Smuts

Smuts get their name from the sooty black spore masses they produce. Though they can be a serious disease of corn, grains, and onions grown from seed. Some also affect anemone, gaillardia, ribbongrass, calendula, gladiolus, and dahlia. Few are a problem for the home gardener unless you are growing sweet corn. Smuts may also occasionally be encountered as a fungal disease in lawns.

Sooty black spore mass of smut on ear of corn (Zea mays)	Sooty black spore mass of smut on ear of corn (Zea mays)
Smut on Bermuda grass lawn (Cynodon)	Smut on Bermuda grass lawn (Cynodon)