NEW OR NOTEWORTHY NORTH AMERICAN 

 USTILAGINALES 



H. S. Jacksoni 



TILLETIACEAE 



Tilletia Secalis (Corda) Kiihn, Bot. Zeit. 34: 471. 1876 



Uredo Secalis Corda, Oekon. Neuigk. und Verh. 1:10. 1848. 



While long known as of rare occurrence in central Europe, the 

 bunt of rye has apparently not been reported in. North America. 

 Recently, in connection with a study of the smuts of New York 

 state, the writer had occasion to examine a specimen from the 

 Underwood herbarium at the New York Botanical Garden, 

 which bears the following data : " Ustilago on Rye, Syracuse, N. 

 Y., June, 1892, L. M. Underwood." This examination revealed 

 the fact that the sori were confined to the grains and the spores 

 were beautifully reticulated, suggesting those of T. Tritici. A 

 comparison with European material (Vestergren, Micro, rario 

 selecti 1474) and with published descriptions suggested that the 

 collection made by Underwood might properly be referred to 

 Tilletia Secalis. 



While resembling T. Tritici, and by some writers included with 

 it 2 this species differs in certain characters. The sori are very 

 much the shape of the normal rye grain but somewhat shorter 

 and broader. The reticulations are 1.5-2.5 /x high and 3-4^ 

 wide, while in T. Tritici they are described as 1 high by 2-4 ^ 

 wide. The spores of T. Secalis averages slightly larger than in 

 T. Tritici. 



The New York collection consists of a single somewhat abnor- 

 mal head. Some of the lower spikelets have developed long in- 

 ternodes so that the head appears much broader at the base than 

 in the normal form. On account of this abnormal appearance 

 and in order to make sure that no mistake in the identification 



1 Contribution from the Botanical Department of the Purdue University 

 Agricultural Experiment Station. 



2 Cf . Schellenberg, Beitrage Krypt. Schweiz 3 2 : 90-94. 1911. 



149 



