426 SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 



as Alternaria tenuis aucl Sporidesmius Alternaria. Pycnidial forms are 

 known of both species ; and of P. Sarcinulse we are also acquainted with 

 microconidial and sclerotoid forms. 



Presence of a Sulphurous Oil in Penicillium glaucum.* — Herr B. 

 Jonsson records the occurrence of a fungus-mycele in a bottle of normal 

 10 per cent, sulphuric acid, which culture proved to be Penicillium 

 glaucum. In the cells of the hyph^e were a number of strongly refrin- 

 gent bodies varying greatly in size and form, sometimes completely 

 filling up the cells, and consisting chiefly of sulphur. These bodies 

 show a very strong resemblance to the globules of sulphur found in 

 Beggiatoa and other " sulphur-bacteria," | agreeing with them in their 

 general appearance, and in their solubility in carbon bisulphide and in 

 other chemical reactions, but differing from them again in others which 

 show that they do not consist of uncombined sulphur. In some respects 

 they show more similarity to the sulphurous substance contained in the 

 bulbs of Allium and the seeds of Lepidium, Sinapis, &c., and must 

 probably be of the nature of a fatty oil containing sulphur. Sub- 

 stances of an oily or fatty nature are by no means uncommon in 

 Fungi allied to Penicillium, especially when in the resting condition or 

 in the sclerotes, and the substance under discussion must certainly be 

 regarded as a reserve food-material. 



Dissemination of the Spores in Rhytisma acerinum.|— Dr. H. 

 Klebahn describes the mode in which the spores of this fungus, parasitic 

 on the maple, are disseminated. The ascospores are about 65 /a long, 

 and only 1 • 6 /x thick, so that they present a very large surface in pro- 

 portion to their mass. They are surrounded also by a gelatinous 

 envelope, by means of which they become firmly attached to the leaves 

 on which they fall. 



Saccharomyces laetis. § — This new Torula, discovered by Dr. L. 

 Adametz, is stated to be distinguished by the property it possesses of 

 causing the fermentation of milk-sugar. 1'he cells, which are elliptical 

 or somewhat oval, are on the average 7 /x long and 5 /x broad. The buds, 

 which are round, are 3 to 4 ju. in diameter. Buds may form at either 

 pole of a cell ; sometimes two buds are produced at the same time. No 

 ascospores were produced by cultivating on the gypsum block for twenty 

 days at a temperature of 25° C. Account is given of the cultivation of 

 this torula in pepton-gelatin, in wort-gelatin, in beer wort, and in milk. 

 S. laetis causes fermentation of milk sooner or later, according to the 

 temperature. At 40° the appearances of fermentation may be observed 

 within twenty-four hours, at 38° in forty-eight hours, and at 25° C. in 

 four days. No precipitation of paracasein occurs in the process, the 

 milk-sugar only being decomposed. 



Phosphorescence of Pleurotus olearius.|| — Prof. G. Arcangeli states 

 that the phosphorescence of the olive-fungus, Agaricus (Pleurotus) 

 olearius, is by no means confined to the hymenium, although this part 

 manifests it most strongly, but is exhibited also by the stipe and the 

 internal tissue, but not by the mature spores. It is displayed by day as 



* SB. Bot. Verein Lund, Nov. 18, 1887. See Bot. Centralbl., xxxvii. (1889) 

 pp. 201, 232, and 264. 



t See this Jouiual, 1887, p. 1007. J Hedwigia, xxvii. (1888) pp. 305-6. 



§ Centralbl. f. Bakteriol. u. Parasiteuk., v. (1889) pp. 116-20. 

 II Atti E. Accad. Liucei (Eendic), iv. (1888) pp. 365-9. 



