OF BRITISH FUNGI. 101 



plant, on wheat, grass, asparagus, mint, plum-leaves, 

 beans, beet, oak, birch, poplar, sallow, willow, roses, 

 violets, primroses, thistles, coltsfoot, &c. &c. The 

 Dhoora corn of the tropics, and the maize of temperate 

 regions, are not less certainly the victims of these 

 parasites than the wheat, barley, and oats of our own 

 land. It has been said, and we fear with some show of 

 truth, that bunted wheat ground up into flour is largely 

 used in the manufacture of gingerbread ; in which case 

 the colour is concealed on the one hand, and the taste 

 on the other ; and not having been found to be seriously 

 injurious, no depreciation in gingerbread has resulted 

 in consequence. Many species of XEcidiwn are exceed- 

 ingly beautiful when viewed under the microscope. The 

 clusters of brightly-coloured, urn-shaped bodies resemble 

 the delicate waxy flowers of exotic heaths ; but to the 

 naked eye these appear only as rusty spots on the leaves 

 or other portions of plants upon which they establish 

 themselves. 



In early spring the leaves of the pilewort (Ranunculus 

 ficaria) will often be found with bright orange-coloured 

 spots on the under surface and occasionally on the 

 petioles. When viewed through a lens, these spots will 

 be seen to consist of clusters of cup-shaped receptacles, 

 fringed at the margin, and filled with minute, bright, 

 dust-like spores. These are examples of ^Ecidium 

 ranunculacearum, which is also found on other species 

 of Ranunculus. There are species of ^Ecidium found 

 flourishing on the living leaves of other plants equally 

 interesting and beautiful. 



