412 SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 



combined with sand, but all stages were found to be quite recognizable 

 sporophores of Fames pinicola ; in many the characteristic shape of the 

 Fomes was distinct. The writer concludes that the shifting sands of 

 the beach had become embedded in the sporophores in process of 

 growth, and is a result of mechanical mixing only. 



Developments of Agaricacese.* — G. F. Atkinson continues his 

 studies on the formation of pileus and gills in species of Agarics. 

 Much macroscopic work has been already done on the subject, but 

 Atkinson has devoted his attention to the origin, differentiation and 

 organization of the spore-bearing parts, as he considers a true knowledge 

 of them is essential to understanding their taxonomic value. The 

 present study deals with Lepiota cristata and L. seminuda, which are 

 very similar in development, the chief difference occurring in the outer 

 cap, which in L. cristata is covered by scales, while in L. seminuda the 

 radial hyphie forming the blernatogen become transformed into chains 

 oF cells which easily fall apart, giving a mealy appearance to the surface, 

 but wliich are easily rubbed off, leaving only fragments attached. 



Thelephoracege.f — E. A. Burt gives in this contribution a study of 

 Hi/pochnus, which he treats as a " natural compact group at the foot of 

 Hymenomycetes, with simple basidia, and closely resembling Zijgodesmus 

 in general habit and also in form and colour of spores." He finds 

 further that Hijpochnus is closely related to Thelephora and Grandinia, 

 and " that the species are apparently humus-formers, as the fructifications 

 are found under any rotten wood and other organic matter rather than 

 on nearly sound wood. Hence they probably follow other fungi in 

 wood-destruction." The sjwres are rough-walled, or echinulate, and 

 usually coloured ; cystidia m.ay be present ; the general structure is a 

 loosely interwoven felt. Burt describes thirty-one American species. 



A second contribution^ deals with the genus Septobasidium, which 

 is also one of the ThelephoraceiB. It is distinguished by the transverse 

 septation of the basidium and by the Corticium-Wka habit. The species 

 are tropical or sub-tropical, and occur on living branches or leaves, 

 without, however, being parasitic. They have been observed to be 

 associated with scale-insects, and it is noteworthy that their spores are 

 produced when young colonies of scale-insects are forming. The species 

 are fully described, and the basidia and spores are figured. 



Distribution of Hymenomycetes with reference to Ectotrophic 

 Mycorhiza.§ — B. Peyronel publishes his observations as to the fungi 

 that form mycorhiza. and their occurrence in association with certain 

 trees. He found in plantations of Larix decidua a preponderance of 

 Boleti ; among Cupuliferge there wei'e more Agarics than Polypores. In 

 the family Salicaceai, Populus tremula is always accompanied h^ a rich 



■ * Mem. N.Y. Bot. Gard., vi. (1916) pp. 209-28 (6 pis.). 

 + Ann. Miss. Bot. Gard., iii. (1916) pp. 203-41 (29 figs.). 

 X Ann. Miss. Bot. Gard., iii. (1916) pp. 319-43 (14 ugs.). 

 § Atti Real. Accad. Lincei, cccxiv. (1917) pp. 326-32. 



