ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 505 



Colacodasya.*— M. E. McFadden describes a new species of Cola- 

 codasya, found in southern California by Farlow, and later by Gardner. It 

 is parasitic on Mychodea episcopates J. Ag., and appears as little whitish 

 nodules along the Mycodea thallus. The penetration and manner of 

 growth both inside and outside the host are described. From the wart 

 of tissue outside the Mycodea thallus arise branches which bear the 

 organs of fructification. Antheridia, cystocarps, and tetrasporangia are 

 found, each borne on a different plant. The structure of the branches 

 is of the Polysiphonias type. The reproductive organs are described, and 

 the reasons are given in detail for placing this plant in Colacodasya. The 

 only other species of that genus is recorded from South Georgia. 



Melobesise.f— Mine. P. Lemoine has made an important and ex- 

 haustive study of the anatomical structure of the Melobesire, and finds 

 that it serves as a sure guide to the classification of both genera and 

 species. The genera examined by her are Lithothamnium, Lithophyllum, 

 Archaeolithothamnium Rothpletz, Phymatolithon Foslie, Glathromorphum 

 Foslie, and Goniolithon Foslie. All the many species of these genera 

 have not been examined, but a certain number of species of each group 

 have been examined, including in each case those from various regions 

 warm and cold, those which form a crust, and those which branch. In 

 those species which branch, the basal encrusting portion has also been 

 taken into account. As a result of all this careful work, the author finds 

 that the anatomical differences of the genera and species correspond, 

 with but few exceptions, with the already recognized definitions of the 

 reproductive organs. All the species examined are described in the fullest 

 detail, and their synonymy and geographical distribution are given. 

 Several species are found to be but forms of one another, and the im- 

 portance of the presence of bispores or tetraspores respectively as a specific 

 character is shown to be over-rated. The author regards this variation 

 as arising rather from differences of climate, age of the spore, etc. The 

 fossil forms are taken into consideration, and the fundamental difference 

 of structure which exists between Lithothamnium and Lithophyllum is 

 shown to have existed since Silurian times. A synopsis of the characters 

 of all the species examined is given in the form of tables. The work is 

 well illustrated, and forms a most valuable addition to algal literature. 



■'to*- 



Classification of Melobesiese.J — Mme. Lemoine writes an important 

 paper on the classification of the Melobesiere, based on anatomical struc- 

 ture. The Corallineas have already been classified on similar lines by Weber 

 van Bosse, but till now the Melobesiese have been untouched from this 

 side. The author of the present paper, however, places the classification 

 of this group on a clear footing purely on anatomical characters She 

 divides Melobesieas into groups according to whether the species are 

 crust-forming or branched, the presence or absence of a hypothallus. 

 and the respective characters of hypothallus and perithallus. She de- 

 scribes five types of structure, represented by (1) Lithothamnium ; (2) 

 Lithophyllum ; (3) Archaeolithothamnium ; (i) Tenarea tortuosa ; and 



* Univ. California Publications (Bot.) iv. (1911) pp. 143-50 (1 pi.). 



t Ann. de l'lnstit. Oceanogr., ii. (1911) 213 pp. (5 pis. and figs, in text.). 



X Bull. Soc. Bot. de France, cvii. (1910) pp. 323-31, 367-72. 



