ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 281 



point of exit in a vegetative condition ; this and the probable oxidation 

 of certain chemical substances within the wound due to exposure are 

 probable causes for the formation of the peculiar abnormalities." 



Rhizoctonia.* — F. L. Drayton has examined potato-stems showing 

 dark-brown lesions similar to injuries caused by Rhizoctonia. He found 

 on sectioning the stems that mycelium was present, and that it had 

 invaded the cortex, vascular bundles and pith, forming sclerotial masses 

 in the cortical cells. Drayton concludes that the injury is entirely 

 caused by Rhizoctonia. 



Carl Hartley and S. C. Branerf describe the damping-off of pine- 

 seedlings due to Rhizoctonia. It appears before the seedlings come up, 

 and thus over fairly large areas no pines are developed. It attacks also 

 seedlings too old to be killed by Pythium debaryamim or Fusarium 

 moniliforme. It was found that the ground where it occurred had been 

 previously occupied by Ambrosia psilostachya and other weeds, and that 

 the Ambrosia plants had been attacked by the fungus. 



Italian Fungus Flora.! — The first volume of Hymeniales prepared 

 by P. A. Saccardo has just been issued as part of the new Flora Italica 

 Cryptogamia. The author gives a review of the system followed by 

 him in selecting plates for reference, the nomenclature adopted, etc. 

 In the introduction he describes the general structure of the thallus and 

 the reproductive organs. He gives also the division into groups 

 according to spore colour. The present volume deals with the Leuco- 

 sporae and the Rhodosporse. He reckons that 13,992 species of Hymeno- 

 mycetes are recorded up to the present time. An estimation of their 

 food value is appended with a list of edible species in all the fungus 

 groups. The poisonous species are also described. 



In the main part of the volume full diagnoses, are given in Latin, 

 with synonomy, habitat, and distribution. Synoptic keys of families, 

 genera and species are also furnished. 



Scotch Microfungi.§ — D: A. Boyd gives additional records of micro- 

 fungi for the Clyde area. Several species are new, others new only for 

 the district. Many of the species are parasitic. Interesting biological 

 notes are appended. 



Malcolm Wilson || records two species of Uredineae from the Royal 

 Botanic Garden, Edinburgh. Puccinia Prostii was found attacking a 

 bed of Tulipa sylrestris and doing considerable damage. Uromyces 

 SciUarum formed characteristic yellow spots on leaves of lluscari poly- 

 anthum, a new host-species. Full descriptions of these species are given. 



The same writer with R. C. Davie If record the occurrence of 



* Phytopathologist, v. (1915) pp. 59-63 (1 pi. and 1 fig.), 



t Phytopathologist, v. (1915) pp. 73-4. 



J Flora Italica Cryptogamia. Part I. Fungi, Hymeniales. Fasc. No. 14. 

 Gennaio : 1915, 576 pp. (6 pis. and figs.). 



§ Glasgow Naturalist, vi. (1914) pp. 75-8. 



|| Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. Edin., viii. (1914) pp. 219-21. 



i Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. Edin., viii. (1914) pp. 227-8 (7 figs.). 



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