622 SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 



the liquified elements. The author concludes that the younger mycelium 

 produces an enzyme that dissolves cellulose, but that at a later stage 

 more of a lignin- dissolving enzyme is formed. 



The sporophores are resupinate or dimidiate, and rhizomorphs of a 

 yellow or light orange colour, about 1 mm. thick, are often abundantly 

 developed. 



liichens. 

 (By A. LoRBAiN Smith, F.L.S.) 



Jamaica Lichens.* — L. W. Riddle has examined a collection of 

 lichens made in Jamaica by Cushman in 1912. He describes two new 

 species, Buellia rmodinospora and Chiodedon ciostictiim. The latter is 

 identical with one of Wright's Cuban lichens, named by Nylander 

 Stigmatidium ciostictum {nomen nudum). Riddle found also two new 

 species of Megalospora, and has revised the genus. 



Lichens of Whatcom County, Washington.t— A. C. Herre publishes a 

 long list of the lichens found by him (124 species), and also an account of 

 the configuration of the county and the climatic conditions. The mean 

 annual rainfall is 31*5 inches, but as one ascends the mountains the 

 rainfall increases, and the lichens are there more abundant and of larger 

 size ; but, on the whole, mosses and liverworts are so abundant that the 

 lichen growth is comparatively insignificant. Most of the species listed 

 are familiar European plants. Herre notes that Collemacete are very 

 rare. 



New or Rare Lichens. J — W. Watson concludes his series of notes 

 on lichens, the present contribution being mainly devoted to the con- 

 sideration of Gladonia species, mostly collected in Somerset. A number of 

 Pyrenolichens are also recorded, and a new species, Stmirothele eiborensis, 

 from carboniferous limestone, Mendip, Somerset, is described. The 

 author is somewhat doubtful of its status as a new lichen. 



Schizophy ta. 

 Schizomycetes. 



Chemistry of Fats of Tubercle Bacilli. § — M. Burger has demon- 

 strated that tubercle bacilli contain " cerolipoids " consisting partly of 

 the homologous fatty acids on the series C„Hs„0« from lauric to palmitic 

 acids, and "partly of high molecular alcohols of the formula CHa^.aO 

 (CjHjO, C.HsO, and ^.H^eO). 



* BuU. Torrey Bot. Club, xliv. (1917) pp. 321-30 (1 pi.). 

 t Bryologist, xx. (1917) pp. 76-84 (1 fig.). 

 1 Journ. Bot., Iv. (1917) pp. 310-16. 



§ Biochem. Zeitschr., Ixxviii. (1916) pp. 155-64. See also Journ. Chem. Sec, i. 

 (1917) p. 499. 



