64 MICROSCOPIC FUNGI. 



leaves and leaf-stalks^ and the blackisli-brown spots, 

 whicli reveal the cause in the presence of a brand, 

 or parasitic fungus, of this genus {Piiccinia Umhelli' 

 ferarmn^ DC), which is extremely common on this, 

 as well as some other allied plants. If any spot is 

 searched where this plant grows in any profusion, 

 before the flowering stalks have made their appear- 

 ance above the surrounding grass, this Puccinia 

 will be readily found by the twisted, contorted, 

 sickly appearance of the infested leaves (fig. 71), 

 the petioles of which are often swollen and gouty in 

 consequence. The sporidia are shortly stalked, and 

 generally very much constricted (fig. 72). The 

 species found on the stems of the hemlock, and also 

 that on Alexanders {Smyrniuon Olusatrum), are dis- 

 tinct ; the spores of the latter being covered with 

 tubercles or warts (figs. 55, 56). During a botanical 

 ramble through Darenth Wood in April of the year 

 just passed away, in some parts of which the 

 sanicle abounds, we found the bright glossy leaves 

 of this singular and interesting plant freely sprinkled 

 with the pustules of d^ Puccinia (P. Saniculce, Grev.), 

 which is not at all uncommon on this, but has not 

 hitherto been found on any other plant. Dr. Grre- 

 ville, of Edinburgh, was the first to describe this, 

 as well as many other of our indigenous minute 

 Fungi. For many years he has toiled earnestly 

 and vigorously at the lower cryptogams, as evi- 

 denced by his ^^ Scottish Cryptogamic Flora,^^ 

 published in 1823; and yet his continual additions 



