1894. ] Briefer Articles, 467 
Completoria complens Lohde.—This very interesting parasite of 
fern prothallia has not, heretofore, I believe, been reported as occur- 
ting in the United States. It was found by me last winter in fern pro- 
thallia grown in the Botanical Conservatory of Cornell University. 
The fungus is very interesting both from its relationship with the 
Eniomophthore and from its being a parasite in plants. It is of very 
simple structure. 
The germinating conidia do not enter the cells of the prothallia 
directly, but put out a short germ tube which enlarges at its end, and 
into this enlarged end the protoplasm migrates, thus forming a germi- 
hating vesicle or proembryo. From this germinating vesicle the tube 
arises which penetrates the cell of the prothallium. The cell wall 
reddish brown. The tube, which is quite slender, grows directly to 
the center of the cell lumen where it enlarges into a flask-shaped 
body, rich in protoplasm, very granular, and with large vacuoles. 
From this a short and thick branch grows out and curves more or less 
_ closely to the parent cell or hyphal body. Successive branches of a 
similar kind arise and curving around form a closely compacted bo- 
tryose cluster, which eventually more or less completely fills the cell 
lumen. From the marginal cells of this cluster slender tubes arise 
which penetrate into the adjacent cells. Conidia and sexless (?) rest- 
Ig spores are formed. 
In the formation of the conidia certain of the marginal cells of the 
botryose cluster grow through the wall of the prothallium cell to the 
&xterior, where a single-spored sporangium is formed, either quite 
Close to the surface of the prothallium when the conodiophore is very 
short, Or at a little distance from it when it is longer. The conidium 
thrown off with considerable force as in the other Entomophthor si 
and the basal end protrudes slightly as a prominent point. If the 
conidia are not in a favorable position for entering the cells of hd wives 
thallium, or the surrounding conditions are unsuitable for it, it may 
_ Ptoduce a short conidiophore and a secondary conidium be thrown 
ae This may quite likely be repeated several times. 
The resting spores are ey rete the central cells of the botryose 
Cluster, and may vary in a single cell of the prothallium, and thus in 
*, ugle cluster, from one to ten or fifteen. These cells become larger 
Man the others, gradually round off, the protoplasm contracts some- 
vat'and at the same time the wall thickens inward. The appear- 
reat many of the outer cells in such a cluster suggests the possibility 
: of there being a sexual process, but in no case have I seen any ae 
— MUNication between these cells, although I have carefully examin 
: 
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