762 
SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 
the fore-runners of leaves. Other instances are given in which the 
differentiation of the vegetative structure varies greatly within the same 
genus, showing that the primary classification of the Hepaticae into 
thallose and foliose forms is not a natural one. 
Metzgeriopsis.* * * § — Dr. Y. Schiffner describes in detail the structure 
of the vegetative and reproductive organs of Metzgeriopsis pusilla, his 
observations agreeing in all essential points with those of Goebel. 
There are, however, not sufficient reasons for separating the genus from 
Lejeunia , in which it must be sunk as the type of a new sub-genus. 
The thallus consists of a single layer of cells, and is destitute of any 
trace of a mid-rib. Gemmae are formed abundantly on its upper 
surface. There are no amphigasters on either male or female shoot. 
The sub-genus differs from all the others into which Lejeunia is divided 
in the formation of a true thallus. 
Development of Riella.t — Prof. K. Goebel describes the develop- 
ment of an Algerian species of Biella. The wings of the thallus do 
not grow out of the mid-rib, and the growing point is intercalary, in 
which point Biella differs from all other Hepaticae. The antherids are 
imbedded in the wing ; the archegones spring from the mid-rib. The 
development of the thallus in a vertical rather than in a horizontal 
direction is a result of the aquatic mode of life. 
Algae, 
Lophothalia and Seirospora.J — Prof. F. Schmitz discusses the sys- 
tematic position of these two genera of Florideae. 
Owing to prior use of the name, Agardh’s genus Ljophothalia must be 
entirely suppressed ; and Schmitz regards the following genera as well- 
established : — Brongniartella (typ. sp. B. byssoides ) ; Lophothalia Ktz., 
with sub-genera Eulophothalia (typ. sp. L. verticillata ), and Doxodasya 
(typ. sp. L. bolbocheete ) ; Wrightiella g. n. (typ. sp. W. Blodgettii ) ; 
Lophocladia g. n. (typ. sp. L. trichoclados) ; Dasya (typ. sp. D. elegans) 
Murrayella g. n. (typ. sp. M. periclados) ; and Wilsonea g. n. (typ. 
sp. W. dictyuroides). 
Harvey’s generic name Seirospora must take the place of Agardh’s 
Microthamnion, which had previously been used by Nageli for a genus 
of Chlorophycem. Seirospora is distinguished from its nearest ally 
Callithamnion by the structure of the cystocarps, the gonimoblasts of 
which form branched tufts of sporogenous filaments, while the sporanges 
most often contain only two instead of four spores. 
Morphology of the Fucacese.§ — Miss A. L. Smith claims Coccophora 
Langsdorfii as one of the most highly organized of the Fucacese. The 
conceptacles are dioecious. Seirococcus axillaris is described in detail. 
According to Miss E. S. Barton || Xiphophora Billardierii is dioecious ; 
each oogone contains four oospheres divided tetrahedrally. 
Notheia anomala is described by Miss M. 0. Mitchell If as parasitic 
* Oesterr. Bot. Zeitschr., xliii. (1893) pp. 118-22, 153-60, 205-10 (1 pi.). 
t Flora, lxxvii. (1893) pp. 104-8 (1 pi. and 4 figs.). 
% Ber. Deutsch. Bot. Gesell., xi. (1893) pp. 212-32, 272-86. 
§ Phycol. Mem. (Murray) ii. (1893) pp. 30-4 (2 pis.). 
1| Tom. cit., pp, 35-6 (4 figs.). ^ Tom. cit., pp. 36-7 (4 figs.). 
