196 SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 



discusses the part played by phycoerythrin in assimilation, the chemical 

 nature of phycoerythrin, and the action of proteolytic ferments on solu- 

 tion. His results appear to show that : — 1. Phycoerythrin plays the 

 part of assistant to chlorophyll by absorbing blue-green light and de- 

 grading it to the light which corresponds to the absorption bands i. and 

 iii. of chlorophyll. 2. Phycoerythrin is probably a colloidal nitrogenous 

 substance, related to protein — but not a true protein, as its nitrogen 

 content is too low and it does not give the Biuret reaction. The evidence 

 is incomplete ; pure phycoerythrin has still to be prepared, and even 

 comparatively pure phycoerythrin in sufficient quantity for extended 

 chemical investigation has not yet been obtained. 



Hybrid Fucus.* — 0. Sauvageau writes on a hybrid between Fucus 

 vesiculosus and F. serratus. In a previous work he recorded a hybrid 

 plant from Cherbourg, and in the present communication he states that 

 he has found similar specimens at St. Malo and at Ploumanac'h. Tin- 

 author describes briefly both the hybrid and the parents. He considers 

 that the formula of the hybrid is F. vesiculosus^ x F. serratus <$ . 



Epiphytes of Laminaria. f — F. Tobler writes on the epiphytes of 

 the Laminarias from a biological and morphological standpoint. The 

 material was collected on the coast of Norway. He divides his remarks 

 into general and special parts, and describes the different algae which 

 appear as epiphytes ; the habitat and surroundings ; the development of 

 the epiphytic flora ; the normal and pathological anatomy of the Larnina- 

 riaceaa ; the manner of attachment of certain epiphytes ; the communities 

 and relation to the animal world ; physiology. He finds that the epi- 

 phytic flora consists mostly of small forms ; larger plants occurring rather 

 on the basal, and therefore perennial, portions of the host. The smallest 

 forms grow partly over one another. The development and form of the 

 basal organs of attachment in the epiphyte is of course an important 

 factor, and this is fully dealt with by the author under the names of the 

 different genera, Rhodochorton, Chantransia, Ceramium, Ptilota, Poly- 

 siphonia urceolata, Rhodymenia, Callophyllis, Delesseria, etc. Some of 

 the epiphytes may be regarded as half-parasites and saprophytes. In an 

 appendix the author gives lists of species which were found growing 

 only epiphytically in two localities ; one contains twenty-three species, 

 the other twelve. 



Laminaria digitata and L. saccharina.J — Gr. H. Drew writes on the 

 reproduction and early development of Laminaria digitata and L. sac- 

 charina. After a short introduction, he gives a summary of the more 

 important characters of the plants, and then describes his methods of 

 collecting specimens, preservation of living specimens, examination of 

 the reproductive areas, and culture methods. Detailed accounts are given 

 of the reproductive process and the development of the young plant, and, 

 finally, the author gives a summary of his results. These are as follows : — 

 1. The Laminaria plant is the gametophyte. 2. The reproductive areas 

 consist of gametangia and paraphyses. 3. Flagellated gametes escape 



* C.R. Soc. Biol. Bordeaux, lxvii. (1909) pp. 832-3. 



t Bot. Jahrb. f. Syst. Pflanzen., etc., Engler, xliv. (1909) pp. 51-90 (2 pis.). 



% Ann. Bot.,xxiv. (1910) pp. 177-90(2 pis.). 



