THE FUNGI ed 
dichascd and are carried by the wind to other fields of grain, 
there to begin over a new life cycle. 
The drug ergot contains a number of physiologically active 
constituents chief among which are the alkaloids ergonovine, 
ergotoxine and ergotamine and the amines /istamine and tyramine. 
It is used in medicine chiefly because of its power to contract the 
pregnant uterus and to check post partum hemorrhage. 
Tue BAsIDIOMYCETES OR BAsIDIA FUNGI 
This large class of fungi, including the smuts, rusts, mush- 
rooms, gill and tooth fungi, etc., is characterized by the occur- 
rence of a basidium in the life eee, A basidium is the swollen 
end of a hypha consisting of one or more cells and giving rise 
to branches called sterigmata, each of which cuts off at its tip 
a spore, called a basidiospore. In addition to the basidiospores, 
some forms also produce one or more kinds of other types of 
spores. All of the members have a mycelium composed of 
septated hyphe. 
THE Lower BASIDIOMYCETES 
This group comprises the smuts and rusts which are parasites 
_ living within the bodies of seed plants. 
~ Orper 1.—UstiacInaLes, the smuts. Destructive parasites 
which attack the flowers of various cereals, occasionally other 
parts of these plants. Examples: Ustilago Maydis, the corn smut. 
The basidiospores in this group are borne on a three- to five- 
celled basidium called a promycelium. 
Ustritaco Mayopis (Ustitaco ZE#) (Corn Smut).—Corn 
smut is a destructive parasite which for a long time was supposed 
to be confined to the Indian Corn, but which now is known to 
occur on Mexican Grass. It is the only smut useful in medicine. 
The mycelium of the fungus extends through all parts of the 
infected organ of the host through the intercellular-air-spaces, 
sending short absorbing branches into its cells. Im due course 
of time, it produces large tumor-like swellings on the ears, tassels, 
husk, leaves, root and stem. Each swelling is at first made up 
of masses of hyphz, the whole being covered with a tightly 
appressed membrane which has a whitish appearance like 
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