1890.] FAIRMAN — FUNGI OF WESTERN NEW YORK. 47 



and Cceoma. This group is of considerable interest to agriculturists 

 on account of the damage done to cultivated plants. Some of the 

 species in the list belong to common forms, such as wheat rust and 

 corn smut, and others to rare members of the order. Only a few 

 features can be here noted in a general way. We have found only one 

 species of Roestelia {Roestelia lacerata). These roestelia forms, as proven 

 by the cultures of Halsted, Thaxter and Farlow are the aecidia or 

 cluster cup stage of species of Gymnosporangium, or the so-called 

 " cedar apples," which are found upon species of cedar and juniper. 

 The Roestelia of our flora was found upon Crataegus leaves, but a search 

 for the " cedar apples " upon Juniper has proved fruitless, nor have I 

 found evidence of the occurrence of species of Gymnosporangium in 

 Western New York. 



While this review was in course of preparation I noticed along the 

 roadside some patches of Malva rotundifolia whose leaves were spotted. 

 A removal of some of the spotted leaves and a microscopic examination 

 enables me to announce the unfortunate presence with us of Puccinia 

 Malvacearum, or as it is commonly termed, the hollyhock disease. And 

 next I examined my hollyhocks and found them attacked. There are 

 many features of interest about this parasitic rust. When first reported 

 from Australia it was said to be very destructive. It has been recorded 

 in this county in scattered localities in Vermont, Massachusetts and 

 California, and unfortunately seems to be spreading. It has only 

 recently been found in this state. Some specimens were lately sent to 

 Prof. Peck, from Geneva, which he has pronounced to be this fungus, 

 and in an article in the " Country Gentleman " recommended prompt 

 measures to be taken for its suppression ; but it probably has secured too 

 firm a foothold to be stamped out. "As far as the attacks on Malva 

 rotundifolia are concerned it may be a good thing, but not so with its 

 attacks upon cultivated hollyhocks," says Prof. Peck in a recent letter. 

 Prof. Farlow of Harvard College, has compared our specimens with 

 others and pronounced them as the same fungus found in Massachusetts, 

 Vermont and Central New York. " The spots are much lighter colored 

 than the Western and California form which is not the true Puccinia 

 Malvacearum but Puccinia Malvastri, Peck." The color of the latter is 

 black brown, while that of the former is yellow brown. The depth of 

 the apparent color in P. Malvacearum is dependant to some extent on 

 the fact of the production of promycelia or not, as this species is a 

 member of the sub-genus in which the spores germinate at once in situ, 

 if the promycelia are just starting the color appears lighter, if they have 

 not begun to appear it is somewhat darker. (Sec. Farlow in litt.) 



