ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 217 



variety of causes. Often they resemble lenticels, but in section they 

 may be distinguished by the absence of the loose cells that fill the cavity 

 of the lenticel. Instead of these there is a massing of dead brown 

 cells cut off by a cork-layer, which mark the position of old lenticels 

 that have lost their function. Other spots mark the place of glands 

 that have now become brown and withered. The fungus, Uncinula 

 necator, causes spots to form round the place where its haustoria have 

 pierced the epidermis. Fungicides, such as Bordeaux mixture, and hail, 

 also cause damage to the young shoots, and the fungus Sphaceloma 

 ampelinum gives rise to extended black patches. 



Parasitic Fungi from Java.* — S. H. Koorders gives the results of 

 prolonged and careful culture experiments with Qlwosporium elasticce, 

 Colletotrichum Ficus, and their ascomycetous form, Neozimm&rmannia 

 elasticce sp. n. They all grow on Ficus elastica, causing sometimes con- 

 siderable damage, though never entirely destroying the host. In addition 

 to these two forms of fungi imperfecti, various other growth-forms were 

 identified belonging to the same life-cycle, mostly conidial forms that 

 were produced in the cultures, or that grew saprophytically on decaying 

 vegetation. All the different stages are described and figured. The 

 author has studied another series of fungi on the same host, a number 

 of them being new species, and the following genera also new : Neohen- 

 ningsia (Aspergillacese), Wetitiomyces (Perisporiacese), Lindauomyces 

 (Stilbacere), Wiesneriomyces, and Acrotheciella (Tuberculariacese). 



Colour Reactions in Russula and Lactarius.f — I. Arnould and 

 A. Goris, following the example of lichenologists and of Boudier for 

 the Ascomycetes, have employed a chemical solution as a means of 

 distinguishing between different species. The substance sulfovaniliaue 

 (water 2 parts, sulphuric acid 2 parts, vanilin % gramme) had been used 

 by Ronceray to test certain lichens for the presence of orcin. On the 

 application of the reagent the tissues of most of the larger fungi tinge 

 rose of varying shades. In certain species of Lactarius and Russula, 

 the tissue turns rose, and the cystidia and laticiferous cells blue. 

 Russulce that are very acrid turn rose and blue. Russula rosea becomes 

 entirely rose-coloured, and R. vesca and R. lilacea give the same reaction ; 

 in R. lepida the hymenial layer becomes rose-violet. R. delica has 

 numerous cystidia and laticiferous cells, which colour blue, while in 

 R. cyanoxantha only the tips of the cystidia take the blue colour. Simi- 

 lar variations of colour are noted in Lactarii. Further tests will be 

 made in a future season. 



Assimilation of Free Nitrogen by Fungi.| — Hermann Froehlich 

 selected four Hyphomycetes for experiment, Macrosporium commune, 

 Alternaria tenuis, Cladosporium herbarum, and Hormodendron clado- 

 sporioides. Incidentally, he established the autonomy of the last two 

 species. All of these are saprophytes, and live on plant remains. They 



* Verh. k. Akad. Wet. Amsterdam, xiii. No. 4 (1907) iv. and 264 pp. (12 pis. and 

 61 figs.) 



t Bull. Soc. Mycol. France, xxiii. (1907) pp. 174-8. See also Comptes Rendus, 

 cxlv. (1907) pp. 1199-1200. 



X Jahrb. Wiss. Bot., xlv. (1907) pp. 256-302 (3 figs.). 



April 15th, 1908 Q 



