568 
SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 
enclosed Algae (gonids). With regard to the pigments of lichens, the 
author is unable to say whether they act in the same way as phycoery- 
thrin in the Elorideas, in promoting assimilation. Each species is adapted 
for a special intensity of light and combination of the coloured rays. 
The simplest form of ascus, such as that which occurs in Endomyces, 
is morphologically equivalent to the lateral chlamydospores ; both are 
apical swellings of a lateral branch. In the asci the ascospores are formed 
by endogenous cell-division ; while in other cases the mycelial cells are 
transformed in toto into chlamydospores or oidia. 
The author discusses further the various modes of propagation of 
Lichens ; the influence on their development of climate and substratum ; 
and the diseases to which they are subject. 
Lengthening of the Receptacle of the Phalloideae.* — According to 
experiments made by Mr. E. A. Burt on Dictyophora duplicata , the very 
rapid elongation of the receptacle after the “ egg,” or half-developed 
stage of growth, is largely dependent on an abundant supply of water. 
During the elongation, and coincident with the disappearance of the 
abundant store of glycogen present in the receptacle, there is a very 
rapid and general growth in size of the pseudo-parenchymatous cells 
which constitute its walls. The bursting forth of the receptacle from the 
volva and the straightening of its folded walls are due to this process of 
growth of the pseudo-parenchyme, during which the cells at the angles 
of the folds grow somewhat more spherical, and so become to some extent 
presumably active agents in the process of elongation. 
Blastomyeetes in Hypertrophied Tonsils.j* — Dr. A. de Simoni exa- 
mined twelve cases of hypertrophy of the tonsillar glands, and in all of 
them bodies which were recognised as Blastomyeetes % were observed. In 
the fresh condition the bodies are described as round, homogeneous, 
highly refracting, and of variable size. When stained they were found 
to be free and also endocellular, and not unfrequently budding. The 
stains used were lithium carmine and Gram’s method. Mostly the 
bodies were violet when stained, but some were surrounded by a rose- 
coloured halo. The bodies described are stated to be identical with the 
Blastomyeetes isolated by Sanfelice. 
Protopbyta. 
a. Schizopliycese. 
Pelagic Flora of the Swiss Lakes.f — Prof. R. Chodat gives some 
results of a comparison of the pelagic or plankton flora of the Swiss 
lakes, wdiick varies with the elevation, the composition of the water, and 
other conditions. The flora of the Jurassic lakes presents many features 
in common, independently of their altitude. Among these is the great 
abundance, in most of them, of Wiizolenia (sic) longiseta, and in some of 
them of Stephanodiscus Astrsea , and the great rarity of desmids. Oocystis 
IcicMsiris is one of the most abundant organisms. Of the floating Cyano- 
phyceee (flos aquae) Anabsena flos-aquee is the most widely distributed. 
Oscillatoria rubescens was only rarely met with. Many of the lakes pre- 
* Bot. Gazette, xxiv. (1897) pp. 73-92. 
f Centialbl. Bakt. u. Par., l te Abt., xxii. (1897) pp. 120-2. 
t Arch. Sci. Phys. et Nat, iv. (1897) pp. 166-73. 
