Hosts : Uncinia caespitosa Boott. In inflorescences. Taheraiti, T. Kirk. (Type in Herb. Kew.) Uncinia leptostachya Raoul. Herb. No. 20. Peel Forest (Canterbury), 120 m., H. H. Allan ! Feb., 1920. Uncinia riparia R. Br. Herb. No. 1257. Peel Forest (Canterbury), 120 in., H. H. Allan ! 5 April, 1919. Mount Peel (Canterbury), 700 m., H. H. Allan ! 6 Mar., 1921. Botanical Gardens, Wellington, 80 m., E. H. Atkinson ! G. H. C. 19 Jan., 1921. J. C. Neill G. H. C. 4 Dec., 1923.

Sori in occasional ovaries, sometimes in all, at first partially concealed within the perigynium, becoming exposed when compact, black, elliptical, up to 6 mm. long. Spores subglobose to elliptical, commonly polygonal, 16-22 X 11-18 mmm.; epispore closely and minutely verruculose, dark brown, 1-5 mmin. thick.

Distribution: New Zealand.

The first two hosts are endemic, the third occurs also in Australia; all are widely distributed throughout New Zealand (Cheeseman, 1906, pp. 801-3).
This is a true Cintractia, for a transverse section shows that it possesses all the characters of this genus. The species is closely related to the preceding, but is separated by the comparatively broader and smaller spores, more conspicuous markings, and thinner nature of the epispore.
I have been unable to germinate the spores.

Host: Gahnia sp. In inflorescences. North Island, Sinclair. (Type in Herb. Kew.)

Sori in inflorescences, elliptical, black, pulverulent, intermixed with numerous long coloured elaters. Spores globose, 5-7 mmm. dram., epispore minutely and closely verruculose, blackish olive.

Distribution : New Zealand.

Only the single collection now at Kew (as Ustilago) has been made of this species. It is closely related to the following, which may possibly turn out to be the same; I have separated E. niger principally on account of the larger spores, and especially the very numerous black elaters.
E. endotrichus has been recorded from Ceylon, but Petch (1912) - to whose paper I am indebted for the description of the spores, given above - states the Ceylon species is E. (Ustilago) olivaceus.
The method of germination is unknown.

Host: Carex dipsacea Berggr. In panicles. Herb. No. 311. Penearrow (Wellington), sea-coast, E. H. Atkinson! 10 Feb:, 1921. (Type.)

Sori in occasional ovarieg, at first compact and partially concealed within the perigynium, becoming exposed when semi-pulverulent, black, elliptical, and up to 6 mm. in length; intermixed with very numerous conspicuous elaters, black in mass, blackish-olive individually, which may attain a length of 15 mm. but are commonly less, averaging 10 mm. Spores globose to shortly elliptical, 6-9 X 5-7 mmm.; epispore minutely and moderately verruculose, dark olive, 0-75 mmm. thick.

The host is an endemic species, occurring throughout the lowland areas of both Islands (Cheeseman, 1906, p. 822).
This is separated from the following species on account of the smaller and more regular spores, black colour of the sori, elaters, and spores, and the conspicuous elaters. These latter are so numerous as to give the sori a woolly appearance, as;if a small tuft of hair had been caught and held in the position occupied by the sorus.
Germination.- In water, after three days, a few spores germinated after the material had been kept in the herbarium for twenty-one months. The method of germination is similar to E. olivaceus, a small probasidium being produced. . This is elliptical in shape, and about the same length as the spore. Shortly after its formation it becomes detached and functions as a conidium. The spores did not germinate when placed in nutrient solution (soil extract).

Host: Scirpus nodosus Rottb. In inflorescences. Herb. Nos. 1279, .1285. Bluff (Southland), seashore, W. D. Reid ! 26 May, 1922. Seatoun (Wellington), seashore, J. C. Neill ! G. H. C. : 6 Dec., 1923. Distribution : Australia.

Sori in occasional ovaries, frequently in all, at first enclosed within the perigynium, becoming exposed when black, compact, globose or elliptical, 3-4 mm. long. Spore-balls of 2-6 spores, irregularly elliptical, dark chestnut-brown, up to 50 mmm. long, readily breaking up at maturity. Spores irregular, angular, subglobose or elliptical, frequently flattened on one side, 12-20 X 9-15 mmm.; epispore coarsely and densely verrucose, chestnut-brown, 1-5-2. mmm. thick.

Soris ad ovaria pauca destruentibus ; atris, compactis, globosisve ellipticis, 3-4 mm. longis. Spororum pilis sporis 2-6 ; inaequaliter ellipticis, atro-castaneis, ad 50 mmm. longis ; facile disruptis maturitate, sporis inaequaliter angulatis, subglobosis vel ellipticis, 12-20 X 9-15 mmm.; episporio crasse denseque verruculoso, castaneo, 1-5-2 mmm. crasso.
Hab.: In ovaries Scirpi nodosi Rottb. Bluff (Southland, N.Z.), W. D. Reid ! Seatoun (Wellington, NZ), J. C. Neill ! .

The host is indigenous and abundant throughout; it occurs also in Australia, South Africa, and South America (Cheeseman, 1.906, p. 776). Germination.- In water germination commenced in three days; a short and slender probasidium is produced, and on this, both laterally and terminally, conidia are produced. In certain specimens the terminal conidium is formed before the probasidium becomes septate, but as a rule septation. precedes the production of conidia.
This species differs from S. piluliformis (Berk.) McAlp., on Scirpus prolifer Rottb., in that the spore-balls are less than half the size, are lighter in colour, and break up readily; the spores are larger, and possess more verrucose, not tuberculate, epispores.