26 CONNECTICUT GEOL. AND NAT. HIST. SURVEY. [Bull. 
Sorosporium Rud. 
The sori occur in various parts of the host, forming dusty 
dark colored spore masses like Ustilago. The medium-sized 
spore balls are composed of numerous spores, often so loosely , 
held together that in time they separate entirely. The spores 
are like those of Ustilago, simple, olive to reddish brown, and 
of medium size. Figs. 7, 36. 
When the spore balls become separated into the individual » 
spores, it is difficult to distinguish the species from Ustilago. 
The number of species described by Saccardo is over 30, but 
some of these probably belong under other genera. For | 
North America 9 species are now known, and 2 or 3 of these 
occur in Connecticut. 
Key to Species of Sorosporium. 
I. Sori in ovaries, 1-2 cm. in length; spores 8-12p........ 
S. Everhart. 
II. Sori involving the entire infloresence usually. 
A. Sorus 1-5 cm.; spores 12-IQp.......... S. Ellisu. 
B. Sorus usually 3-7 cm.; spores Q-I 3M... eee eee 
S. Syntherisme. 
Sorosporium Everhartii Ell. & Gall. The sori develop 
in the ovaries, forming linear bodies 1-2 cm. in length, and are 
covered with a prominent whitish false membrane that de- 
hisces at the apex into several lobes, disclosing the black- 
brown, semi-agglutinated spore mass and the flattened colu- 
mella of plant tissue. The spore balls are oblong to subspher- 
ical, composed of many firmly agglutinated spores, and vary 
from 55 to 125u in length. The spores are reddish brown, or 
the interior ones often nearly hyaline, ovoid to subspherical 
or polyhedral, smooth (outermost rarely granular), and 8-12, 
in length. 
Host and Distr.: Andropogon scoparius, Westville, Oct. 
22, 1903; [Southington, July 16, 1902; North Haven, July 26, 
1902; Montowese, Sept. 20, 1902; New Haven, Oct. 18, 
1903]. 
The first specimen mentioned above is typical of the species 
as described here. Those included in the brackets were origi- 
