Rust, Smut, Mildew, & Mould: An Introduction to the Study of Microscopic FungiCooke, M. C. (Mordecai Cubitt)
Science
Rust, Smut, Mildew, & Mould: An Introduction to the Study of Microscopic Fungi
Cooke, M. C. (Mordecai Cubitt)
Phytopathogenic fungi -- Great Britain
There are not many features in the rest of the species of this genus of
sufficient interest to the general reader or microscopist to render it
advisable to furnish any detailed account of them. We may, however, note
that in a species found on the leaves of the common cock’s-foot grass
the spores are large, obovate, and rough, with minute granules (figs.
117, 118). This species is known botanically as _Ustilago_ _salveii_,
and externally bears considerable resemblance, except in the size and
colour of the spores (fig. 119), to another species much more common,
and which occurs on the leaves of _Poa aquatica_ and _P. fluitans_. The
last-named species forms long parallel sori, extending often for several
inches along the leaves of the aquatic grasses just named, giving them a
very singular appearance (Plate V. figs. 105, 106). The spores are small
(fig. 107), not being more than one-fourth the length of the last
species, and smooth, whilst those are minutely granulated.
An interesting species occurs, very rarely, on the stems of such grasses
as _Aira cæspitosa_ and _A. aquatica_. The sori are in bands at regular
distances apart (Plate VI. fig. 120), each band being composed of a
number of short parallel sori (fig. 121). The spores are not more than
one-third of the size of those in _U. longissima_.
Sedges are also subject to attack from other species of smut; one of
these (_U. olivacea_) appears to convert the seeds into a fine
olive-coloured dust (Plate VI. fig. 126), which gives to the fruit a
similar appearance to that presented by corn when attacked by _Ustilago
segetum_. Another species, which also absorbs the seeds, becomes
hardened and consolidated more than in any other species, and, though
larger than the normal seeds, still retaining their form (figs. 109,
110). This is _Ustilago urceolorum_, the spores of which are also
figured (fig. 111).
The beaksedge (_Rhyncospora alba_) suffers from an allied species which
affects it in a similar manner (Plate V. figs. 96, 97), but is not
equally common. The spores of _Ustilago utriculosa_, found on different
species of _Polygonum_, instead of being granulated, are reticulated on
the surface (Plate VI. figs. 114, 116). The chief interest attaching to
_Ustilago antherarum_ consists in its habitat, for it is developed in
the anthers of the flowers of the bladder campion, and other plants of
the same natural order. The anthers are much swollen and distorted by
this parasite, which is not uncommon, though easily overlooked unless
specially sought after (Plate V. figs. 102-104). A list of all the
British species will be found at the close of this volume. It will be
noted that as in the genus _Æcidium_ the prevailing colour of the spores
is orange, so in the genus _Ustilago_ it is black, with a purplish or
violaceous tinge.
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