196 Urocystis. 



This species is closely allied to U. occulta, and by some has been considered- 

 identical, but no cross-infections on wheat or rye have been undertaken with 

 success. There is not usually the same rotundity about the spore as in 

 V. occulta, but it is more angular, while the cell walls are thicker and darker. 



Germination not known. 



(Plate LII.) 



Banunculus. 



62. Urocystis anemones (Pers.) Wint. 



Winter, Die Pilze, p. 123 (1881). 

 Brefeld, Unters. Gesammt. Myk. XII., p. 176 (1895). 

 McAlpine, Art. Gaz., N.S.W., VII.. p. 155 (1896). 

 Sacc. Syll. VII., p. 518 (1888). 



8ori on leaves, leaf-stalks, and stems, at first covered by the epidermis, 

 then splitting longitudinally and becoming powdery, black ; pro- 

 ducing large irregular, gouty swellings. 



Spore-balls very variable in size and shape, 15-33 ^( long. 

 Spores 1-2 usually in a ball, occasionally 4-5, dark-broAvn, sub- 

 spherical, to polygonal, obscurely punctate, 12-15 j-i ; sterile cells 

 globose to somewhat oval, pale-brown or yellowish tinted, seldom 

 completely surrounding the spores, not numerous, sometimes 

 reduced to one or even wanting, 8-10 /< long. 

 On Banunculus sp. 



Victoria — River flats near Shepparton, Nov., 1895 (Robinson). 

 On the stems and leaf-stalks particularly, the tissue is abnormally 

 thickened and broadened, giving rise to blister-like swellings. 



This species is characterized by the small number of spores in a ball, and 

 the sterile cells being reduced in number. 



Germination. — This has been recorded and illustrated by Fischer von 

 Waldheim^, Plowright^, andBrefeld^. Brefeld found that the spores did not 

 germinate immediately, but only after half-a-year's rest in damp earth. 

 When germinated in water they form a very short promycelium, and produce 

 a whorl of conidia at the end. Plowright succeeded in infecting the foliage 

 of Ranunculus with conidia, and remarks that — " This is one of the few 

 species in which mycelium is localized, and the infection of the host-plant 

 occurs at the same place at which the spores are subsequently formed." 



(Plate LII.) 



Wurmhea. 



63. Urocystis destruens McAlp. 



Sori in leaves, forming large swollen lines, at first covered by the greyish 

 or leaden-coloured epidermis, then rupturing and exposing the 

 black, pulverulent spore-masses. 



Spore-balls generally globose or subglobose, 18-22 /ti diam., or 

 occasionally oblong, and reaching a length of 30 j-t. 



Spores yellowish-bro^^^l to dark-brown, firm walled, smooth, 

 usually one, occasionally two, in ball, globose to subglobose or 

 oval, 10-14 p diam. ; sterile cells pale -yellowish, globose to ellipsoid,, 

 completely surrounding spore or spores, 6-8 ^i diam., or up to 15 }x 

 lone. 



