COLCHICUM SMUT 227 



UREDINACEAE 



COLCHICUM SMUT 

 ( Uromyces colchtci, Massee.) 



For three successive seasons the foliage of a bed of 

 Colchicum spedosum was completely destroyed by this 

 fungus, and during the third season plants of Colchicum 

 bavarian* and C. autumnale growing on either side of the 



Fig. 56. Uromyces cole hid. i, portion of a diseased 

 Colchicum leaf; 2, a sorus or cluster of spores which 

 has ruptured the epidermis of the host-plant, x 10 ; 

 3, teleutospores, consisting of several cells united in a 

 cluster ; the central dark cells are fertile, the pale, peri- 

 pheral cells are sterile, x 300. 



diseased patch were also attacked, although escaping for 

 the first two seasons. The parasite attacks the leaves 

 only, commencing at the base of the leaf-sheath and 

 gradually extending towards the tip of the leaf. The lowest 

 and oldest leaf is first attacked. 



The sori or spore-clusters are very much larger than is 



