328 
SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 
In Conferva every cell has one or two nuclei. The chromatophores 
of Conferva and Ophiocytium have a much more yellow-green colour 
than those of other Chlorophyceee. The propagation of Ophiocytium is 
effected by cells resembling aplanospores. It is possible that all the 
Confervales are descended from Chloramoeba g. n., vide infra , p. 329. 
The author suggests the following classification of the Confervales, 
which he defines as uni- or pluricellular Algae, the cells inclosing dis- 
tinct disc-shaped chromatophores destitute of starch ; zoospores provided 
with a single ciiium. 
Fam. 1. CoNFERVACEiE : — Thallus uni- or multicellular ; gametes 
biciliate ; pyrenoids wanting (Polychloris , Botrydiopsis, Bumilleria , 
Ophiocytium, Sciadium, Conferva). Fam. II. Chlorotheciace.® : — Cells 
solitary or coherent into a thallus ; gametes uniciliate ; pyrenoids want- 
ing ( Chlorothecium , Mischococcus, Perionella, Characiopsis (?), Actides - 
mium). Fam, III. Botrydiace^ : — Thallus unicellular, multinucleate, 
composed of stem and rhizoids ; gametes biciliate (?) ; pyrenoids present 
in the young plant ( Botrydium ). 
Phyllosiphon Arisari.* — Dr. L. Buscalioni has studied the develop- 
ment of this Alga within the tissue of the leaf of Arisarum vulgare. In 
the first stages of development the protoplasm of the parasite has a 
cloudy finely granular appearance and contains vacuoles ; the nuclei 
are large and numerous, and contain nucleoles. At a later period the 
nuclei put out amoeboid protuberances ; they multiply by fragmenta- 
tion ; no karyokinetic processes were observed. The spores are 
formed as soon as the division of the nucleus is completed. The 
nucleus of the megaspore breaks up into four fragments, the cytoplasm 
also dividing into four segments ; these unite in the centre of their 
mother-cell, and, after becoming clothed with a membrane, the megaspore 
becomes a sporange. The spores germinate while still within the tissue 
of the host. 
Chlamydomyxa labyrmthuloides.j — Herr G. Hieronymus has made 
an exhaustive examination of the structure and life-history of this rare 
organism, first discovered by Archer. 
The amoeboid processes are usually formed by the entire cell-contents, 
always containing a number of nuclei, escaping from the cell-wall. This 
body then generally divides into two amoebae, or, if into a larger number, 
it frequently assumes a labyrinthine condition, in which a variety of 
living organisms are absorbed and consumed. 
The cysts contain one or more nuclei, according to their size, and 
are commonly found imbedded in Sphagnwn~ce\\s. The cell-contents 
may be agglomerated into distinct masses or energids connected together 
by fine hyaline threads of protoplasm, which contain physodes and 
chromatophores, but never nuclei ; the chromatophores gradually assume 
a red colour, and become converted into oil-drops, serving for the 
nutriment of the organism. 
Each cyst or amoeba of Chlamydomyxa contains one or more nuclei ; 
their division appears to combine the characters of direct and karyo- 
kinetic division. The chromatophores are undoubtedly such, and not 
* Rend. R. Accad. Lincei, vi. (1897) pp. 46-52. 
t Hedwigia, xxxvi. (1898) pp. 1-49 (2 pis. and 10 figs.). 
