672 



NOTES ON THE GENUS BALANSIA. 



120-300 X 6-7 jx, and each had a peculiar little cap " cell " at the 

 t:p, and tapered at the base. No paraphyses were present. The 

 ascospores proved to be thread-like, measuring about the length 

 of the ascus and i fi across. Each ascus contained eight of these 

 spores. 



Having thus observed all the characteristics of the mature 

 sclerotium, the fungus was identified as a species of Balansia, a 

 genus allied to the genera Claviceps and Epichloe. 



Attempts were made to germinate the ascospores in drops of 

 sterile water in Ward tubes, but without results. When, how- 

 ever, stigmas of normal flowers of Cynodon dactylon were intro- 



FlG. 4. 



duced into the water, the spores began to germinate within a few 

 hours. Two germ tubes were pushed out from near the ends of 

 the spore, but after two days no growth of the germ tube was 

 observed. 



No signs of the conidial stage of the fungus were observed 

 at any time. 



The genus Balansia has been known for about 38 years, its 

 discoverer being Spegazzini. It has the general characters of the 

 order ClaT/icipitecF, to which it belongs, but in addition it has, of 

 course, its own peculiar characters. These are a composite sclero- 

 tium, that is one formed of host elements and hyphal tissues, and 

 asci with the so-called cap " cell." 



Several species of Balansia have been recorded on various 

 grasses. Some of these species have septate spores, or spores 

 which separate into segments at maturity. In others, a conidial 

 stage has been observed, while in others the host elements of the 

 sclerotium become disintegrated. No species has, however, as far 

 as I know, been described on Cynodon dactylon, and no descrip- 

 tion of recorded species agrees entirely with the above. It is 

 probable, therefore, that we have here on Cynodon a new 

 species. 



