Host: Edwardsia tetraptera (J. Miller) Oliver (= Sophora tetraptera J. Mill.). On branches. Herb. No. 763. Brightwater (Nelson), 200 m., C: Nash ! W. C. Hyde! G. H. C. 18 May, 1922. (Type.)

0. Unknown
I. Aecidia caulicolous, crowded in longitudinal groups, seated. on fusiform swellings up to 7 cm. long,. forming large fastigiate distortions, orange-yellow. Peridia cupulate, shortly erumpent, standing above the surface 0.25 mm., 0.5 mm. diam., expanded and slightly revolute, becoming lacerate, finally eroded, tinted yellow. Spores polygonal or elliptical, 27-32 X 18-21 mmm.; epispore hyaline, densely and minutely verruculose, 1 mmm. thick, cell-contents granular, lemon-yellow.

0. Incognitis. I. Aecidiis caulicolis, in catervis longis, in tumerosis fusiformibus, ad 7 cm. longis, magnis fastigiatis distortionibus factis luteis. Peridiis cupulatis, breviter erumpentibus, 0.25 mm. altis, 0.5 mm. latis, pateris subtiliter revolutus, laceratis demum erosis, tinetis luteis. Aecidiosporis polygoniis vel ellipticis, 27-32 X 18-21 mmm.; episporio hyalino, solide subtiliter verruculoso, 1 mmm. crasso, contentu granuloso, luteo.

The host is indigenous and widespread; it occurs also in Lord Howe Island, Easter Island, Juan Fernandez, and Chile. (Cheeseman, 1906, p. 123.)
This rust forms conspicuous " witch's-brooms " on the host. A branch becomes infected near the tip, and further outward growth is prevented. In the vicinity of the infected area numerous short laterals are produced; these in turn may give rise to tertiary laterals, until the whole assumes a dense and shrubby appearance. Infected shoots become swollen to several times their normal thickness, and in these inflated areas the aecidia appear. The mycelium is perennial, and material may be collected from infected plants throughout the year.
I am indebted to Mr. C. Nash and Mr. W. C. Hyde for assistance in procuring these specimens.

Hab.: In caulibusque Edwardsiae tetrapterae (J. Mill.) Oliver. Brightwater, Nelson, New Zealand, 200 m. C. Nash, W. C. Hyde, G. H. C.

The aecidiosori form conspicuous "witches brooms" or stem galls on branches of the host [Sophora spp.]: teleutospores attack pods shortly after flowering, causing them to become distorted and inflated (Cunningham, 1931a). Both rust and host are indigenous to New Zealand. The rust occurs in local areas throughout New Zealand.

Type: Rust and Smut Fungi; Description: Aecia in groups, minute, cup-shaped, orange-yellow, up to 1 mm in diameter; on distorted, swollen stems and twigs. Aeciospores elliptical to polygonal, 22–36 × 18–22 μm, hyaline, finely verruculose. Telia on irregular, wrinkled, distorted seed pods; the masses of teliospores giving a powdery reddish brown appearance. Teliospores broadly elliptical, 30–40 × 22–26 μm, apex bluntly acuminate, pallid chestnut brown, conspicuously longitudinally striate; pedicel hyaline, deciduous.

Distribution: Auckland, Wellington, Gisborne, Nelson, Marlborough, Mid Canterbury, South Canterbury, Dunedin, Southland, Chatham Islands.; 1st Record: Cunningham 1924b.

Significance: Infects living host tissue without killing it or causing decay. The main effect on the host is the production of witches’ brooms, scattered through the crown. The fungus also causes irregular, wrinkled distortions of seed pods, each up to 40 mm long.; Host(s): Sophora microphylla, S. prostrata, S.tetraptera.