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.

Sori of this smut are formed in seed heads of this indigenous sedge [Scirpus nodosus]; although the sedge occurs throughout New Zealand, this smut has been collected only in the South Island and from the Wellington Province in the North Island. The smut fungus is endemic to New Zealand.