30 
(18-22 by 8-10/*). We have designated this as var. simplex , E. & E. 
Specimens found by Col. W. W. Calkins near Jacksonville, Fla., Janu¬ 
ary, 1889, Lave the 3 septate (24-30 by 10-12/0 sporidia of the Carolina 
and Louisiana specimens, but the hymenium is slate color, the peritbecia 
cespitose (they are scattered in all the others), and the lips very dis¬ 
tinctly striate. We have called this var .fuscum, E. & E. 
BRIEF NOTES ON A FEW COMMON FUNGI OF MONTANA. 
By W. F. Anderson. 
Claviceps purpurea, said to be comparatively rare in many East¬ 
ern States, is found everywhere in the Territory. I have found it on 
four species of Elymus , on three species of Foa , on six species of Agvo- 
_pyrum as well as on Koeleria cristata , Fhalaris arundinaeea , and several 
other grasses. The little rye grown is not materially injured by the 
Claviceps. I have collected this fungus at 8,000 feet altitude; it is as 
common at that height as at 3,000 feet—the general average of Mon¬ 
tana’s plains above sea level. 
Some years the loss to stock-men from the abortions of cows and mares 
is lieavy. Many claim that losses from this cause are greater in seasons 
when an unusual abundance of ergot is developed on the grasses ; but 
there are others who scout this idea. However, whether the eating of 
ergot in considerable quantity by stock has an irritating influence on 
the internal genitals or no, it is certain that the general health of the 
animals is impaired thereby. 
Ustilago caricis is remarkably plentiful, pretty regularly every 
other year. Whether it is a baneful fungus to the health of stock I am 
not prepared to say. It is at any rate seriously injurious to three small 
but important forage plants,viz: Carexfilifolia* Carex stenophylla , and 
Carex Douglasii. These sedges, especially the first, comprise a consid¬ 
erable proportion of the “ grass” on the plains, and are eagerly eaten 
by stock. In April they are in flower and by the 1st of May their fruit 
is more or less fully developed. Diseased spikes are very conspicuous 
in the immature stage of the fungus by the round lead colored balls at¬ 
tached to them. Later this lead-colored coat breaks, and the intensely 
black spores are seen to cover the balls. Stock avoid plants in this 
condition. 
Ustilago segetum as yet is not seriously injurious to cultivated 
cereals. It is rather common, however, on the weed Hordeum jubatum. 
Ustilago minima is common on S'tipa comata. It destroys the pani¬ 
cle almost entirely. In autumn the bare blackened rachis breaks out 
of the sheath «nd curves outward and downward, almost touching the 
ground. 
Another Ustilago which bids fair to do considerable damage to Muhl- 
enbergia as soon as that grass is cultivated as a regular crop is the new 
