4G4 SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 



determined by Leitgeb to consist of inulin ; in the alcohol-matorial aro 

 found bright red partially crystalline masses, which correspond in many 

 of their reactions to rhodospermin, but whose separation is the result 

 of the action of the reagent. The cell-wall docs not always consist of 

 three distinct layers, as has been stated by Niigcli ; the innermost is 

 often wanting, and is then replaced by a thin parietal layer of proto- 

 plasm. The younger portion of the stalk, and the rays of the " pilous " 

 aro often furnished with a well-developed cuticle. 



Batrachospermum, Chantransia, and Lemanea.*— Dr. A. Peter 

 confirms the observations of Sirodot, that young plants of Batrachosper- 

 mum may develope from heteromorphic branches of Chantransia. In 

 addition to organs previously known, he has observed on Chantransia 

 vesicular structures resulting from the swelling out of an ordinary 

 filament-cell, the interior of which is ultimately divided into compart- 

 ments. Whether these are organs of reproduction, or reservoirs of food- 

 material, the author was unable to determine. He frequently observed 

 the unbroken connection of the " prothallium " of Chantransia and 

 Batraeliospermum. 



Dr. Peter also asserts the development of the sexual form of Lemanea 

 fluviatilis out of heteromorphic branches of a Chantransia. The forms 

 included in the genus Chantransia must therefore be regarded as stages 

 of development in the life-history of a number of the higher Algae. 



Rejuvenescence of Caulerpa.f — Herr J. H. Wakker finds that in 

 Caulerpa the rejuvenescence of the thallus after injury takes place in 

 just the same way as in Saprolegnia, Mucor, Vaucheria, and in other 

 Siphonete. The wound is first closed by a drop of protoplasm, after 

 which a new cellulose-membrane is formed. The process is the same 

 in these unicellular plants as in the formation of adventitious organs on 

 the leaves of Begonia and of Crassulaceaa, and in bulbous plants. Pro- 

 lification was never observed on cut leaves. 



Dasycladacese.J — Prof. C. Cramer describes a new species of Neo- 

 meris, N. Kelleri, from Madagascar. It has the form of small curved 

 cylindrical bodies, from 5 to 14 mm. in height, and 1-2 mm. in thick- 

 ness, brittle from a strong calcareous incrustation, pale green where not 

 so encrusted, and furnished at the apex with a tuft of hairs. The surface 

 consists of a large number of usually hexagonal facets, to near the upper 

 margin of each of which is attached a long delicate simple or branched 

 hair : these hairs drop off from the lower portion of the plant, leaving 

 scarcely any visible scar. The axis of the plant is occupied by a very 

 lar^e nearly cylindrical fusiform cell, which ends below in a branched 

 unseptated radicular portion. From the axial cell proceed a large 

 number (from 60 to 80) of lateral branches, which are separated 

 from the axial cylinder by a septum ; and these are again furnished with 

 secondary branches, usually three to each primary branch. The hairs 

 are also not in direct connection with the main axis, and may themselves 

 each consist of from two to five very elongated cells. Of the three 

 secondary branches attached to each primary branch, the central one is 

 ovoid and communicates by a narrow opening with the primary branch ; 



* Bot. Ver. Miinchen, Feb. 28, 1887. See Bot. Centralbl., xxxiii. (1888) p. 188. 

 t Versl. K. Akad. Wetensch. Amsterdam, iii. (1887) pp. 251-64 (1 pi.), 

 j Denkschr. Schweiz. Naturf. Gesell., xxx. (1887) 50 pp. and 5 pis. 



