47^ BTBTilOGHAPnT, 



form of Valsa leucostoma, Fr. He objects tliat Bonorden's proposed 

 genus, Polythecium, does not differ from Leveille's Micropera. 

 CoEMANS. — Monographie du genre Pilobolus, Tode, Specialement 

 etudie au point de vue anatomique et physiologique, par Eugene 

 Coemans. Memoires couronnes et memoires des savants etran- 

 gers publics par rAeademie royale des Sciences, des lettres, et des 

 beaux-arts de Belgique. Tom. xxx. 



This monograph is divided into four parts. The first contains 

 a concise account of the different works which have from time to 

 time appeared on the genus Pilobolus, commencing with Henry 

 Baker's essay in 174!4, and concluding with Mons. Coeman's own 

 paper in the 8th vol. of the Bull, de F Acad, royale de Belgique. 



The second part relates to the anatomy of the plants, and 

 treats separately of the root-like rliizome, the stem or fruit- 

 bearing cellule, and the globule or sj)orange. The author observes 

 that one rhizome may produce as many as fifty fructifying cel- 

 lules. The stem with its membrane and septa is then described ; 

 after that the sporangium, the structure of which is somewhat 

 ■complicated ; and lastly, the spores. 



The third part relates to the physiology, commencing with 

 the germination of the spores, wliicli is stated to commence by 

 expansion and ramification of the outer membrane. A mycelium 

 is formed after from 4 to 8 days, and from this the fructification 

 Tirises. The author considers that the pearly drops of moisture so 

 common on the stem of Pilobolus, are produced from the sap of 

 the plants by the pressure of a gentle endosmotic current passing 

 into the stem through the basal septum. M. Coemans observed 

 that the sporangum was projected to different distances, the 

 greatest being 1 metre 5 centimetres, or more than 300 times the 

 height of the plant. This pi'ojectiou is supposed by the author 

 to be caused by the force of the ascending endosmotic current, 

 assisted probably by the contraction of the " cellule fructifere," 

 lander the influence of light. The different " habitants " of Pilo- 

 bolus, and the curious oscillations in the dewdrops, are noticed 

 and explained. The plant is said to have its proper place amongst 

 the Mucorinea?, next to Ascophora. We have not space to notice 

 the fourth (or systematic) part of this paper beyond saying that 

 after a careful re^^ew of the five kno^\Ti supposed species, M. Coe- 

 mans reduces them to two certain ones, P. crystallinus and 

 P. cedipus, and one very doubtful one, viz. P. roridiis 



Tavre, L. — Tuber bnmiale (truffe d'hiver). — Morchella conica 

 (morille conique). Bull, de la Soc. d. Sc. Nat. de Neuchatel, 

 Vol. V. p 522. 



Fries. — Note sur la distribution geographique des Champignons, 

 par M. Elie™ Pierre Fries. A. S. N. 4 Ser. Vol. xv. 



Fries, E. — Sveriges atliga och giftiga svampar tecknade efter natu- 

 rcn, utgitha af Kongl. Vetenskaps-Akademien. 8 plates, folio. 

 Stockholm, 1860. 



