26 

 •reached its ftill development it dries up into a brovmish mass, forming the 

 so-called" cap" or "tip" which cro\vns the sclerotimma Although "tips" are 

 alvra,ys forrced, a great number of them fall off later. The color of the 

 sclerotium is usualljr violet, but it may become darker or remain lighter, or 

 even grayish white. 



The sclerotiian v^ile still on the plant is cartilaginous. 

 Later, upon drying, it becomes very hard. We have in it the resting 

 njrcelium of Claviceps which is' a typical sclerotium 



The time necessary for the formation (5f the sclerotitan depends 



upon the weather. In dry weather the first signs of sclerotia formation 



the 

 appear about fcuirteon .days after-* appearance of the first "honey dew*», 



Tsfaile in moist v/eather, which favors a rich K^rcelial growth and rich 



secretion of "honey dew" the formation of sclerotia may begin as early as a 



week after the appearance of "honey dew". 



VJhen the sclerotia are ripe, usually at the time of harvesting, 



they either fall to the ground iirimediately or, after being stored with the 



grain find their v^ray back to the fields r/ith the seed. In the fields- they 



renain in a dormant condition until spring v/hen they resume their further 



development. The l&ngth of the resting period depends upon the host; upon 



the particular species of Claviceps; upon the condition of the sclerotia, 



and also upon the weather conditions. According to Tulasne and Kuhn at 



least three months are necessary for the full ripening and resting of the 



sclerotitun. Ergot (C. micro e er)halft/ ; from Phragmites, planted in January 



germinated in March after fifty-nine days. (C, purpurea) from rye planted 



in January, according to Kuhn (145) germinated in April, after ninety-six 



days. Bhe same from Molinia coerulea planted in January germinated in April 



after ninety days. In nature the ergot of Phragmites genninates later than 



that of rye. The further development of the sclerotium vdiich usually takes 



place in late spring and early summer just as the cereals and grasses are 



