X9 09] CURRENT LITERATURE 79 



Eoterfezia (as a simple form), Terfezia, Tirmania 



forms). Genabea, 



Choiromyces, and perhaps also Hydnobolites and Pseudobalsamia a 

 from the Plectascineae, and probably go to the Eutuberineae series. 



2. The Balsarniaceae, with asci in definite hymenia lining the walls of chambers 

 closed to the outside, includes the single genus Balsamia. Hydnocystis and 

 Geopora go to the Pezizaceae. (See Ed. Fischer, Hedw. 30 : 56-60. 1898.) 



3. The Eutuberineae series, with hymenia lining the walls of interior passages 

 which open to the outside and are either hollow or more or less filled with hyphal 

 wefts (asci rarely withdrawn from hymenia into the trama), includes the gymno- 

 carpic forms and are probably derived from the simpler Helvellales like Rhizina 

 and Sphaerosoma. 



Since the second series is represented by the single genus Balsamia, with a 

 hymenium lining interior passages of the fruit body, one is led to inquire if it 

 would not be a more satisfactory arrangement to recognize two series: (1) the 

 Plectascales as outlined above, and (2) the Tuberales, including the Eutuberineae 

 and Balsamia. May it not be possible that 

 some of the Eutuberineae by a secondary modification of such a nature that the 

 interior passages have become closed from the outside; just as in Geopora, as 

 Fischer points out, examples occur in which such a secondary modification has 

 probably taken place ? The development of Balsamia should be studied with 



T r% m /*+ • 



Balsami 



this 



in view. 



Among the basidiomycetous Hypogeae several collections of Hysterangium 

 furnish additional evidence of the existence of a Hysteran^ium-Clathraceae 

 ^ries beginning with Gautieria, and then passing from Hysterangium through 

 Phallogaster, Protubera, etc., to the Clathraceae. 



The paper abounds in speculative discussion as to relationship and ontogeny, 

 which is a characteristic of Fischer's contributions. In a number of instances 

 ws ^ ews seem to be based on rather insufficient evidence, which is perhaps the 

 ^ef adverse criticism which may be made on this contribution. Some of them 

 appear to be well founded, and certainly his present views on the classification of 

 the ascomycetous Hypogeae are to me much more satisfactory than his arrange- 

 ment in Engler & Prantl's Pfianzenfamilien. It should be said, however, 

 at a11 his suggestions and speculations are stimulating to thought, and I trust 

 ^ also stimulate collectors and investigators to bring to the light the riches in 



subter 



fungi 



Atkinson. 



America 



Cytological basis of Mendelism.— Gregoire 6 has published a critical discus- 

 T n ° l ^ent cytological theories, with particular reference to their bearing on 



etation of Mendelian phenomena. Certain fundamental hypotheses 



M ? lG0IRE ' V., Les fondements cytologiques des theories courantes sur l'heredit6 



enne. Ann> Soc - Rov - Znnl. «* Malarnl. Relffinue 42 : 267-320. figs. 4. IQ°7- 



