Bota)iical Notes. 117 



original with us, but we cannot claim priority. The objection 

 brought forward by some writers is that there are physiological 

 races existing in this fungus that are each confined to a rather 

 narrow choice of hosts. Duggar states that in the race on 

 which wheat is included also includes Hordeum, Agropijrum 

 and Ehjmiis. All of these are represented in our flora, the 

 second and third by perennials ; for example, Elymus canaden- 

 sis L, wild rye. The same author classes the oat in a different 

 race from that of the wheat. Considering the fact that the 

 fungus has leaped over its main characteristics sufficiently to' 

 omit one of its fundamental, well-established characters, 

 we are loath to believe that the form on the oat is not capable 

 of infecting the wheat. We have long ago learned, however, 

 that opinions do not affect facts ! 



In our opinion, while other theories may account for the 

 wintering of wheat rust here in our section, this fungus per- 

 sists and succeeds without the aecidium stage, because of the 

 presence of many native and mostly perennial grasses. Some of 

 our reasons are that these grasses are to be found quite inti- 

 mately associated with the cultivated grains. Secondly, that 

 we have found them retaining their green color and still evi- 

 dently infected with a fungus presumably alive within the 

 tissues of the grass. We collected some of this on the third of 

 this month (January), following zero weather. On the same 

 day we collected Dactylis glomerata L,, orchard grass, with 

 uredospores on the green leaves. These did not appear to be 

 true red rust of wheat, however, although they appear much 

 like some found on wheat. We have collected and here present 

 a specimen of what is probably Panicum virgatum L., with an 

 abundance of red and black rust on it. Upon examining these 

 with the microscope the spores are found to be typical Puccinia 

 graminis. They may be of such a race that they cannot infect 

 wheat, but their external characteristics do not bear out such a 

 conclusion. Panicum virgatum L., is a perennial grass very 

 common in Kansas. It is often found very close to grain fields. 



Our contention must still be considered theoretical, however, 

 as we have not demonstrated it. Nevertheless we have much 

 faith in the correctness of it and we shall endeavor to search for 

 facts having a bearing on it. 



Kansas Statf Normal School, Emporl\. 



