| # MICRO-FUNGI: WHEN AND WHERE TO FIND THEM by ## Thomas Brittain 1882

## APRIL. WE now enter upon the season of the year when buds prepare to burst forth into full leaf, and the vegetable kingdom generally prepares to put on its summer garb. The trees are as yet mostly bare, for their fully developed leaves have not yet opened; but amongst the humble plants whose home is upon the somewhat warmer earth, the leaves are open and the flowers of the spring time now appear to claim the attention of the field naturalist as he takes his ramble in the meadows. Now the student of microscopic botany will feel inclined to overlook the dead sticks of the woods, which have for several months had his attention, and look out for the living leaves of the plants which promise to provide for him a pleasant study in the leaf-fungi which are in preparation. Of these plants of the early spring-time, the one that I have in all cases found to be the first infected with leaf-fungus is the Ranunculus Ficaria or Lesser celandine, known better in Lancashire and Cheshire as the Pile-wort, The buttercup-like flower of this plant makes it very conspicuous, and it cannot well be overlooked. Upon the leaves of it the first and one of the most beautiful clustercups of the year now makes its appearance, When mature it is of a bright yellow or orange colour, which contrasts strikingly with the green of the leaf, and is thus easily recognised. It belongs to a large family, the Aecidiacei, of which we shall have frequently to speak in the coming months. This species is known as Aecidium ranunculacearum, and assumes the form of a small cup, hence its common name. Rust, Smut, Mildew & Mould - M.C.Cooke - Plate 2 Fig. 12-14 This cup in its perfect condition is filled with minute spores of the colour of the cup itself. A number of the cups are usually clustered together, and form a striking patch on the leaf, varying in size, but commonly about the size of a small pea. This fungus when carefully dried and mounted, as an opaque object for the microscope, is exceedingly beautiful and worthy of an honourable position in any cabinet. This first spring leaf-fungus I have frequently found in various districts of England and Ireland, and every spring during many years, when I have cared to look for it, in the Cheshire valleys, not far away from Manchester, and in great quantity near the village of Gatley, among the meadows known as the Cars. The second fungus of the spring, so far as my own experience is concerned, is also to be found upon the leaves of this same plant, the Pile-wort. It assumes the form of a small black patch, and is a smut, to use the common name by which it is known. The scientific name is Uromyces ficaria. Rust, Smut, Mildew & Mould - M.C.Cooke - Plate 7 Fig. 156-157 There are also other members of this family of which we shall have to speak as the summer advances. The powdery smut which forms the black patch, on examination with a good microscope, is found to consist of a countless number of cells of extreme minuteness. These are too small to be well examined as opaque objects, but are capable of being preserved as microscopic objects of interest if mounted in balsam, damar, or gelatine. If the student desires to examine them only, not caring to preserve them, water is the best fluid to use. Besides the above, which I have so frequently met with, I have a specimen of clustercups in my cabinet from Dawlish in Devonshire, which is in fair condition, sent to me by a friend. It is Aeicidium bunii, or the "Pignut clustercup". It is not upon the Pignut, however, but upon Buniam. Bulbocastanum, and was found as early as April. It may be well to mention that I have the same species of fungus on the true Pignut plant, Carum bulbocastanum, which I found in North Wales, May, 1872 and again the same fungus which I met with in July of last year at Bootle, in the Lake District, and this time it was on another plant, Pimpernella saxifraga. It will be well to notice the various species of micro-fungi which are prominent in the month; but it must be remembered there are but few if any of them who limit their appearance to any exact period: therefore all classification as to time must not be accepted as strictly accurate. It may be well for the student also to notice that although I speak of the same fungus growing upon the three completely distinct plants, this habit of growth must not be understood as usual, for on the contrary, it is rather the rule for fungi to accept one special plant as their home, and the name of the parasite usually follows in some form the name of the plant upon which it grows. I have another specimen of fungus, Puccinia heraclei, which has been met with thus early in the year in the south of England. It infests the Hogweed or Cow Parsnip, Heracleum Sphondylium. There is a probability that other leaf fungi may occasionally be developed thus early in the spring of the year in warm sheltered places and under other favourable conditions.

Return to index
Go to May