ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 191 



groups are presented as follows: — The Hyphomycetes have superficial 

 free conidiophores ; in the Melaucouieae the conidiophores are united at 

 the surface into the stroma, a kind of hyraenium ; in the Sphaariaceae 

 the more or less reduced conidiophores are included in receptacles known 

 as pycnhls. The Melauconiese, as at present limited, comprise more than 

 850 species ; the genera Glceosporium, Myxosporium, Hypodermium, Blen- 

 noria, Trullula, Bloxamia, Colletotrichum, Cryptosporium, Melanconium, 

 Thyrsidium, Buliaria, Marsonia, Stilbosporia, Coryneum, Scolecosporium, 

 Aster osporium, Pestalozzia, Septoulamm, Steganosporium, Phragmotrichum, 

 being described in detail. 



The author concludes that a large proportion of the Melaucouieae 

 should be reunited to the Hyphomycetes, of which they appear to be 

 forms adapted to parasitic life by the following modifications : — a dimi- 

 nution in the number of conids ; a reduction and fasciation of the coni- 

 diophores for a mechanical purpose ; a tendency to the formation of 

 pycnids by the excavation of the proliferous stroma ; a development of 

 paraphyses which assist the dissemination of the conids ; the formation 

 of special mechanical organs (columel of Melanconium) ; interweaving 

 of the mycele into a rounded mass. 



Parasitic Fungi. — Under the name Neovossia iowensis sp. n., E. E. 

 Hodson * describes a new fungus gathered in Iowa, parasitic on the 

 ovary of Phragmites communis. 



The parasitic fungus which devastates onion plantations is now re- 

 garded by L. Mangin f as a form of the polymorphic Fusarium roseum. 



An exceedingly destructive disease of violets cultivated in America, 

 known as the spot disease, and believed to be of American origin, is 

 described by P. H. Doivett,| and is attributed by him to a hitherto un- 

 described parasitic fungus which he names Alternaria Violse sp. n. 



Dr. M. Woronin § deals in detail with the two allied species of 

 parasitic fungus, Sclerotinia fructigena Schrot., which attacks all kinds 

 of stone-fruit, and S. cinerea (Bon.) Schrot., to which the cherry is 

 especially liable, and decides them to be distinct species, both belong- 

 ing to the genus Sclerotinia. The infection of the flower takes place 

 through the stigma. The plates, which are 4to size, are beautifully 

 executed. 



A disease which is becoming very destructive in Canada to Abies 

 alba and balsamea is referred by Mr. W. Doherty || to a new species 

 of Trimmatoslroma, T. abietina, belonging to the Hyphornycetes. It 

 attacks chiefly the leaves. 



After reviewing the conclusions of previous observers on the subject, 

 P. Magnus ■[[ gives the results of his own most recent researches, viz. 

 that on the alpine species of Primula belonging to the section Auri- 

 culastrum, there are four distinct species of parasitic Ure lineaa, viz. 

 a species of Aut-eu-TJromyces on P. viscosa ; a species of Uromycopsis on 



* Bot. Gazette, xxx. (1000) pp. 273-4 (1 fig.). 

 t Comptes Rendus, exxxi. (1900) pp. 12 14— 6. 



j Bull. No. 23 U.S. Deptmt. Agric. (Div. Veg. Pkys. and Pathol.), 10 pp. and 

 7 pis. 



§ Mem. Acad. Imp. Sei. St. Petersbour^;, x. (1900) 38 pp. and G pis. 



|| Bot Gazette, xxx. (1900) pp. 400-3 (3 tigs.). 



f Ber. Deutscb. Bot. Ges., xviii. (1900) pp. 451-60 (1 pi.). 



