22 HAY AND FODDER. 
they ripen. Examined microscopically they are seen to 
be covered with pores each leading to a flask-shaped 
cavity in the body of the head. These cavities contain a 
number of asci. In each ascus are eight threadlike 
spores, the ascospores. These are discharged at the time 
when the host plant is in flower. Falling on the young 
ovary of the flower, the spore germinates producing 
fungous filaments (hyphae) which enter, feed upon, and 
displace the soft tissues, ultimately forming another 
sclerotium. Before hardening, however, the fungus 
passes through the Sphacelia stage, in which a sweetish 
liquid called honey-dew is secreted, and numerous small 
spores known as conidia are formed and cut off from the 
free ends of the hyphae. These are carried to other plants 
by insects attracted by the fluid, and so the Ergot is 
spread throughout the field, since each spore which 
reaches another young ovary may germinate and infect 
that grain. 
Rye is more often attacked than other cereals, and it 
is from this plant that the ergot used in medicine is ob- 
tained. Wheat is sometimes ergotized, however, and oats 
containing the fungus have been reported. In addition, 
this fungus, or possibly a closely related species having 
the same effects, is found on a large number of 
grasses of wide geographical distribution. The follow- 
ing are species affected: 
Agropyron Smithii Rydb. ........ Western Wheat Grass 
Agropyron repens (L.) Beauv. ............... Couch Grass 
HAystrix Hystria Millsp. .0000. Bottlebrush Grass 
Elymus canadensis La occ 
“ robustus Scribn. & J. G. Sm. 
“striatus Willd. 
“  virginicus L. 
Wild Rye 
