Mycological Bulletin 



No. 53 



W. A. KcUerman, Ph. D., Ohio State University 



Columbus, Ohio, March 1, 1006. 



SoMFTniNC ATiOUT Smut. — 111 the preceding number we gave an illus- 

 tration (Fig. 164) of a kind of parasitic fungi which are very common, 

 namely, the Smuts. The figure referred to shows a plant, the common 

 Bugbane or black snake root (Ciinicifuga) distorted by a Smut-fungus. 

 The plant became abnormal in consequence of the attack of this parasite 

 and when the mass of spores of the latter became nearly or quite ripe, 

 they ruptured the epidermis and the black powdery mass escaped. When 

 examined under the microscope the "smut" proves to be a multitude of 

 little round bodies as shown in the figures (b, c and d) . These germinate — 

 showing that they are reproductive bodies of plants multiplying the species 

 as do seeds in case of the higher plants. They are much simpler in struc- 

 ture than arc seeds and are called spores. At d in figure 164 is shown a 

 spore ihat has germinated. 



t-iBRARY 



SEW YORK 



BOTANICAl 



GARDEN. 



Fig. 103. — IIe-lo'-ti-um ci-tiu'-num. — An attractive little Disc-fungus, yellow in 

 color, growing on rotten logs in very damp places. The scale at the bottom shows 

 S the extent of the slight magnification. The spores are not borne on gills, pores, spines, 

 •j-^ etc., as in the case of those called Ba-sid-i-o-my-ce'-tes, but the cups (or saucers) 

 ■~ contain a compact layer of large cells within ivhich the spores ore borne. It belongs 

 ^ to the Dis-co-my-ce'-tcs (which is a large group of the As-co-my-ce'-tes). 





Universitv Bulletin. Series 9, No. 41. Entered as Second Qass Matter. Post-Office at Columbus, Ohia 



