1889.] occurring in the neighbourhood of Simla. 241 



22 /i. Tlie average length is 35 fi, and the average breadth at the sep- 

 tum, which usually divides the spore into two equal parts, is 19"8 I 

 have never observed the germination of these spores. 



BemarJcs. — These characters agree on the whole with those of P. 

 Acetosce, and I think there can be no doubt that the European and the 

 Simla forms are identical. In the Simla species I have never observed 

 pustules on the petiole or stalk as in the European species. 



10. PucciNiA HELVETICA, Sohroter. 

 on Rubia cordifolia, Linn. 

 In July, soon after the rains have commenced, this plant puts out 

 new leaves, which are early attacked by a uredo-beariug fungus, diflier- 

 ing from most similar fungi in the uredo-pustules being brown and 

 being intimately associated with spormogonial production. On the 

 upper surface of the leaf, a number of pale yellow circular patches are 

 seen, irregularly scattered about, each measuring about 3 mm. in diam. 

 (Fig. 5, PI. XIII.) The number of pustules on each leaf varies from one 

 to 120, and oven more. Within the paled circular area, a circle of minute 

 brown uredo pustules are produced, which sometimes remain separate, 

 but which sometimes coalesce laterally, and within this brown circle, in 

 the centre of tlie yellow patch, is a group of spermogonia. Viewed 

 from the lower surface (Fig. 4, PI. XIII) of the leaf, the yellow discolo- 

 ration is less marked, but the circiuate arrangement of uredo pustules is 

 even better marked than above, and, in the centre, on the lower surface 

 also, is a smaller group of spermogonia. The circles of brown uredo 

 pustules on the upper and lower surfaces of the leaf are exactly opposite 

 each other. 



Those brown pustules contain brown urodosporos, borne singly on 

 stalks, with a few paraphysos among them. The spores, which arc 

 oval, are readily detached, coming off without any portion of stalk adher- 

 iim, although the place of union with the stalk is generally clearly re- 

 cognisable on the detached spore. The spores have a well defined 

 epispore beset with sharp spines, and, when just wotted with water, 

 measure on an average 26 8 x 21'2/*. The stalks measure about 50/* 

 in lono-th. These uredo pustules are found also on the petioles and 



stalks. . 



In the autumn, when the persistent leaves are drying, they are 

 covered with black teleutospore beds, mostly exhibiting the same cir- 

 cinate arrangement above described, but many are also isolated as 

 shown in (Fig. 6, PI. XIII). These teleatospore pustules are mostly on the 

 upper surface^of 'the leaf, but a great many are formed also on tlie under 

 surface. The dried leaves remain attached to the dry stalks throughout 



