This rust has only one host, the May-apple, Podophyllum peltatum . This rust can be commonly seen in the spring when you're hunting for morels . Smuts also differ in having only two spore stages, teliospores and basidiospores. Many smuts can also be grown easily in culture. I hope you enjoyed learning something about an interesting and common rust fungus.
Rusts are pretty interesting and common parasites of many different species of vascular plants.
Be on the lookout for these leaf and stem pathogens. They're pretty interesting under the microscope as well.