232 AFRICAN BOTANY. 



cells maculans Collius, which M. Sauvageau has found under three 

 different forms. He considers that these are probably three succes- 

 sive conditions, but to faciUtate the determination of specimens he 

 describes each form separately and in detail. Pending the publica- 

 tion of the generic diagnoses, however, his reasons for the separa- 

 tion off of P. maculans to form a new genus are only to be gathered 

 from a careful perusal of the text. The advisability of placing 

 Ascocyclus reptans Kke. in Hecatonema is considered, but the point 

 is not finally decided. 



The second of the new genera is Chilionema, containing two new 

 species, C. NathaVxE, found by Miss Karsakoff growing on Rhody- 

 menia ijahnata at Roscoff; and C. reptayis, founded on Ectocarpus 

 reptans Crn. ; and Mijrionema reptans Foslie. M. Sauvageau has 

 been able to examine an authentic specimen of E. reptans Crn. in 

 Herb. Thuret, and this he describes and figures. As the result of 

 this examination he points out the differences which exist between 

 this plant and the allied genera, justifying his formation of a new 

 genus for its reception. Ascocyclus ocellatus Rke. is placed pro- 

 visionally under Chilionema. 



The author then treats of the genus Ascocyclus. He gives the 

 name of " ascocystes " to the large hyaline cells characteristic of 

 this genus, considering that they differ from the paraphyses of 

 M^?vo»e»m and allied genera. Both the terms "paraphyses" and 

 "assimilative filaments" are used somewhat loosely by phycolo- 

 gists in the genera of Chordariacece,, and the latter term — a transla- 

 tion of the German " assimilationsfaden " — is never an entirely 

 satisfactory one, especially when applied to the cells forming the 

 periphery of such alg», as for instance, Chordaria and Soranthera. 

 M. Sauvageau removes from Ascocyclus all the species hitherto 

 placed in it except the one on which the genus was founded by 

 M. Magnus, A. orbicularis. He describes, however, two new species, 

 A. hispayiicus, which grows on Saccorhiza Imlbosa, Fucus serratus, and 

 Himanthalia lorea, at Rivadeo, in Spain ; and A. sphfrrophorus, 

 found by various collectors on French and Belgian coasts. The 

 examination of A. hispanicus is rendered more than usually difficult 

 by the presence of a minute species of Ectocarpus which grows 

 intermixed with it, often adhering by means of rhizoids to the 

 Ascocyclus. A full bibliography concludes the first part of this 



interesting memoir. -r^ o t> 



Ethel b. Barton. 



African Botany. 



Catalogue of the African Plants collected by Dr. Friedrich Wehvitsch in 



1858-61. Dicotyledons, Part II. Combretacecse to RubiacefB. 



By WiLLiAJi Philip Hiern, M.A., F.L.S. London: British 



Museum (Natural History) ; Dulau & Co. [April] 1898. 8vo, 



pp. 337-508. Price 4s. 

 Flora of Tropiad Africa. By various Botanists. Edited by W. T. 



Thiselton-Dyer, C.M.G., etc.. Director, Royal Gardens, Kew. 



London: L. Reeve & Co. 8vo, vol. vii. part i. pp. iv, 192. 



1897. Part ii. pp. 193-384, 1898. Price 8s. net each. 



