Mr. Surru's Observations on the Cause of Ergot. 451 
to originate, I found the anther irregularly covered with numerous distinct, 
Short, simple or ramifying articulated filaments, the articulations or side ra- 
mules being of the size and form of the sporidia; sometimes the filaments 
were more elongated and naked, or destitute of lateral sporidia. On examin- 
ing a spike of Phalaris aquatica, in which the anthers had been developed, 
I found their withered remains adhering to the apex of the glumes bearing 
the same kind of filaments, but black by exposure; they gave out the same- 
shaped bodies in water, and on the glumes lower down there was a concrete 
chalk y-like substance entirely composed of them; but the ovaries had yet no 
appearance of being ergotized, although ergots were found on other spikes of 
the same plant. From the above statement I am led to consider these bodies 
as the joints of a minute articulated fungus, which is developed in the early 
stage of the floret, and increases rapidly, ultimately forming a crust, and 
propagating itself by a total separation of the joints on the application of 
moisture ; this, no doubt, impregnates the soil or adheres to the perfect seeds 
of the grass, which on germination and subsequent growth, carry up some 
of the reproductive matter of the fungus, which again developes itself in the 
anther*, where it may act with the pollen in the impregnation of the ovulum, 
causing a morbid growth of the albumen, which continues to swell, and forms 
an elongated oily fungoid body or ergot on which the minute fungus seems to 
| originate. My conclusion therefore is, that Ergot is not an organized fungus, 
but the result of the action of a fungus. 
List of Grasses on which Ergot was found. 
Elymus giganteus. Arundo Phragmites, 
sabulosus. Molinia coerulea. 
canadensis. Milium multiflorum. 
Lolium perenne. Arrhenantherum avenaceum. 
Agropyrum maritimum. Phalaris aquatica. 
caninum. Phleum pratense, no ergot, but the 
Dactylis glomerata. fungus on the apex of the glumes. 
Avena pubescens. 
* Similar to what Mr. Bauer has shown to be the way in which the smut, and grainworms of the 
wheat are propagated. ; 
