462 



matia-bearing stage has been observed in other fungi besides the 



When the ergot attains its full size the sphacelia disappears, or 

 only the withered and dried up remains of it can be detected at 

 the apex of the ergot. 



The further history of the ergot has been determined also by 

 Tulasne. The frequent occurrence of minute spbserias on the 

 ergotted grains of grasses suggested to him that they were prob- 

 ably not accidental productions, as had been supposed, but were 



organically connected with the ergot, and represented a further 

 stage of its development. With the view of testing this opinion, 

 he planted a number of ergotted grains, and had the satisfaction 

 to find that a considerable proportion produced sphajrias. Those 

 produced by the ergot of rye were the same in form and structure 

 with what were grown from the ergots of most of the other grasses, 

 and believing them all to belong to the same species, he gave to 

 it the name of Claviceps purpurea (Fig. 208, p. 463). This per- 

 fect plant is a small purplish fungus, with a spherical head, sup- 

 ported on a short firm stem, with a somewhat downy base. The 



