1886.] Himalayan Spruce-fir (Abies smithiana). 9 



in a more or less scalariform manner. In this uredinal form, tlie mycelial 

 filaments do not closely encase the parenchyma cells, as they were shown 

 to do in the secidial form, and haustoria are numerous. They are all of 

 the branched type : after penetrating the cell the hypha forms three or 

 more apical branches (fig. 11). They are most numerous in the outer 

 parenchymatous cells and chiefly in the most external ones ; but they 

 are also to be seen within the cells of the sheath and in the parenchyma 

 cells immediately under these. 



TJredo- spores. — As already stated, four patches of spore extrusion 

 may be seen in every transverse section of a fully affected needle (fig. 23), 

 the two larger ones being superior. In such transverse sections, it will 

 be observed that the proportion of the circumference involved in spore 

 formation is very large : about y^ths of the circumference being thus 

 involved. The epidermal layer generally ends abruptly at some distance 

 from the spore bed (fig. 23) . There must be a considerable loss of 

 epidermis involved in this sporing process, for the circumference of a 

 normal needle at its middle is to so much of the circumference of 

 an affected needle as is still covered with epidermis as 13*5 to 9*0. As 

 regards the hypertrophy of the needles affected, it may be noted that, as 

 the circumference of the transverse section of an affected needle at its 

 middle was 26 units, whilst that of a normal needle at its middle was 

 13, the area of the former is four times that of the latter. But, as I have 

 already stated, the specimens were not examined until they had been some 

 days in brine, which seems to have swollen them to some slight extent. 



At the bases of these spore beds, the hyph^ form as usual densely 

 convoluted masses (fig. 25). The basidial cells composing the bases of the 

 spore beds form a more or less irregular line of cells containing orange-red 

 oil globules. These oil globules are more numerous in the more superficial 

 parts. The whole thickness of the orange coloured bed is about 0"I27 

 m. m. The basal cells which arise directly from the mycelium are large, 

 nucleated, and of various sizes and shapes : the diameter of an average- 

 sized cell was found to be 16/a (fig. 15 a) . These cells may be stained 

 with carmine though not brilliantly : the rest of the fungal elements do 

 not take the stain at all. By division a row of such cells are formed 

 (fig. 15 6.) The end cell of such a row throws out a finger like protru- 

 sion (fig. 15 c) from which the spores are separated by transverse septa- 

 tion. The spores (fig. 15 d) are spherical with their walls destitute of 

 any surface markings. Their contents are granular and of an orange-red 

 colour. The moistened spores measured on an average 9'5/x in diameter. 



Such then is a very imperfect account of one of the most curious 

 and striking of the many forms of Uredinese which occur on the Hima- 

 layas. The fungus was first met with in May 1884, and the above- 

 2 



