ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 3G5 
oxalate is reduced or suppressed, while starch is present in abundance. 
The intercellular spaces are often strongly developed. The secondary 
tissues — interfascicular cambium, secondary xylem-vessels — are fre- 
quently suppressed or reduced. On the other hand, the cells are often 
increased in size and fresh meristem formed (hypertrophy), pigments 
are developed in the cell-sap, chlorophyll is formed in the petals and 
filaments, accessory vascular bundles and abnormal sclerenchyme are 
produced in the stem. 
Fungi Parasitic on Ferns.* — Herr K. Giesenhagen has investigated 
the structure of the fern from tropical India known as Aspidium cornu 
cervi , now reduced to a variety of A. aristatum , and finds the peculiar 
tufted appearance to be due to the attacks of an undescribed parasitic 
fungus which he names Taphrina cornu cervi. On the outgrowths 
caused by this parasite other fungi settle, including one which the 
author makes the type of a new genus Urobasidium and of a new family 
Urobasidie^j. The genus is characterized by having a very fine 
spider’s-web-like mycele, the fertile branches of which are cut off by 
septa. Laterally from these branches grow the two-celled basids, each 
producing two colourless spores on short sterigmas ; the basids are not 
united into a receptacle. On Pteris quadriaurita was found another 
undescribed parasitic fungus, named Taphrina Laurencia. 
The author proposes the following classification of the Protobasidio- 
mycetes, distinguished by their septated basids. 
I. Basids septated transversely. 
A. Basids composed of four similar spore-forming cells. 
1. Basids springing from chlamydospores. Uredineze. 
2. Basids springing directly from the vegetative mycele and 
forming a receptacle. 
(а) Fructification gymnocarpous. Aurioelarie.®. 
(б) Fructification angiocarpous. Pilacrie/E. 
B. Basids composed of two unequal cells, the upper one of which 
only forms spores. Urobasidie^e. 
II. Basids divided longitudinally. Tremelline;e. 
Lachnidium Acridiorum.f — M. A. Giard has made a further study 
of this fungus, so destructive to Acridium peregrinum in Algeria. It 
occurs in two forms : — (1) a Cladosporium form, (2) a Fusarium or 
Fusisporium form with curved 3-5 septate spores, which likewise pro- 
duces echinulate chlamydospores. This latter also sometimes gives 
rise to a Mytrosporium form with echinulate spores. The author regards 
Lachnidium as probably belonging either to the Perisporiaceae or to the 
Sphaeriaceae, and to be nearly allied to Cladosporium herbarum, the 
ultimate state of which will probably prove to be Capnodium salicinum 
or Pleospora herbarum. He believes the fungus not to be a necessary 
parasite, but rather a saprophyte introduced into the abdomen of the 
female insect when in a feeble condition. 
* Flora, lxxvi. (1892) Erganzungsband, pp. 130-56 (2 pis.). 
t Rev. Gen. de Bot. (Bonnier), iv. (1892) pp. 449-61 (1 pi.). Cf. this Journal, 
1892, p. 80. 
