Cintractia sclerotiformis (Cooke & Massee) G. Cunn. 1924

Details

Name scientific

Cintractia sclerotiformis (Cooke & Massee) G. Cunn., Trans. & Proc. New Zealand Inst. 55 421 (1924)

Preferred name

Anthracoidea sclerotiformis (Cooke & Massee) Kukkonen 1963

Taxonomy reference

Vánky, K.; McKenzie, E.H.C. 2002: Smut fungi of New Zealand. Fungi of New Zealand. 2. Fungal Diversity Press.

Nomenclature

Combination authors

G. Cunn.

Original authors

Cooke & Massee

Authors

(Cooke & Massee) G. Cunn.

Publication place

Cunningham, G.H. 1924: The Ustilagineae, or "smuts", of New Zealand. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 55: 397-433.

Year published

1924

Publication page

421

Nomenclatural code

ICN

Basionym

Ustilago sclerotiformis Cooke & Massee 1888

Taxonomic rank

species

Canonical form

Cintractia sclerotiformis

Classification

Kingdom

Fungi

Phylum

Basidiomycota

Class

Ustilaginomycetes

Order

Ustilaginales

Family

Anthracoideaceae

Genus

Cintractia

Species

sclerotiformis

Associations

View full associations record

Association type

Associated organism

Association source

has host

Uncinia banksii Boott

Sydow, H. (1924)

Descriptions

Cunningham, G.H. 1924: The Ustilagineae, or "smuts", of New Zealand. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 55: 397-433.

Cintractia sclerotiformis (Cooke & Massee) G. Cunn. 1924

Collections Examined

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.

Description

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

Distribution: New Zealand.

Notes

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.

Dingley, J.M. 1969: Records of plant diseases in New Zealand. New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Bulletin. 192.

Cintractia sclerotiformis (Cooke & Massee) G. Cunn. 1924

Notes

Smut on seed heads of Uncinia have been recorded only from Wellington and the South Island. The host plants and the smut fungus are endemic to New Zealand.