are peculiarly susceptible; and on 

 most a distinct species of Puccinia is found. To 

 provide against doubt which the less botanical of 

 our readers may possess of the meaning or value of 

 the term Puccinia, which has already occurred two 

 or three times in this chapter, a brief explanation 

 may be necessary, which more scientific readers 

 will excuse. 



In botany, as in kindred sciences, acknowledged 

 species have their trivial, or specific name, generally 

 derived from the Latin. In the last species referred 

 to, this was coronata, meaning crowned, in reference 

 to the coronated apex of the fruit. Any indefinite 

 number of species with some features in com- 

 mon are associated together in a group, which is 



