GRA.SSES OF IOWA. 247 



The Ustilago sacchari, Rahb., is a destructive smut in Italy, 

 Java and Africa, occurring on the stems of Erianthus and Sac- 

 charum. 



Porcupine grass smut {Ustilago hypodytes), Schlecht. Fr. 

 This smut is very common on porcupine grass {Stipa spartea). 

 Arthur* records its occurrance on Elymus canadensis. The 

 writer has never met with it on any member of the genus 

 Elymus, although it is extremely common at times on the por- 

 cupine grass. It was described by Schlechtdendahlf as Caeoma 

 hypodytis. Friest transferred it to the genus Ustilago. This 

 name is adopted by Saccardo§ and also by Plowright. || 



This fungus is characterized by its occurrence in the culms 

 beneath the leaf sheath. It is most common during the latter 

 part of May and early in June. It frequently destroys large 

 patches of this grass. In addition to the host mentioned above, 

 it occurs upon quack grass, Calamagrostis, Bromus and Phrag- 

 mites. Its distribution is quite common throughout Europe 

 and northern Africa, but as stated above, it usually occurs in 

 this state upon the Stipa. 



Wild timothy {Mulenbergia glomerata) is affected with Ustilago 

 montaiensis, Ell. & Holw.*; This smut affects the ovaries, caus- 

 ing them to become greatly enlarged, very much like Ustilago 

 hullata. The smutty mass is surrounded by a persistent mem- 

 brane, which later cracks and breaks. The glumes and bracts 

 are pale in color. The spores are brown and minutely rough- 

 ened. This fungus appears to occur only in Montana, but 

 ought to be looked for in this state. 



The Ustilago buchloes, Ell. & Tracy, affects the leaves of 

 buffalo grass, causing enlargements. The smut is covered by a 

 delicate membrane which soon becomes ruptured, and this 

 distributes the spores. The spores are brown and smooth. It 

 occurs in the southwest. 



Ustilago androjyogonis, Kellerman and Swingle,** occurs upon 

 tall blue stem, Andropogon provincialis. This smut causes the 

 host plant to flower several weeks earlier and dwarfs the 



*Iowa Dstilagineae. Bull. Iowa Agrl. Col. Dept. of Bot. 1884: 172. 



tFloraBerol. 2: 129. 



*Syst. Myc. 3: 518. 



gSyll. Fung. 7: 4?a. 



II Mono, of the British Ured. and Ustilag. 273. 



TEUis and Everhart. N. Am. Fung. No. 236'5. 



**Jour. Myc. 5: 12. 



