ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 285 



New Synchytrium.* — The Synchytrium, parasitic on Dryas octojpetala, 

 and previously considered by Dr. F. Thomas as a variety of S. Myosotidis, 

 he now describes as a distinct species under the name >S^. (Chrysochytrium) 

 cuspidaium. It is distinguished by the form of the cecidium induced in the 

 host by the parasite, v^hich extends above the epidermis, is at first globular 

 or the form of an elongated sac, and afterwards closes into that of a cup or 

 saucer. It is identical with the variety Potentillse Schoet. 



Alcoholic Fermentation on living Trees.j — Dr. F. Ludwig has ob- 

 served on living oak-trees, as well as less frequently on birches, poplars, 

 and maples, the formation, sometimes in large quantities, of a whitish 

 mucilage with a strong odour of beer, and having great attraction to a 

 number of insects, especially hornets. The fungoid masses which give rise 

 to this mucilage consist of a branching filamentous fungus, forms allied to 

 Saccharomyces, and an organism evidently allied to Leuconostoc. 



The alcoholic fermentation is caused by the filamentous fungus, which 

 clearly belongs to the Gymnoasci, forming the characteristic endospores, and 

 proposed by the author as a new species with the name Endomyces Ludwigii. 

 The main filament branches copiously, and both it and the branches break 

 up freely into gonidia, which vary greatly in size. The formation of asci 

 was frequently observed. These are obovate, 25-30 /* long, 18-20 /a broad, 

 and are formed at the end of longer or shorter main or secondary branches. 

 The ascospores are always four in number, and change in colour from pale 

 yellow to yellow-brown ; they are set free by the absorption of the ascus. 

 The alcoholic fermentation appears to be caused directly by the formation 

 of the branches of this fungus, although it is then greatly promoted by the 

 formation of the bacteria found in the mucilage. The development of the 

 conidia corresponds very closely to that of Saccharomyces albicans. 



The mucilage consists mainly of a Schizomycete, to which Dr. Ludwig 

 gives the name Leuconostoc Lagerheimii, which forms elongated or spherical 

 colonies, often of very large size, consisting of wavy or coiled chains of 

 cocci or diplococci enclosed in copious gelatin ; the cocci have a diameter of 

 about • 6-0 • 8 /a. The gelatinous envelope is of much less consistency 

 than that of L. mesenteroides. Small spherical colonies of this organism 

 appear to be formed first on the filaments of the Endomyces, the cell-walls 

 of which they then completely destroy. Placed on meat-peptone nutrient 

 gelatin, they cause it rapidly to deliquesce. 



Protophyta. 



Hormogones of Glceotrichia natans Thur.| — Dr. G. Beck records in 

 this species {Itivularia angulosa Eoth.) a peculiar mode of formation of 

 hormogones. The lowermost cell becomes a heterocyst, and its contents 

 pass through a pore or through an open communication into the next cell, 

 which becomes the basal cell of a hormogone. The hormogones produced 

 in this way differ from those formed in the ordinary manner in possessing 

 a heterocyst from the first. 



Reproduction of Codiolum.§ — M. G. Lagerheim confirms the statement 

 of Farlow with respect to another marine species of Codiolum, that G. 

 polyrhizum is not reproduced by zoospores, but by rounded immotile 

 aplanospores, inclosed in a delicate membrane. These develope directly 



* Bot. Centralbl., xxix. (1887) pp. 19-22. f Hedwigia, xxv. (1886) pp. 168-72. 



t Verhandl. K. K. Zool.-Bot. Gesell. Wien, xxxvi. (1886) pp. 47-8. 

 § Oefvers. K. Vetensk. Akad. Forh. Stockholm, 1885, pp. 21-31. See Bull. Soo. 

 Bot. France, viii. (1886), Rev. Bibl., p. 158. 



