10 
BIBLIOGRAPHY. 
the genus under consideration. Altogether 111 species are fully 
described, 32 being new to science. The author considers the 
short lateral branches, or hyphopodia, present on the creeping 
hyph» to be undeveloped perithecia. The genus is divided into 
two primary sections, depending on the form of the asci, (1) asci 
ovoid or globose ; (2) asci clavate or cylindrical. Each section 
is divided into groups depending on the number of septa present 
in the spore ; a character found to be absolutely constant in each 
species. The work is illustrated by 24 plates, the figures being 
unnecessarily large; there is no advantage in drawing a spore 
nearly 2in. long and fin. broad, when one quarter that size would 
answer the purpose equally well. 
British Fungus-Flora (Geo. Massee). — It is expected that the 
first volume of the above work will be ready in August. It con- 
tains a short introduction to the study of fungi, also descriptions, 
accompanied by critical notes from various authors, of all British 
species included in the following groups : — Gastromycetes, Tremel- 
line», Clavari», Thelephore», Hydne», Polypore», and the black 
and purple spored species of Agaricin». The genera are 
illustrated. The following numbers justify the appearance of a 
new book on the subject. It is now 21 years since the last complete 
British Mycological Flora was published — Cooke’s “ Handbook of 
British Fungi ” — the number of species therein described being 
2,810, whereas the species now number 4,895, and are distributed 
as follows: — Basidiomycetes, 1,980; Ascomycetes, 1,275; 
Sph»ropside», 685 ; Hyphomycetes, 580 ; Uredine» and 
Ustilagine», 230 ; Phycomycetes, 145. 
A Vanilla Disease . (George Massee, Kew Bulletin, Nos. 65, 
66, p. Ill ; 1 pi.). — It is shown that the destruction of Vanilla 
planifolia, the Vanilla plant, in certain districts of the Seychelles 
and Iteunion Islands, is due to a minute parasitic fungus, Calospora 
vanillce, Mass. The life-history of the fungus has been completely 
followed, and its presence as the cause of the disease demon- 
strated. 
The Myxomycetes of Eastern Iowa. — Thomas H. McBride 
(Bull. Lab. Nat. Hist. State Univers. Iowa, Vol. ii, p. 99) gives 
a detailed account, accompanied by a biological chapter, of the 
Myxomycetes of Iowa. Schroeter’s arrangement, as given in 
Englcr’s “ Pflanzen Familien,” is followed, and 69 species are 
described. Under Hemiarcyria stipata , Sz., the author says, ‘‘ Not 
to be confounded with Mr. Massee’s H. stipitata , which is similar 
in the specific name only.” Schweinitz’s name presumably referred 
to the compactly packed sporangia, whereas stipitata had reference 
to the distinct stem. The monograph is illustrated by 10 excellent 
plates. 
