86 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [JULY 
have ceased to divide, produces rifts in the pith tissue; and from these rifts 
chambers are gradually developed. Meanwhile, hyphal chains and sieve 
unbroken by deep lobing of a ridge sent out along the angled side of the rachis 
and inclosing a portion of the pith web.—MaBet L. RoE 
A new luminous fungus.—KawamuRaA* has investigated a luminous and 
very poisonous fungus that grows on the decaying trunks of the beech (Fagus 
sylvatica) in the uplands of Japan, and appears in the autumn. It is 
~ by a Japanese name meaning ‘“‘moon-night mushroom,” and proves to be a new 
species of Pleurotus (P. japonicus). The light is emitted by the gills only, 
which are uniformly luminous all over. The range of temperature for luminos- 
ity is 3-40° C., the optimum being 10-15°C. Experiments were made by 
exposing the fungus to nitrogen, hydrogen, ether, and vapor of chloroform, in 
all of which the luminosity disappeared after a variable interval; while in 
oxygen there was no change. It is stated that about 100 sq. cm. of luminous 
area gives enough light for reading, and that the luminosity is very evident at 
a distance of 30 m. or more.—J. M. C. 
Alaskan liverworts.—EvANs,* studying the collection of Alaskan liverworts 
made by Dr. T. C. Frve, finds that of 70 species in a condition to be identified 
with certainty, 20 are new to Alaska, 7 new to America, and 3 new to science. 
The Harriman Expedition yielded 63 species, of which 39 were new to Alaska, 
6 new to America, and one species new to science. The total number of species 
now known in Alaska is 105, and comparatively little intensive exploration has 
been done. An admirable feature of the paper, and one which should be fol- 
lowed by future explorers, is that the latitude and longitude of each station 
are given to one minute. This will enable competent collectors to find at any 
future time almost the exact spot where a collection has been made.—W. J. G. 
N 
Growth and concentration of nutrient solutionBRENCHLY® concludes 
that pariey oe: ebowaae ae wr give somite or macnn growth in a solution 
1(K, O 28 ppm. P.O; 7 ppm 
stated by ( CAMERON to exist in soil solutions. The reviewer would suggest that 
the surface of contact between the root hair or root epidermis and the soil 
particle, and not the general soil solution, is the medium from which plants 
3t KAWAMURA, SElIcHI, Studies on the luminous fungus Pleurotus japonicus, 
sp. nov. Jour. Coll. Sci. Tokyo 35:1-29. pl. 3. 1915. 
# Evans, ALEXANDER W., Report on the Hepaticae of Alaska. Bull. Torr. 
Bot. Club 41:577-616. pl.'2r. 1915. 
33 BRENCHLY, W. E., The effect of the concentration of the nutrient solution on 
the growth of barley and wheat in water cultures. Ann. Botany 30:77-90. 1916 
