1900] CURRENT LITERATURE 213 
GrorGE MASSEE, in discussing the origin of the Basidiomycetes,” presents 
the following summary: (1) in the conidial condition certain ascigerous fungi 
bear their spores on structures morphologically indistinguishable from the 
basidia of the Protobasidiomycetes; (2) some members of the same form 
genera as those described in (1), as St/bum vulgare Tode, have lost the 
ascigerous condition from their life cycle, and are accepted as true Proto- 
basidiomycetes ; hence we are justified in concluding that the Protobasidio- 
mycetes as a group originated from ancestors that represented the conidial 
condition of ascigerous fungi; (3) there is no evidence in favor of the 
Suggestion that the Autobasidiomycetes are descended from the Protobasidio- 
ees on the other hand, the evidence in favor of the Autobasidiomycetes 
hrs been derived by gradual modification of the spore-bearing organs, or 
basidia of conidial forms of certain ascigerous fungi, is not lacking.—J. M. C. 
he W. Toumey has published the results of his study of “crown-gall” as 
“ ag 33 from the Arizona Agricultural Experiment Station, under the title 
ia Pate into the cause and nature of crown-gall.’”’ The name is applied 
fruit pao appears as fleshy outgrowths on the roots of deciduous 
, sually at the crown. The author concludes that the cause 1s a 
rc a one of the Myxomycetes, parasitism among which has shin 
Causes « xis pinned to a single species (Plasmodiophora brassicae, which 
effect upon i. in cabbage and allied plants). The plasmodium and its 
study of the or ie cells are fully described, as well as the sporangia. The 
ganism is made the occasion of the establishment of a new 
snus, Dendrophagus.— J. M. C. 
moo E FUSION has been discovered in connection with the 
Plying. First gai endosperm nucleus, illustrations are rapidly multi- 
for the aaa by Nawachsin for Lilium Martagon, it was Con- 
other species of "te Species by Gui gnard and Miss Sargant, the former adding 
a aS a os and also Fritillaria and Tulipa. Now Miss Ethel N. 
Palustrig x7 CO nuclei wrapped about the polar nucleus in Te 
embryo-sacs 5 awaschin has described and figured ® triple fusion in the 
(an orchid), eee annuus, Rudbeckia speciosa, and Phatus Blumet 
Warn 
ST. F te 
ber of the : ag 8ives a description of the anatomical characters of a num- 
With the Seti of Sphagnum which have not previously been examined 
this group egg and minuteness which modern taxonomy demands !n 
. e age 
a characters are drawn from types, and the examination of 
"7 
Jour. Linn 
’ - Soc, 34: 
*438-448. pls. 15-76. 
Annals of : 448. pls. 75-76. 1900. 
"Ber. dp any 14: 318-319. 1900. 
if eutsch 
” Bot. Cont. * bot. Gessell. 18: 224-230. pl. 9. 1900. 
82 :7 Sq. 1g00. 
