ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 425 



C Danvini, was found by Darwin in Terra-del-Fuego, where it grows 

 abundantly on beech-trees, and forms the chief vegetable food of the 

 natives. Other species are distributed through the southern temperate 

 zone, and grow on beeches and other trees, causing extensive de- 

 formities. 



Dr. Fischer has determined Cyttaria to belong to the Discomycetes ; 

 but the apotheces remain for a long period, sometimes even till mature, 

 covered by a cortex. They are imbedded in large numbers in a common 

 weft of hyphae, which may be called a stroma. In the development of 

 the fructification the nearest alliance appears to be with Cenangium, 

 although it differs from that genus in the form of the spores. In the 

 discrimination of the species one character relied on is the arrangement 

 of the antherids (spermogoues). 



Eremothecium, a new genus of Ascomycetes.* — Prof, A. Borzi de- 

 scribes a new species and genus of Fungi, Eremothecium Cymhalarise, 

 found on unripe capsules of Linaria Gymhalaria, attacking the interior 

 of the ovary, and forming a dense weft of hyphae round the seeds. The 

 following is the diagnosis of the genus, which the author regards as 

 most nearly allied to Gymnoascus and Eremascus : — Mycelio arachnoideo- 

 effuso albicante, hyphis tenerrimis hyalinis, laxe et irregulariter com- 

 plicato-ramosis, remote septatis, ascis solitariis ad apices hypharum, 

 lageniformibus, sessilibus aut basi breviter attenuatis, membrana Isevi, 

 setate provecta deliquescente, sporis 30 aut plurimis in singulo asco, 

 clavato-acicularibus, rectis vel ssepe curvulis, achrois, simplicibus. 



Coniothyrium diplodella.t — In continuation of his researches on 

 the life-history of this parasite, so destructive to the vine-crop in Italy 

 and the south of France, Sig. P. Baccarini states that the fructifications 

 are found, on the approach of winter, still immature on the bunches of 

 grapes, and frequently destroyed by the cold or by the moulds :u^hich 

 grow over them ; and they can scarcely be efficacious in the propagation 

 of the species. The parasite appears to attack exclusively the bunches 

 of grapes, and not the vegetative organs, commencing with the rachis, 

 and then extending to the berries. The branching of the thallus is in 

 all normal cases monoj)odial. In the formation of the pycnids no fusion 

 takes place of the contents of the generating hyphee into a mass of 

 granular hyphae, nor the formation of a parenchymatous tissue from 

 which are derived the conceptacles and stroma, as has been erroneously 

 stated ; the pycnids are, on the contrary, derived from the eporigenous 

 apparatus, which is the result of the segmentation of one or more initial 

 cells ; the peridium and superincumbent stroma being formed by the 

 interweaving and segmentation of a large number of finger-like processes 

 proceeding from the neighbouring hyphae. 



Polymorphism of Pleospora herbarum.| — Dr. O. Mattirolo finds 

 that the ascophorous states of two distinct species of fungus are confused 

 under this name, doubtless due to admixture of the spores in cultures. 

 He identifies the two species as P. Sarcinulse Gib, & GrifP. and P, Alter- 

 narise Gib, & Griff. The former is synonymous with Sphseria herharum, 

 the latter with Pleospora infedorla and Sphseria infedoria. The conidial 

 form of the former is known as Macrosporium Sarcinula, that of the latter 



* Nuov. Gioin. Bot. Ital., xx. (1888) pp. 452-6 (1 fig.). 



t Malpighia, ii. (1888) pp. 325-37. J T. c, pp. 357-78. 



