178 



On Elaphomyces granulatus. J. Havreballe Kratskov near Aarhus (1762 

 Holmskj.); S. Jaegersborg Hegn near Taarbsek (Oeder). 



Claviceps. 



693. Claviceps nigricans Tulasne, Syll. II '«^ Wt. II ''\ 



Its sclerotium is called Sclerotium eleocharidis Thiimen Myc. no 

 2298 = Scler. nigricans Sacc, Syll. IX««\ 



Scirpus multicaulis. J. Karlsmaerkshede (Th. Holm); Fana (Johan Lge); S. 

 Botanisk Have (Becker). Scirpus paluster. J. Hulsig (F. K. R.), Hirtshals, Skive 

 (P. N.), Ranum Qeppesen), Ved S0, Gjadstrup S0, Lyng S0, Kala, Hampen 

 S0; Fasno; F. Klingstrup (Exs. Thiimen myc. no 2298), Vejstrupgaard; S. 0rs- 

 I0V (P. N.); L. Stensgaard (Jji 70), Lindet. Scirpus uniglumis. J. Ranum 

 (Jeppesen). 



694. Claviceps purpurea (Fries) Tulasne, Syll. II "^ Wt. II ''\ 

 Syn: Sphaeria purp. Fries S. M. 11^^^, Fl. D. tab. 1781, Sphaeria ento- 

 morhiza Schum. no 1341, not Dicks., Moderkorn (Fabricius 1774), 

 Hornrug, Rugdrenge, Drog, Meldrcjer (R 69 «^ 71 '\ 75 '"), Sorte 

 Drerige, Slemme Drenge, Giftrug, Ruggift, Bredgift, Sorte Rugkorn, 

 Sekelkornut, Sekelkorn (Jenssen-Tusch 67 ^'''), Lit: Lange 57 ^^, la Cour 

 63 2" & 67, R 93 d c. icon., 94 e c. icon., 02 a '"^ c. icon., Engelke 02 b, 

 Aderhold 06. 



The numerous names applied to Sclerotium clavus by the common 

 people bear witness to its great distribution. It has also roused the 

 attention of the agriculturists, and has been mentioned by our 

 earliest phytopathologists Fabricius (1774) and Troyel (1791''^); the 

 latter sowed rye-grain mixed with sclerotia observing that the Secale 

 produced was severely affected by Claviceps in the heads and that 

 the sclerotia produced in this way were uncommonly large. The same 

 observation was also made by Rostrup. No doubt it is owing to the 

 fact that sclerotia produced by infection by ascospores grow bigger 

 than sclerotia originated from infection by conidia. There are many 

 accounts of Ergotinismus being formerly a wellknown disease in Den- 

 mark when the sclerotia were not so well cleansed from the rye as 

 is now the case; 0rsted (1839^^) even writes that it might cause the 

 limbs to drop from the patients. In 1862—63 many people were suf- 

 fering severely from this disease (see P. N. 74 a ^*^, see also Abild- 

 gaard 1791 ^^). In the years 1761 and 1879 the rye was very severely 

 affected as also in 1888, 92, 94 (S. 07; as a rule the rye is more attacked 

 in Jutland — where it also rains more frequently — than in Seeland 

 (see F. K. R. 09). 



The ascigerous stage of the present fungus was first described by 

 Schumacher who was mistaken in believing it to be Sphaeria ento- 



