COMPLEX BRANDS. 67 



CHAPTER V. 



COMPLEX BRANDS. 



FROM the twin-spored genus we pass to another, 

 in wliicli the spores are usually divided into three 

 cellS; and which, from this cause, has been named 

 Triphragmium. Only one species has hitherto been 

 found in this country, and that not very commonly, 

 on the leaves of the meadow-sweet, Spircaa uhnaria 

 (plate III. fig. 47) . Externally, it much resembles, 

 in the size and character of the pustules, many of 

 the above-named brands, but when seen under the 

 microscope this similarity disappears. In general 

 outHne the spores are nearly globose, and externally 

 papillose. In one species, found on the Continent, 

 but not hitherto in Great Britain, the spores are 

 covered with curious long-hooked spines, by means 

 of which they adhere tenaciously to each other. In 

 germination, the spores of Triphragmium, do not 

 offer any noteworthy deviation from those of Puc- 

 cinia,* and the chief interest of our indigenous 



* Mr. Ciirrey has only seen the tips of the germinating threads 

 swell, and become septate, each of the joints thus formed faHsng 

 off and germinating without producing spherical sporidia ; whilst 

 Tulasne figures globular sporidia, as will be seen in our fig. 49, 

 reduced from the figure by Tulasne. — {Vide Currey, in " Quar- 

 terly Journal of Microscopical Science," 1857, pp. 117, &c.) 



