Indigenous and Introduced Species. 43 



U. caryophyllinus (Schrank), Schroet. on Carnations (1896). 



U. fab'ae (Pers.), De By. on Beans (1898). 



U. polygoni (Pers.), Fckl. on Polygonum aviculare (1896). 



U. trifolii Alb. and Schw. on Trifolium repens (1892). 



Phragmidium subcorticium (Schrank), Wint. on Rosa sp. (1892). 



Melampsora lini (Pers.), Tul. on Linum usitatissimum and L. 



marginale (1889). 

 Uredo kuehnii Krueg. on Sugar-cane (1893). 



It would be interesting to trace from what quarter these species found 

 their way into Australia, but from 'the very nature of the case, it is 

 impossible to tell exactly, except in a few instances, and one can only 

 make shrewd guesses as to the rest. The inquiry would mainly resolve 

 itself into the importation of the host-plants, either by cuttings or seed, and 

 the seed of such weeds as chick-weed (Stellaria media) and knot-weed (Poly- 

 gonum aviculare} might easily be carried in straw packing or in hay. 



Mr. Ellery, F.R.S., late Government Astronomer, has pointed out that 

 the scarlet pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis] was first observed as an intro- 

 duced weed in the Observatory grounds, and he informs me that as many 

 English and African plants appeared there at different times after unpack- 

 ing cases from the different countries, he came to the conclusion that seeds 

 from the packing were the source. Both uredo and teleutospores of 

 Puccinia graminis have been found on wheat straw envelopes on bottles of 

 wine imported from France. (Note 5, p. 75.) 



In the case of the cereals and grasses, the rust spores would probably 

 be brought with the seed, and this is certainly true as regairds Puccinia 

 beckmanniae. The seed of Beckmannia erucaeformis Host, was forwarded 

 to me in 1903 by the United States Department of Agriculture, and on 

 growing it at Leongatha, the rust was very copiously developed in 

 February and March, 1904. E. D. Holway informs me that it is known 

 in Minnesota, U.S.A., although it has not hitherto been published. 



The seed of Elymus condensatus was also sent from America in 1903, 

 and the rust (Puccinia im-patientis) appeared upon the plants in December 

 of the same year. 



The latest addition to, our imported rust-fungi is that of Puccinia 

 chry'santhemi, and it was observed for the first time in New South Wales 

 in 1904. Cuttings had been imported from England, and thus the rust 

 was carried ; but it has not as yet spread very much. Only the uredospores 

 occur here as in England, and I was able to germinate them freely in 

 tap-water towards the end of May. It is by means of this trade in 

 cuttings that the rust is likely to be spread, unless proper precautions are 

 taken. The history of its distribution is rather interesting. It is pro- 

 bably indigenous to Japan, and in 1895 it first appeared in England, then 

 in France in 1897, and about the same time in Denmark and Germany. 

 In 1900 it reached America and Switzerland, and now, in 1904, or earlier, 

 it has come to Australia, probably by way of England. It was also re- 

 corded for New Zealand in 1904. 



The mallow rust (Puccinia malvacearmri) has been known in Australia 

 since 1857, when it was found! in the neighbourhood of Melbourne, and 

 now it is one of the commonest rusts we have. It is remarkable for the 

 rapidity of its spread, nearly over the whole world, since it was first de- 

 scribed in 1852 from Chili, where it is indigenous. After its appearance 

 in Australia, the next record of it is in Spain (1869), then France (1872). 

 England and Germany (1873), Italy (1874), Switzerland and Cape of Good 

 Hope (1875), Austria and Hungary (1876), Greece (1877), North 

 America (1886), Sweden (1887), and even reaching Finland (1890). 



