Miscellaneous. 247 



On (lie Biological and Morphological Value of the Biilhilli of 

 Fungi. By M, Hugo Zukal, 



The peculiar reproductive organs called " bulbilli " described by 

 Eidam (Cohn's Beitr. zur Biol, iii.) have been found by the author 

 in five fungi, namely Ilelicospo rang ium coprophilum, sp. n., Dendnj- 

 pliinm hidhiferum, sp. n., Haplotrichum roseum. Link, Melanospora 

 Jtmicola, Haus., and a Peziza. He ascertained that, as stated by 

 Eidam, only couidial forms are, as a rule, developed from the 

 bulbilli. 



But in two instances, namely in Melaiiospora and Peziza, the 

 bulbilli become converted into fruits, and hence he came to the 

 conclusion that the bulbilli are to be regarded morpJiologically as 

 undeveloped fruits, and therefore as aborted structures. In many 

 fruits of Ascomycetes the bulbillus-form may occur as a perfectly 

 normal stage of development. The so-called sclerotia of Penicillium 

 glancnm may also be only modified bulbilli. The small bulbilli, in 

 which little reserve-material is stored up, generally develop no fruits, 

 but only mycelia. 



The author remarks that his investigations on the whole confirm 

 Eidam's statements, especially the fact that vegetative bodies occur 

 in Fungi which behave biologically like the brood-bodies of the 

 higher plants, but at the same time differ considerably in their 

 structure from the sclerotia. But his observations, especially upon 

 the species of Peziza, lead him to dissent from Eidam's further 

 assertion — that fruits never proceed from these bulbilli. 



As regards the theoretical estimation of the bulbilli, also, his 

 views differ essentially from Eidam's. Eidam regards the bulbilli 

 as perfectly normal structures, " spore-coils," which belong, as a 

 definite reproductive form, to the developmental cycle of the Fungus 

 in which they occur. The author's investigations lead him, on the 

 contrary, to the opinion that the so-called bulbilli are not to be 

 considered normal structures, but more or less undeveloped fruits, 

 which have become heterogenously developed in consequence of 

 disturbing causes (mites, parasitic fungi, cold, heat, drought). 

 Karsten's statement (' Bot. Untersuch. aus dem phys. Laborato- 

 rium in Berlin,' Heft i. 1865, cited by Eidam) to tlae effect that 

 it occasionally happens that a central cell of the bulbillus of Beli- 

 cospiorangimn p)arasiticum becomes converted into an ascus contain- 

 ing eight elliptical spores, is therefore regarded by the author as 

 perfectly correct. Karsten even saw an aborted perithecium which 

 contained eight rudimentary spores. Consequently, the author 

 says, such forms as Papulaspora cispergilUformis and Helicosporan- 

 gium parasitictim can only be regarded as independent Fungi until 

 the developed fruit-forms belonging to them shall be discovered, 

 and the same statement applies to the forms here described by him 

 as new. — Verh. zool.-bot. GesellscJi. in Wien, Bd. xxxvi. pp. 128- 

 136. 



