i8 FLOWERLESS PLANTS 



has, indeed, only been fully described within 

 comparatively recent times. In the summer 

 the fungus appears as rusty streaks on the 

 leaves of wheat, oats and other cereals. Its 

 presence very much checks the development of 

 the plant on which it has forced its attention, 

 and wiU infinitely affect the yield of grain. 



An interesting point in connection with this 

 fungus is that the race is carried on through 

 the winter by means of special resting spores. 

 In the spring these produce smaller spores which, 

 settling on barbery leaves, give rise to the first 

 stage of the fungus. It is in connection with 

 this stage of the parasite's growth that the 

 spores are produced which are able to infect 

 the cereal plants again. There are a good many 

 features in the hfe history of the Wheat Rust 

 which make the subject one of peculiar interest 

 to botanists. 



It has been suggested that the distinction 

 between the higher cryptogams and the flower- 

 ing plants is not really so marked as appears 

 at first sight. The subject is one of great 

 interest and calls for comment, although it is 

 not possible to do more than indicate the bare 

 outlines of a most fascinating problem. For 



