306 The Gladiolus Disease. By Worthington G. Smith. 
of Thecaphora, but I believe they really belong to a new species 
coming under the genus (closely allied to Thecaphora), named 
Urocystis. This new species I propose naming Urocystis gladioli, 
and it may be characterized as follows: Sori (or clusters of spores 
in blisters) obliterated or effused, spores large, compound, con- 
sisting of from three to six inner brown cells, and a larger indefinite 
number of nearly transparent outer cells, both series of cells being 
fertile. Habitat — On and in the corms and scapes of Gladioli. 
(See Plate CLXIIL, enlarged 200 diam., and A, B, Plate CLXIY., 
enlarged 1000 diam.) 
Both the brown and white cells burst, and throw out threads of 
mycelium. Further observations can alone show whether this 
mycelium, under certain conditions, may now be capable of existing 
on diverse hosts as mycelium only, and so put on the characters of 
Ehizoctonia. 
The effused or obliterated sori, or spore blisters, point rather to 
the genus Thecaphora than Urocystis, but I consider the salient 
characters belong to the latter genus, and make it the proper one 
for the reception of the fungus under consideration. Dr. Witt- 
mack, Dr. Magnus, and Dr. Brefeld, of Berlin, have examined my 
preparations, and they consider the compound spores to belong to 
Urocystis. As to the peculiar habit and the obliteration of the 
sori, Dr. Brefeld says he has seen Urocystis growing on very dif- 
ferent materials, even upon bread. Dr. Brefeld considers Urocystis 
to be a Sclerotium, or a compact spawn or mycelium in a state of 
rest, but this is not my view. 
Whilst describing this curious fungus it may be well to pass 
briefly in review its immediate allies as found in this country, with 
illustrations taken direct from nature. This will at once show the 
strong family likeness between the new U. gladioli and its neigh- 
bours. I may say at this point that Urocystis is sometimes 
described under Polycystis. 
The first is Thecaphora hyalina, Fing. (G, D). This species, 
the only one of its genus, is closely allied in habit with Urocystis 
gladioli, for it is without sori ; the compound spores are, however, 
in one series — not two, brown and large, and transparent and 
small, as in Urocystis. The habit of this Thecaphora is most 
peculiar, for the fungus grows inside the seeds and seed-capsules 
of different species of convolvulus. There is no external evidence 
on the seed-capsules of the presence of the fungus within. 
Urocystis violse, B. and Br. (E), is a common plague of violets ; 
it causes large gouty swellings upon the petioles and leaves, and 
otherwise deforms the entire plant. At length the swellings burst, 
and discharge the innumerable spores. 
Urocystis colchici, Tul. (F, G), a similar plague with the last. 
It grows upon colchicum, but is less apparent in its effects. 
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