Polycystis pompholygodes. 



Polycystis pompltolygodcs is one of the microscopic fungi 

 known as a complex smut. These smuts attack various parts 

 of many well-known plants, such as violets, anemones, crocuses, 

 and buttercups. The principal parts affected are the leaf-stalks 

 and the leaf-segments. It will be observed, by glancing at the 

 plate opposite, that the fungus forms blotches at irregular 

 intervals along the stalks and on both the upper and under 

 surfaces of the leaves. The stalks are sometimes much distorted. 

 In some examples the growth of the fungus is so vigorous as 

 to cause the severance of the upper portion of the stalk, with 

 the leaf attached, from the lower, which will then occasionally 

 assume a spiral form, as shown at fig. 5. When first attacked, 

 the plant becomes swollen as if a subcutaneous blister were 

 forming, and a reddish brown tinge soon appears. This deepens 

 in colour, and ultimately the cuticle of the plant bursts, with 

 ragged edges, and a mass of fuliginous coloured powder is 

 exposed. This powder consists of enormous numbers of minute 

 spherical forms, the interior of which is divided into several 

 cells containing a brownish endochrome. 



The illustration is of specimens gathered at Hastings by the 

 author. 



