2U 



The perithecla are egg or fla.slc shaped, with the sharper point towards the 

 ostiole. The little projecting motittis are the ostiolpo- The perithecia 

 are filled with long, more or less curved transparent c^sci *ich are 

 narrow-er at the hase and apex and broadened in the middle. They spring 

 from the base of the perithecitun. The asci are surrounded by numerous 

 sterile threads, paraphyaes, which are somewhat thicker at their apical ends. 



In the literature ia mentioned that paraphyaes are not present 

 in Claviceps perithecia. However, in fresh naterial by the addition of 

 potassium iodide two kinds of asci are recognized (62). The 3arger number 

 of the asci contain spores, a smaller number have a granular consistency. 

 These are the paraphyses and are distinguished by their contents and not 

 so much by their form. 



In each of the thin, colorless asci are found eight asco-spores, 

 which evidently are set free by breaking of the ascus at the base. The 

 spores themselves are very fine, long, attenuated, linear bodies and are 

 usually somewhat curved, 50 to 76 |j, long. According to Freeman (72) they 

 are nany septated, sometimes as ma.ny as sixty- two times. Gussow (85) work- 

 ing \7ith barley Claviceps, found that osco spores have but three septa. 

 Fyles (76) found this same number of septa in the ascospores of Claviceps 35rom 

 Zizania, 



Sphacelitan 

 The ascospores or the conidia of Claviceps when brought to the 

 flowers of the susceptible host and given favorable conditions, germinate, and 

 invade the young ovary. She grov/th enlarges forming a dirty white, soft and 

 slingr mass as long as, or longer, tlian the glumes, and having on its upper 

 surface a wound-like appearance. This stage in the development of Claviceps 

 is called the sphacelia stage. The interior of this growth consists of 

 irregular channels and arles extending longitudinally and transversely. 



