6^ Indigenous and Introduced Species. 



The total number of species at present recorded for Australia is sixty-eight. 

 They are grouped under ten genera, and no new genera have been discovered 

 as in the case of Uromycladium among the rusts. There are two gall-form- 

 ing species, however, which are interesting, not merely from their producing 

 galls, but on account of their distribution. Melanofsichium Aiistro-Ameri- 

 canum occurring on species of Polygonum, was first recorded from South 

 America, then it was found in the United States, and now it has been met with 

 near Brisbane, in Queensland. The Queensland specimen was first deter- 

 mined by Mr. Broome as Ustilago emodensis Berk., but an examination of the 

 original type of this at Kew showed it to be quite distinct. Cintractia crus- 

 f/alli occurring on the common Barn-yard grass, is widely distributed in the 

 United States, but has only been found elsewhere near Sydney. A number 

 of afEected plants were observed by Mr. Hattrick growing in sandy soil, and 

 they attracted his attention by the large galls formed on the stems. Both 

 these gall-forming plants are adapted for moist situations. 



Ustilago cynodontis may also be regarded as indigenous, since the host-plant 

 — Ci/nodon dactylon — is a native. It occurs in Europe, Northern Africa, and 

 India, to which Australia has now to be added. 



The distribution of the species in the different States is very unequal. In 

 Victoria there are about double the number recorded for any other single 

 State, and this only shows how imperfectly known the smuts are. They do 

 not generally attract the notice of collectors, and in some cases they are in- 

 conspicuous and not easily recognised when the spores are enclosed in the 

 fruit. In West Australia only those species are known which attack culti- 

 vated crops, and those occurring on the native flora have yet to be discovered. 



The following list shows the distribution of the species : — i ■ ., 45 r 



The smuts have not received the attention of collectors like the rusts, and 

 only nineteen new species have been added to the following genera : — Ustilago 

 (2), Cintractia (3), Sorosporium (6), Thecaphora (1), Tolyposporium (4), Til- 

 letia (1) and Urocystis (2). 



