478 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [DECEMBER 
are capable of symbiosis, there being other unknown limiting factors. —Gero. D. 
ULLER 
Fertile and sterile strains of Hymenomycetes.—Miss WAKEFIELD” 
has made a study of the conditions influencing the formation of fruit-bodies 
of Schizophyllum commune and Stereum purpureum, which were grown in pure 
cultures on bread and gelatin or agar media. The most interesting fact brought 
out by the work is that a disposition or tendency to form fruit-bodies is charac- 
teristic of certain strains, while others have a strong tendency to remain sterile. 
Of thirteen colonies of Schizophyllum commune obtained from single spores 
from various sources, two formed fruit-bodies readily, while the others remained 
sterile or showed only a slight tendency to fruit. When propagated by the 
transplanting of bits of mycelium to new nutrient media, the strains maintained 
their — characteristics with regard to fruiting. Stereum purpureum 
behaved in a similar manner. Although the capacity for fruiting is thus a 
Sosscbietic See in the spore, the actual production of fruit-bodies 
is dependent upon certain internal conditions which were studied to some 
extent. In a moist atmosphere, depressing transpiration, only vegetative 
growth appears. Absence of light also is said to inhibit the formation of normal 
fruit-bodies in Schizophyllum. Certain other factors appear to act as direct 
“releasing stimuli. hus the sudden withdrawal of nutriment leads to the 
production of fruit-bodies. Even some of the sterile strains show a tendency 
to fruit under proper conditions of transpiration and nutrition, indicating that 
the line between sterile and fertile strains may be after all largely a matter of 
response to environment.—H. HASSELBRING. 
Sand dunes of New Zealand.—In preparation for efforts at dune reclama- 
tion, COCKAYNE” has prepared a report upon the sand dunes of New Zealand. 
They cover an area of 6ver 500 square miles, with a general height of 20-50 
feet, but occasionally attaining a maximum height of 300 feet. A general 
summary of their geological character and history is followed by a con- 
sideration of the disturbing effect of man’s burning and grazing operations. 
Many dunes that ane long been entirely fixed have thus been revivified by 
advancing civilization. A discussion of the ecological factors involved brings 
to light the eee conclusion that the amount of precipitation affects 
the dune flora very little, areas with an annual rainfall of 100 inches having 
the same vegetation as others with only 25 inches. A very large number of 
cloudy and rainy days, however, does modify the xerophytic character of the 
dune plant associations. The sand-building and sand-collecting aie are 
2t WAKEFIELD, Miss E., Ueber die Bedingungen der Fruchtkocperbildung, sowie 
das auftreten fertiler und steriler Stimme bei Hymenomyceten. Naturwiss. Zeit 
Forst. u. Landwirtsch. 7:521-551. figs. 3. 1909. 
22 COCKAYNE, L., Report on the sand dunes of New Zealand. eaciaea! of 
Lands, va ‘N.Z. pp. 30. pls. 35- 1909. 
