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THE SMALLER FUNGI. 631 
interesting small parasitic fungus would direct attention to 
the beauty and variety of the spores; and the leaves of 
some plants favorable to the growth of certain kinds be- 
come so seriously diseased that they appear scorched and 
burned ; to such the old Anglo Saxon word, meaning to burn, 
long ago applied, still adheres in the corn “brands,” mint 
T. brand, dandelion brand, ete., indicating a still minuter shade 
of difference where some are “elongated and tapering at each 
end, some crowned with ‘spicular processes at the top, some 
echinulate* over the entire surface, and globose, elliptic, 
nearly parted in two, or others so variable in the same spe- 
cies “that no two are alike,”—any compound microscope of 
ordinarily good power, with a quarter inch objective, reveal- 
ing these wonders and delighting the eye. Other beautiful 
species belonging to other genera of these smaller fungi await 
indeed the mycological student, and who could not be in- 
duced to botanize in such a field of wonders where “complex 
brands” likewise invite his finding; as in Triphragmiwm with 
its dark brown, echinulate, three-celled spores; in Aregma 
on the rose leaves with many-celled and cylindrical spores, 
also echinulate ; in Xenodochnus with its many-parted, bead- 
shaped and distinctly articulated black spores; in Ravenelia 
with its acorn-shaped spores—some known to American bot- 
anists, others awaiting the fortunate discoverer. And pre- 
cious as are the carefully dried and hoarded leaves which 
autumn has painted with matchless colors, how much more 
valued are they and others, if the receptacles of such micro- 
Scopical treasures in the Rusts and Brands. 
“One of the fungal diseases, long and widely known, has 
obtained among agriculturists different appellations in differ- 
ent localities. In some it is the smut, in others it is, respec- 
tively, dust-brand, bunt-ear, black-ball, and chimney-swecpers 
all referring, more or less, to the blackish, sootlike dust 
With which the infected and abortive ears are covered. This 
agus does not generally excite so much concern amongst 
+ Echinulate, covered with small spines. 
