459 MEIKE PIEPENBRING Universita  t Tu  bingen, Botanisches Institut, Lehrstuhl Spezielle BotanikMykologie, Auf der Morgenstelle 1, 72076 Tu  bingen, Germany Recent field work on smut fungi in Cuba yielded one new species and, among many new records, several poorly known species which are described and illustrated. The new species, Cintractia cubensis on Rhynchospora microcephala, is characterized by rather large, dark, and finely foveolate teliospores which can germinate with basidia of only two basidial cells. The poorly known C. samanensis was found on the new host Rhynchospora fascicularis ssp. fascicularis. Entyloma guaraniticum on Bidens pilosa differs from E. bidentis on the same host by thick-walled teliospores embedded in the mesophyll of leaves deforming them. Spores of E. bidentis are smaller and do not deform the leaf. Sphacelotheca everhartii on Andropogon virginicus, S. microspora on Paspalum notatum, and S. panici-leucophaei on Trichachne insularis are transferred into Sporisorium. About 24 species of smut fungi are known for Cuba (Whetzel & Kern, 1926; Ling, 1951; Zundel, 1953; Seidel, 1976; Arnold, 1986). Given the high diversity of vascular plants on this largest island of the Antilles (main island ca 105 000 km) and considering that 54 species of smut fungi are known for the smaller Costa Rica (ca 51 000 km ; Piepenbring, 1996 and 1996 a, b), Cuba certainly harbours many more species waiting for their discovery. In 1996 I investigated smut fungi in Cuba, resulting in 16 new records for the country. The collected material permits several taxonomic insights which are presented here. MATERIALS AND METHODS Material was collected in Cuba in Aug.–Oct. 1996. The host plants were determined in the herbarium of the Jardı  n Bota  nico Nacional de Cuba and according to the flora of Cuba (Leo  n, 1946). Voucher specimens are deposited in the herbarium of the Jardı  n Bota  nico Nacional de Cuba, La Habana (HAJB), in the Botanische Staatssammlung Mu  nchen (M), Germany, and my private herbarium (H. U. P.). ‘ MP ’ numbers are my collection numbers. For the determination of the smut fungi, herbarium dried spores were measured by light microscopy (LM) in lactophenol after heating. The values of the size ranges are the means of 50 spores for the new species and at least 20 for previously described species1 .. Extreme values are given in brackets. Spore measurements include ornamentation and hyaline sheaths. For SEM, dried spores were dusted onto double- sided adhesive tape, fixed on specimen stubs, and sputter coated with gold-palladium, ca 20 nm. The spores were viewed with a Cambridge Stereoscan 250 MK 2. * Part 151 in the series ‘ Studies in Heterobasidiomycetes ’ from the Botanical Institute, University of Tu  bingen. TAXONOMY Cintractia cubensis M. Piepenbr., sp. nov. (Figs 1–5) Etym. : Being found in Cuba with the help of Cuban people C. cubensis is dedicated to this fascinating island and its inhabitants. Sori in totis spiculis plantae, spiculorum sterilium rhachillae apices circumdantes, 11–2 mm lati. Sporarum massa pulveracea, obscura, sine peridio. Sporae singulares vel laxe connectae, irregulariter angulatae, complanatae, 12–16(–19)(15–)16–19(–20) μm, obscure rubellobrunneae, exosporio viso per microscopium electronicum SEM foveolis numerosis, tenuibus, profundis. Sporae modo generis Ustilago germinant. Holotypus in M; isotypes in HAJB and H.U.P. Type on Rhynchospora microcephala Britton (Cyperaceae), Cuba, Prov. Pinar del Rı  o, municipio Sandino, area Herradura, on a floating mat in the Laguna de la Culebra, alt. ca 10 m, 19 Oct. 1996, C. Landeta, A. Urquiola, & M. Piepenbring (MP 2252). Sori in all the spikelets of an inflorescence (Fig. 2), young hidden between the glumes, later spores protrude at the top of the spikelets. The glumes of infected spikelets are greener, shorter, appear more shredded, and in denser heads than those of healthy spikelets (compare Fig. 1). Sori globose, ca 11–2 mm, around the tips of the rachillae of sterile spikelets, without peridia or sterile stroma. Spore mass powdery, dark, sometimes mixed with few hyaline cells (Fig. 4). Spores (Figs 3, 5) single or adhering in loose groups, irregularly shaped, angular, sometimes flattened, 12–16(–19)(15–)16–19(–20) μm, dark reddish-brown, with- out hyaline appendages. Teliospore wall 1–2 μm thick, thicker in the angles (this may be difficult to see because of the dark colour of the wall), spore surface granular seen by LM, very densely deeply foveolate seen by SEM (Fig. 5). Germination of teliospores (Figs 6–15) of Ustilago type, basidia with two Mycol. Res. 103 (4) : 459–467 (1999) Printed in the United Kingdom New and poorly known smut fungi in Cuba*