ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, xMICROSCOPY, ETC. 99 



Characteristic Constituents of Lichens. — 0. Hesse (Joum. Prakt. 

 Chemie, 1915, 93, 254-70 ; see also Ann. Mycol, 1916, 14, 480). In 

 this contribution Hesse deals mainly with the starch-content of certain 

 lichens. As compared with the potato, the starch of Getraria islandica 

 is 1 : 2 • 35, in reindeer moss 1 : 2 * 5. These two lichens are therefore 

 valuable as human food or as fodder for cattle. In the former case the 

 bitter principle contained in the plant must be eliminated. A. L. S. 



Lichenographical Notes. — D. Steiner (Oesterr. Bot. Zeitschr., 1915, 

 65, 278-92 ; see also Ann. Mycol., 1916, 14, 397-8). In the first three 

 chapters of this work Steiner deals with the section Aspicilia of the 

 genus Lecanora ; certain species have been critically studied and de- 

 scribed. He has shown also that the genera Placolecania and Soleno- 

 spora are synonymous, and that the latter has priority. The genus 

 Acaraspora has also been examined with reference to the compound 

 apothecia characteristic of some species ; some of these associated 

 hymenia have a common exciple, others retain separate margins, and 

 are known as " Apothecia composita." He contrasts the formation of 

 pycnidia, which may be associated and show chambered interiors. 



A. L. S. 



The Lichen-Flora of Hertfordshire.— Robert Paulson {Trans. 

 Hertf. Nat Hist. Soc, 1919, 17, 83-96, 1 pi.). Two previous lists of 

 lichens had been made for Hertfordshire, the second of the two, in 

 1902, numbered sixty-seven species. Paulson now records 143 species, 

 varieties, or forms. Attention is directed to the habitat of the lichens 

 with reference to light intensity and to the soil, which even affects 

 the number of tree-lichens. The number of saxicolous lichens recorded 

 has been greatly increased. The author has himself verified the lichens 

 recorded with the exception of nine species. A. L. S. 



Lichen-Flora of Kazan. — Const. Mereschkovsky {Hedivigia, 

 1919, 61, 183-241, 1 pi.). The author describes the country round 

 Kazan — flat and without any rocky formations. The flora is therefore 

 soil or forest, and the absence of rocks is reflected in the prevailing 

 type of lichen vegetation. There is also a complete absence in his 

 list, as he himself notes, of Stereocaidon, Nephroma, Opegrapha, and 

 Collemaceas. There is, further, an almost complete lack of Ramalina, 

 which he explains (?) by the distance from the sea. A predominant 

 genus is Physcia. In certain forests the trees are covered with grey 

 or white spots, the thallus of various Physcise. Mereschkovsky has 

 described many new varieties and forms of well-known and variable 

 lichens. A. L. S. 



Discussion of Parmelia camtschadalis. — Const. Mereschkovsky 

 {Hedivigia^ 1919, 61, 303-7). Certain authors having affirmed the 

 absence of this lichen in Kamschatka, Mereschkovsky brings forward facts 

 to prove that the lichen in question is found there, that is has been found 

 at Geneva, and that it is autonomous, and not identical with Evernia 

 furfur acea. A. L. 



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