444 



BOTANY 



PART II 



Nectria ditissima ( 68 ) is a very injurious parasitic fungus which inhabits the 



1) 



FIG. 387. Claviceps purpurea. A, Mycelial hypha witli com'dia; B, ear of Rye with several ripe 

 sclerotia ; C, a sclerotium with stromata ; D, longitudinal section of a fructification showing 

 numerous perithecia ; E, a single perithecium, more highly magnified ; F, ascus with eight 

 filiform spores ; G, a ruptured ascus with escaping spores ; H, a single spore. (A after 

 BBEFELD ; C-H after TULASNE ; B photographed from nature. OFFICIAL and Poisoxous.) 



cortex of various trees and causes the canker of fruit trees. It forms in winter 

 and spring small red perithecia which are closely crowded together. 

 OFFICIAL. Ergot is the sclerotium of Claviceps purpurea. 



