IgI0] BRIEFER ARTICLES 463 
host. In general the appearance is that of a Claviceps sclerotium, 
except that it is pale and soft, the protruding horn being the remnant 
of the summer stage. Throughout the early part of the season the 
protruding part bears myriads of straight 
to lunulate spores, showing strong re- : “ae 
semblance to the ordinary lunulate Fu- 
sarium spore. The internal portion 
remains sterile throughout the winter. 
The appearance throughout was so 
Claviceps-like that sclerotia were col- 
lected in autumn and wintered in an 
open-air hibernating house, then planted 
for germination in the same manner 
employed with the Paspalum sclerotia. 
After some 20 days the emergence of 
ascophore stipes was noted, and 5 days 
later the heads were well developed (fig. 
7). A particularly striking feature is 
the tendency of the stipes to fork and G. 7—C. Tripsaci: sclero- 
produce two or even four heads upon tium wre heads and stalks; 
the same stalk. Teasing or sectioning *?-5- 
showed typical Claviceps perithecia (fig. 8) and asci. The species seems 
e new and we describe it as Claviceps 
Tripsact. 
Claviceps Tripsaci, n. sp.—Sclerotia 
smooth, white to dark brown or black, 
nearly conical, 4-5 mm. in diameter at 
base; heads gray to grayish white; stipe 
seas ecec._ ce. thick, white to purplish white, 1-1-5 cm. 
haces piblivises: of C. long; perithecia numerous, elliptical in 
ype igh cation as In Jongitudinal section, with a short beak 
toward the surface of the head, 390 153- 
187%; asci cylindrical, 145-175 2-3 #; spores filiform, 130 long; 
conidia hyaline, continuous, fusoid to lunulate, 17.4-37.7X2.9-8.7 » 
—F. L. Stevens and J. G. Harz, N.C. Agricultural Experiment Station, 
West Raleigh, N.C. 
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