212 
SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 
Protophyta. 
a. Schizophycese. 
New Genera of Protococcoideae.* — Prof. P. Chodat gives details of 
the structure and life-history of the following species of Protococcoideae ; 
—Palmella miniata, Chlamydomonas intermedius sp. n., Gonium pectorale , 
G. sociale, Pandorina morum , Palmellococcus miniatus g. et sp. n., Dactylo- 
coccus infusionum, Scenedesmus quadricauda , Palladium Braunii , Chloro- 
sphsera muralis sp. n., Pleurastrum insigne g. et sp. n., Pleurococcus 
vulgaris. The following are the diagnoses of the new genera : — 
Palmellococcus. Cellulae globosae, plerumque singulae, bipartitione 
contentus intra membranam matricalem v. quadripartitione cellulas 
membrana firma donatas, atque zoogonidiis agilibus nudis ciliis desti- 
tute (?) intra cellulas proprias ortis sese propagantes. Species aerophilae. 
Pleurastrum. Unicellular algae reproduced by tetrads of cells within 
the primitive membrane, the membrane sculptured when mature ; form- 
ing complex tetrads which can be resolved into the gloeocyst stage and 
produce biciliated zoospores. 
The author regards Palmella as nearly allied to Tetraspora. Through 
Chlamydomonas the Yolvocineae are allied to the Protococcoideae, and 
especially to the Tetrasporaceae and Chlorosphaeraceae. It is doubtful 
whether Pleurococcus superbus is an autonomous species ; it wants the 
red eye-spot of Chlamydomonas , and is probably a stage of the develop- 
ment of Gonium sociale. Chlamydomonas and Sphserella are the simplest 
members of the Yolvocineae, the Phacoteae forming a second line of 
development. Scenedesmus and Dactylococcus are stages in the cycle of 
development of the same organism. 
Another new genus of Protococcaceae, Golenkinia, is described by 
the same author, f forming a flos aquse on a duck-pond near Geneva. It 
consists of rounded cells, 10-15 p in diam., from the wall of which 
proceed filiform prolongations equalling or exceeding the diameter of 
the cell. In the course of development these prolongations disappear, 
and the cell-wall becomes gelatinous, the alga assuming then a Gloeocystis 
condition. It next divides into two or four, and produces a corresponding 
number of four-ciliated zoospores. It may also, when in the Gloeocystis 
state, be propagated by spores, which have a feeble amoeboid motion, or 
by the escape of a portion of the cell-contents, clothed with a membrane, 
which, alter remaining for a considerable time in this condition, gives 
birth to zoospores. The genus appears to be allied to Trochiscia. 
Naviculoid Diatoms.f — Prof. P. T. Cleve publishes the first part of 
a Synopsis of the Naviculoid Diatoms, with an analytical key of the 
sub-groups and genera, and of the species in each genus. The variations 
within the group are described in the habit of life and growth, the size, 
the form of the frustule, the zone, the outline of the valves, the central 
nodule, the median line, the areas, the longitudinal lines, the structure 
of the valve, and the cell-contents. The various genera, species, and 
varieties are then described in detail. The author considers the first 
* Bull. Herb. Boissier, ii. (1894) pp. 585-616 (8 pis.). 
t Journ. de Bot. (Morot), viii. (1894) pp. 305-8 (1 pi.). 
J SB. K. Svensk. Vetensk.-Akad. Handl., xxvi. (1894) 194 pp., 5 pis. and'numerous 
figs. (English). 
