92 MICEOSCOPIC FUNGI. 



contents. As may be anticipated^ tlie spores in all 

 the species associated in this genus are interesting 

 objects for the microscope. The species on the 

 buttercup may be found through the summer and 

 autumn on Ranunculus repens, especially whenever 

 that plant is met with in very damp situations. 

 We have seldom found the plant in any profusion 

 without its attendant fungus. 



Another species of these many-celled smuts is 

 not uncommon in gardens, on the sweet violet, 

 attacking the footstalks of the leaves more com- 

 monly than the leaves themselves, and swelUng and 

 contorting them (plate IX. fig. 185). In general 

 structure the spores are very similar to those of 

 the last species, save that the cells are smaller, 

 and a larger number are collected together (plate 

 IXe fig. 186). So far as we have yet examined the 

 spores of this and the preceding species, they 

 appear to consist of separate and distinct vesicles 

 (probably spores), contained within a hyaline sac 

 or outer membrane, and 7iot to be a single spore 

 divided into cells by numerous septa. 



A species of equal interest {Polycystis Golchici^ 

 Tul.) is found on the autumnal crocus, or meadow 

 safiron {Golchicum autumnale). The spores ap- 

 proach nearer to those of the last than of the prior 

 species. 



A fourth species occurs on the leaves of rye 

 (plate IX. fig. 187), forming elongated parallel 

 blackish lines {Polycijstis parallelaj B. & Br.), It 



