Parasitic Finnji <>/' Illinois* 183 



the ruptured epidermis. Stipe white, filiform, nearly equaling the 

 elongate elliptical spore, which is constricted in the middle, lower article 

 elongate-turbinate, upper obtuse, elliptical or ovate-globose. Duby, 

 Botanicon Gallicum, Vol. II. p. 888. 



On leaves of Aster short ii: McLean, July 15, 2308 and 

 2301), Aug. 4. 2307, Aug. 6, 2306., A. saytttifolius : McLean, 

 July 7. 2313 and 2315, July 12, 2319, July 15, 2315, July 16, 

 2316, July 29, 2318, Aug. 1, 2320, Aug. 4, 2310, Aug. 6. 2311, 

 2312, Oct. 19, 1894; Ogle. Sept. 23, 6141; Fulton, Oct. 3, 1737. 

 A. miser: McLean, Oct. 11, 1833. A. Novcc-Anylice : McLean. 

 July 25, 2314: Stephenson, Sept. 13, 5836. Aster sps.: McLean, 

 July 7, 2323, July 14, 5537, July 17, 5581, Oct. 6, 1797; Adams. 

 July 10. 5455; Tazewell, July 22, 2321 and 2322; Piatt, Aug. 

 16,1083, Aug. 17, 1123; McHenry, Aug. 24, 1269, Aug. 31, 

 1388. ' 



There is no apparent reason for keeping separate the vari- 

 able forms known as P. asteris, Schw., and P. Gerardii, Peck. 

 On A. sagittifolius both are found on the same leaf in several 

 instances'. The younger more rapidly grown specimens are 

 lighter colored, and there are all degrees of distinctness and 

 confluence of the sori. When on thin leaves the spots quickly 

 die. the spores are very poorly developed, light-colored, thin- 

 walled, and very fragile. In other cases the sori are somewhat 

 circinate in arrangement and not crowded. The central and 

 older ones are covered with the epidermis, the outer, younger, 

 and lighter brown ones burst through and are thus naked. Sori 

 very rarely occur on the upper side of the leaf. On Aster Novce- 

 Anyliw the spores are better developed, plumper, stronger, 

 darker brown, yet on dead spots are the opposite. Here the 

 sori are usually much scattered, not collected in clusters. 

 Sometimes on thin leaves of several species, dead spots soon fall 

 out. leaving more or less rounded holes. 



Again,- Schweinitz's name (N. Am. Fungi [1834] p. 296) 

 is untenable, having been previously used by Duby (Bot. Gall. 

 [1828-30] p. 888). For this reason the name P. Gerart/t'f. 

 much more recently given by Peck (25 Rep. N. Y. State Mus. 

 [1870] p. 91) should be adopted if either. But there is a fur- 

 ther question, whether or not the American specimens are spe- 

 cifically distinct from those of Europe. Three names have IM-.MI 



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