ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 211 



Sydow — Mycotheca Germanica. Fasc. x.-xi., Nos. 451-550. 



[A list of the species is given ; those that are new are described, and notes 

 are given on some others'.] Aidi. Mycol., iv. (1906) pp. 483-6. 



Wehmer, C. — Die Bildung freier Oxalsaure durch Aspergillus niger. (The forma- 

 tion of free oxalic acid by Aspergillus niger.) 



[The effect of different substances in the solutions is given, and the form, 

 etc., of the crystals of oxalic acid described.] 



Ber. Deutsch Bot. Gesell., xxiv. (1906) pp. 381-4 (1 pi.). 



Lichens. 



(By A. LoRRAiN Smith.) 



Biological and Morphological Observations on Lichens.*— W. Zopf 

 found on the maritime rocks of the Island of Ivullen on the Swedish 

 •coast a lichen very similar to Ramalitia scopulorum, but differing in its 

 reaction to potash. When treated with this solution the pith of the 

 lacinite becomes yellow. The prevailing acid in this lichen he names 

 Tiullensis acid, as contrasted with the scopular acid of R. scopulorum. 

 The two lichens which have the same habitat, on rocks exposed to the 

 spray of the sea, can be distinguished by the constant black colour of 

 the base of the stalks of R. ]cuUensi>^. 



Chemistry of Rock Lichen (Parmelia saxatilis).t — P. Q. Keegan 

 treated this plant with various reagents, such as boiling benzene, alcohol, 

 lime, etc. He found silica, lime, oxide of iron, etc., and in addition 

 atranorin with a mixture of protocetraric and saxatic acids. The dyeing 

 property of the lichen is mainly due to the former acid. It is thrown 

 out or excreted in the form of minute granules on the exterior of the 

 hyphas in the cortical portion of the upper surface, and is to be regarded 

 as a waste product of tlie plant. 



£ AHLBEUCKNER, A, — Nsue Flechten. (New lichens.) 



[The author gives lengthy diagnoses of six new species from various parts of 

 the world — Germany, California, Tasmania, etc. 



Ann. Mycol., iv. (1906) pp. 486-90. 



Mycetozoa. 



Development of Myxomycetes.| — J. C. Constantineau has culti- 

 vated a considerable series of Myxomycetes in very varying conditions, 

 and now publishes the observations he has made. For germination the 

 spores require only pure distilled water and oxygen. In some species 

 germination takes place in 80 minutes, in others only after some hours 

 or some days, any introduction of organic substances into the culture 

 solution had no effect on the time required. Results are also given as 

 to germination in other substances. The duration of the zoospore stage 

 varies very much, from 1-2 hours in Dklymium effusuni up to 10 days 

 in Reticularia. Osmotic pressure has no appreciable influence on ger- 

 mination, the chemical properties of the medium are more important. 



Low temperatures of 2" and 4° restrict but do not hinder ger- 

 anination. The maximum temperature for many species lies about 30°, 



* Ber. Deutsch. Bot. Gesell., xxiv. (1906) pp. 574-80 (1 pi.), 



t Naturalist, Jan. 1907, pp. 24-5. 



X Ann. Mycol., iv. (1906) pp. 495-540. 



p 2 



