fcEW OR CRITICAL BRITISH ALGiE, 29 
with of the fresh-water algas of that district. M. Sauvageau’s 
list to some extent supplies this want ; he mentions 60 species, 
some of which belong to new genera or species. The new genus 
Synechocystis differs from Synechococcus in possessing perfectly 
globular cells. Tapinothrix , n. gen., is thus described : “ Fila 
heterocystis destitula, tenerrima, simplicia, a basi leviter incrassata 
attenuata apice in pilum articulatum non producta, vaginae tennes, 
arctissima3, continuas, saepissime sursum, hormogoniorum exitu, 
vacuae.” A single species, T. Borneti , with filaments 150-300 p 
long, 4 p broad at the base, and 1*5 p above, is described. New 
species of Entophysalis , Dermocarpa , and Synechococcus are 
described. The paper is accompanied by an excellent plate. 
MODERN MYCOLOGY. 
By G. Massee. 
In an article recently published by Professor Saccardo,* the 
total number of known plants is given as 173,706, distributed 
approximately as follows : — 
Phanerogams ... 
Filioes ... 
Equisetaceae, Marsiliaceae, Lycopodiacefe 
Musci ... 
Hepaticae 
Lichenes 
Fungi ... 
... 105,231 
2,819 
565 
4,609 
3,041 
5,600 
... 39,663 
... 12,178 
Total ... 
... 173, 7C6 
Confining our remarks for the present to the fungi, we find that, 
according to Streniz,t the number of known species in 1862 
amounted to 11,890, whereas the number described in Saccardo’s 
“ Sylloge Fungorum,” 1892, amounts to 39,663. 
In endeavouring to account for this enormous increase in the 
number of species during the last thirty years, four factors are at 
once recognized as being of primary importance in this connection : 
(1) perfection of the microscope ; (2) exploration of new regions ; 
(3) imperfect descriptions of species ; (4) Saccardo’s “ Sylloge 
Fungorum.” 
Examined in detail, it is found that the four factors have 
* “ II numero delle piante j ” Atti del Congresso Bot. Inter, di Genova ; 
p. 57 (1892). 
f “ Nomenclature des Champignons,” 
