SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 
by Murray and Boodle,* near to Cladophora. The author doubts 
whether there is any true symbiosis between this alga and the mussel- 
shell to which it is attached. 
Division of the Nucleus in Valonia.f — According to Mr. D. G. 
Fairchild, the nuclei in the bladder of Valonia utricularis have two 
modes of division, an amitotic and a mitotic ; and these two modes are 
essentially distinct, although no difference can be detected, before 
division, between the nuclei which divide in one way, and those which 
divide in the other. 
Fluorescent Bodies in Derbesia.J — In Derbesia Lamourouxii, which 
grows in dense masses illuminated only from above, Dr. N. Golenkin 
finds peculiar fluorescent bodies which disappear when the alga is grown 
so as to receive light from all sides. They appear to have for their 
function the dispersion of the light. 
Euglenopsis.§ — In salt marshes in Massachusetts, Mr. B. M. Davis 
finds an alga-like organism to which he gives the name Euglenopsis sub- 
salsa g. et sp. n. The following is given as the diagnosis of the genus : — 
Plant filamentous, branching above ; filaments formed of compartments, 
those below empty, the terminal containing green cells ; cells with a 
nucleus, a peripheric band-shaped grass-green chromatophore, and a red 
pigment-spot ; reproduction by four-ciliate zoospores, otherwise agreeing 
with the cells in structure ; sexual reproduction unknown. The plant is 
about 0*25 mm. high, and is composed of moniliform filaments, the 
lower cells of which are empty, while the upper contain a large chro- 
matophore, and their contents escape as large 4-ciliate zoospores, re- 
sembling the megazoospores of algge. A pigment-spot is present even in 
the resting condition. Even the very young plant contains empty as 
well as green cells. Though to a certain extent intermediate between 
plants and animals, the author regards Euglenopsis as most nearly 
allied to the Tetrasporeae among Algas, and especially to Chlorangium. 
Spirophyta and Fucoides.|] — Herr T. Fuchs argues that the struc- 
tures known as Spirophyta , Taonurus , and Z oophycus, and generally 
regarded as the impressions of fossil Algse, cannot represent any vege- 
table structure ; and suggests that those known as Fucoides or Chondrites 
are worm-casts which have been filled up with some hairy substance. 
Fungi. 
Composition of the Cell-wall of Fxmgi.^ — M. L. Mangin repeats 
his objection to the use of the term “ fungus-cellulose ” for the substance 
of the cell-wall of fungi, and especially controverts the statements of 
Winterstein.** He finds that with some fungi (Agaricineae and Poly- 
poreae) the membrane consists of hemi-cellulose accompanied by another 
substance capable of powerfully absorbing basic pigments; while in 
* Cf. this Journal, 1888, p. 1002. 
f Ber. Deutscb. Bot. Gesell., xii. (1894) pp. 331-8 (1 pi.). 
+ Bull. Soc. Imp. Nat. Moscou, 1894, pp. 268-70 (German). 
§ Ann. Bot., viii. (1894) pp. 377-91 (1 pi.). 
|| SB. K. Akad. Wiss. Wien, cii. (1893) pp. 552-70 (1 pi. and 4 figs.). 
^1 Bull. Soc. Bot. France, xli. (1894) pp. 375-84. Cf. this Journal, 1894, p. 233. 
** Cf. this Journal, 1894, p. 234. 
