Mr. Smith's Observations on the Cause o/" Ergot. 451 



to originate, I found the anther irregularly covered with numerous distinct, 

 short, simple or ramifying articulated filaments, the articulations or side ra- 

 mules being of the size and form of tiie sporidia ; sometimes the filaments 

 were more elongated and naked, or destitute of lateral sporidia. On examin- 

 ing a spike of P/ialaris aquatica, in which the anthers had been developed, 

 I found tlieir withered remains adhering to the apex of tlie glumes bearing 

 the same kind of filaments, but black by exposure ; they gave out the same- 

 shaped bodies in water, and on the glumes lower down there was a concrete 

 chalky-like substance entirely composed of them ; but the ovaries had yet no 

 appearance of being ergotized, although ergots were found on other spikes of 

 the same plant. From tlie above statement I am led to consider these bodies 

 as the joints of a minute articulated fungus, which is developed in the early 

 stage of the floret, and increases rapidly, ultimately forming a crust, and 

 propagating itself by a total separation of the joints on the application of 

 moisture ; this, no doubt, impregnates the soil or adheres to the perfect seeds 

 of the grass, which on germination and subsequent growth, carry up some 

 of the reproductive matter of the fungus, which again developes itself in the 

 anther*, where it may act with the pollen in the impregnation of the ovulum, 

 causing a morbid growth of the albumen, which continues to swell, and forms 

 an elongated oily fungoid body or ergot on which the minute fungus seems to 

 originate. My conclusion therefore is, that Ergot is not an organized fungus, 

 but the result of the action of a fungus. 



List of Grasses on which Ergot was found. 



Elymus giganteus. 



sabulosus. 



canadensis. 



Lolium perenne. 

 Agropyrum maritimum. 



caninum. 



Dactylis glomerata. 

 Avena pubescens. 



Arundo Phragmites. 

 Molinia cœrulea. 

 Milium multiflorum. 

 Arrhenantherum avenaceum. 

 Phalaris aquatica. 

 Phleum pratense, no ergot, but the 

 fungus on the apex of the glumes. 



* Similar to what Mr. Bauer lias shown to be the way in which the smut, and grainworms of the 

 wheat are propagated. 



