82 



and the spores started. Then the stem grows up rapidly to the 

 height of from one to four centimeters, beanngwith it at its sum- 

 mit the whole of the rest of the fungus, now developed into the 

 hat or umbrella shape which marks so large a class of the Hy- 

 menomycetes. A number of glandular hairs have developed 

 meanwhile on the under side of the hat, which secrete a fluid 

 collecting about its base in a large clear drop. 



The fungus is exceedingly sensitive to light, being positively 

 heliotropic. The building of the stem sometimes fails, either 

 partially or entirely, but even in the latter case the spores ripen 

 quite normally. The hymenium then Is very similar to the 

 stylospore clusters of the Uredineae. 



Finally the author remarks that he has been unable, as yet, 



^ 



to bring the spores to germination. It is therefore impossible to 

 say whether these may be considered the highest fruit-form of a 

 distinct and independent fungus, or simply conidial forms whose 

 farther development w^ould result in some (yet unknown) higher 

 form. He inclines to the first opinion and thinks the fungus is one 

 of the Hymenomycetes of an extremely simple structure, whose 

 basidia bearing tubes have not reached their full development. 



E. L. G. 



A?z article by G. Haberland, in Flora, on the chlorophyll bodies 

 of the Selaginellece gives several new points in relation to these 

 bodies, particularly in regard to their form and external appear- 

 ance. In the assimilating cells of many species there is only a 

 single chlorophyll body, described as tray or trough-shaped, 

 (muldenforming) which corresponds perfectly with the chloroplas- 

 tids of higher plants. Near the base of the leaf the cell contains 

 one chlorophyll grain of a very irregular shape, or in some cases 

 there are several quite unUke in form. In the parenchymatic 

 cells of the rind of the stem were found numerous spindle-shaped 

 chloroplastids which were bound to each other by fine, colorless 

 protoplasmic threads so there was a continuous chain of these 

 bodies in each cell. Some of these were changed into Leuco- 

 plastids, distinguished from the former by being smaller and color- 

 less. In reference to the origin of the chlorophyll body, he says 

 it occurs in the meristem of the apical region. Owing to the 

 position of the chloroplastids with reference to the cell nucleus, 



