220 SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 



ing that these fruits are formed when there is a scarcity of food supply. 

 The three new species, Achlya Klehsiana, Saprolegnia Kaiifmanniana 

 and S. monoica var. vexans, were obtained in "cultures from algal 

 material. Diagnoses are given of these new forms. 



Protomycetacese of Switzerland.* — G. von Biiren has published 

 an account of this family as part of the Swiss Cryptogamic Flora. He 

 adds many new observations to those already made on this small and 

 obscure family. He has found that in Frotomyces macrosporus and 

 P. pachydermus the protoplasmic body that issues from the chlamydo- 

 spore forms spore mother-cells wliich divide subsequently into tour 

 spores, and in the young chlamydospores he has proved paired nuclear 

 fusion. In this family he recognizes four genera ■.— VoUkartia, Taphri- 

 dium, Protomyces, and Protomycopsis. Yon Biiren decides as to the 

 systematic position of the family, that it is related to the Ascomycetes 

 as the Ustilaginea^ are to the Basidiomycetes. 



Variations in Hypomyces.t — F. Vincens observed the growth of a 

 superficial fungus on a Lycoperdon sp., partly immersed in formol. 

 There were a few rare conidiophores and conidia formed of the Verti- 

 cilUum type, proving the connexion of the fungus with Hypomyces. 

 He describes the continued growth of the mycelium not only on the 

 puff-ball, but in the solution as well. Chlamydospores were formed, 

 both intercalary and terminal. Fresh cultures were made on gelatin 

 which proved that the influence of the formol persisted through several 

 generations. 



Conidial Form of Ophiobolus herpotrichus.J — This parasite of 

 wheat-stalks has been supposed to possess two conidial forms : Hender- 

 sonia herpotrkha and Fusarium rubiginosum. E. Vosges has by culture 

 experiments proved that neither, of these Hyphomycetes form part of 

 the life-cycle, but that Acremonium alternatum is the conidial stage. 

 The mistake has arisen in that the diseased stalks bear constantly a 

 number of fungi, including the two species quoted above. 



North American Species of Ascodesmis.§— F. J. Seaver has 

 determined two species of the genus Ascodesmis which is new to the 

 American flora. The first A. microscopica, hitherto known as A. nigricans, 

 grows generally on the excrement of dogs and tigers. The second 

 species, A. porcina, occurred on excrement of pig sent from Porto Rico, 

 New Jersey. Other excrement was put in culture and the same fungus 

 was developed, proving that the particular substratum is of first import- 

 ance in the production of the fungus. Both species are minute 

 Ascomycetes with brown or dark spores, becoming rough at maturity. 



* Beitr. Krypt.-Flora Schweiz, v. No. 1 (1915) 103 pp. (7 pis.). See also Bot. 

 Centralbl., cxxix. (1915) pp. 226-7. 



t Bull. Soc. Bot. France, Mi. (1915) pp. 59-64 (1 pi.). 



X Centralbl. Bakt., xlii. (1915) pp. 49-64 (9 figs.). See also Bot. Centralbl., 

 cxxix. (1915) pp. 30-1. 



§ Mycologia, xiii. (1916) pp. 1-4 (1 pi.). 



