EUTIIALLEPHYTA—EUMYCETES— SMUTS 217 



in persistent and very painful erosions. The penis is sometimes affected, producing an 

 inflammatory phimosis. 



Delicate skins are most easily affected, and a moist condition favors the action of the 

 parasite. Similar effects were produced upon the skin of the rabbit, by applying to it 

 after being shaved some of the fungus removed from the reeds. 



"After reading the above, I wrote to Prof. W. G. Farlow of Cambridge, our authority 

 in crytogamic botany, with regard to the occurrence of this species in America, and received 

 the following reply:" 



Your information about the poisonous character of Ustilago hypodites is something quite 

 new to me. I do not know of any reference to the subject in botanical books. The spores 

 of Ustilagineae are known to be at times irritants when they reach the air-passages, but 

 they are not poisonous to handle. U. hypodites, a species whose characters are not very 

 well marked, I may say, has been found in two places in this country. J found it at 

 "Wood's Holl, Mass., on Phragmites (reed). It was found by Curtis in North Carolina on 

 Arundinaria, the cane, and what is probably the same species occurs in Iowa on a species of 

 Stipa. The fungus may be much more common in this country than is now supposed, as few 

 persons have collected fungi of this order. 



Ustilago maydis, the corn-smut, grows upon our maize, and U. segetum attacks several 

 of our grains, wheat, oats, barley, and our grasses; but I have never heard of their pro- 

 ducing any irritative action upon the skin." 



Ustilago nuda (Jens.) Kell. & Sw. Barley Smut 



Mycelium found in spikelets forming a dusty olive brown spore mass, pro- 

 tected by a thin membrane which soon becomes ruptured and allows for the 

 dispersal of the spores. Spores lighter colored on one side, minutely roughened, 

 spherical, subspherical or elongated; S>-9 /J- in length. Infection probably takes 

 place at the time of flowering of barley. 



Poisonous properties. Like the preceding. Ustilago Hordei, found upon 

 barley, differs from the species described because of an adhering purple black 

 spore mass covered permanently by the lower parts of the glumes. 



Distribution and hosts. Found wherever barley is cultivated in Europe and 

 North America. 



Ustilago I'ritici (Pers.) Jens. Wheat Smut 



Spore masses found in the spikelets of the inflorescence forming black or 

 olive brown mass ; usually destroying the entire floral parts, and later spores 

 are scattered by the wind ; spores usually spherical or nearly spherical or 

 somewhat elongated, minutely roughened, 5-9 M in length. 



Distribution and hosts. Common upon wheat wherever cultivated in Eu- 

 rope, Australia and North America and South America. 



Poisonous properties. Probably injurious like the preceding smuts. 



Ustilago Panici-glauci (Wallr.) Wint. 



Sori in spikelets infecting all the spikes; spore masses enclosed by glumes, 

 with a rather firm membrane; soon ruptured, permitting the scattering of the 

 spores ; spores dark brown, usually spherical or ovoid, occasionally elongated, 

 rather prominently echinulate, 10-14 M in length. 



Distribution. Widely distributed in Europe and North America. One of 

 the most common smuts wherever foxtail grows. 



Poisonous properties. It is supposed by some farmers to cause abortion 

 but there is nothing to support this view. According to Professor Power it 

 contains a small amount of ergotin. Possibly injurious like the other species 

 of smut. 



