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A STUDY OF THE KANSAS USTILAGINEAE, 

 ESPECIALLY WITH REGARD TO THEIR GERMI- 

 NATION.* 



J. B. S. Norton. 



The Ustilagineae in Kansas are represented by the genera 

 Ustilago, Tilletia, Entyloma, Sorosporium, Urocystis, and 

 Doassansia. The above generic names are arranged in order 

 of their number of representing species. Far the greater 

 number of our 33 species belong to the genus Ustilago. 



Scarcely enough data have been collected to show much re- 

 garding the distribution in the State. I have given the local- 

 ities known except where the species is a very common one. 



A few words in explanation of my objects, and methods 

 of research in these studies will be necessary. The study has 

 been primarily the germination of the teleutospores, and con- 

 fined principally to the genus Ustilago; but the intention is 

 to give as complete a list as possible of all the species of 

 Ustilagineae known to occur in the State, and something of 

 their distribution. Other observations of more or less inter- 

 est and importance have been added, especially the effect of 

 the fungus on the host plant. 



The most of the work was done in the botanical laboratory 

 of the Kansas Agricultural College, the finishing touches be- 

 ing added at the Missouri Botanical Garden. The list is based 

 on specimens in the herbarium of the former, and the col- 

 lections of the author. The advantages offered by the ex- 

 cellent collections of Ustilagineae in the College herbarium, 

 and the Experiment Station library abounding in works on 

 smuts are almost as good as one need wish for. 



The material used for germination I have collected mostly 

 about Manhattan, Kan., during the last two years. 



The germination has for the most part been made in hang- 

 ing drop cultures, and kept in a large moist-chamber to 



* Read before The Academy of Science of St. Louis, October 19th, 1896. 



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