177 
instead of alcoholic material, and corroborates Bunchorst’s view 
that the organism is a filamentous fungus, but differs from him 
in some minor details. Brunchorst thought the hyphe were 
septate, but Moller claims that they are continuous. 
He also notes the much stouter mycelium and the irregular 
sporangia in the galls of Myrica Gale, and considers it a distinct 
species for which he proposes the name Frankia Brunchorstit. . 
It appears to me that the fungus in the galls of Ceanothus 
Americanus is a distinct species from the other forms, and I pro- 
pose the name Frankia Ceanothi for it. 
In addition to the characters given above are the following : 
The infected cells are 30-50x50-70/. The sporangia are smaller 
than in any described species, varying from 1.5-2/. 
It is worthy of remark, probably these organisms have a very 
wide and complete distribution, so that the galls are probably 
found wherever the hosts grow. In this respect they are 
analogous to the organisms which produce the tubercles on the 
roots of the Leguminose. The question would then naturally 
arise whether there is a symbiotic relationship between parasite 
and host, for so far as can be seen they cause no inconvenience to 
their host. I am not aware that this matter has been tested. 
The contents of the sporangia of Frankia, like the “ bakteroids ” 
of the tubercles, have a proteid nature* and color yellow with 
Jod, red with Millon’s reagent, and are tinged easily with 
hematoxylin and aniline colors as eosin and methylviolet. 
I would be pleased to receive these root galls on any plants, 
from any parties who would be kind enough to look for them on 
any shrubs. The host plant should in all cases be given and the 
toots well wrapped in peat moss or other damp packing material 
to keep them fresh. 
EXPLANATION OF PLATE CXXVIU. 
Fig. 1.—Frankia Alni (Wor,), root galls on A/zus serrulata, ; 
Fig.l2.—Frankia Ceanothi, Atkinson. root galls on Ceanothus mitered AS 
Fig. 3.—Same, group of parenchymatous cells showing two containing pede 
Fig. 4—Same, showing cluster of sporangia more highly magnified. THe creer 
has been removed from the cell. 
Phytopathological Laboratory, Alabama Polytechnic Institute, 
Auburn, Ala., April 14, 1892. 
* Brunchorst, Unters. Bot. Inst. Tubingin. 1836. B. Frank, 
Deutsch. Bot. Ges. V. 2. 
Bericht. d. 
