458 SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 
group of Fungi, and the most perfectly adapted to existing requirements, 
as proved by their universal distribution and immense numbers, about 
11,000 existing species of the Basidiomycetes having been described. 
The evolution of the various groups of the Hymenomycetes is thus 
sketched out : — (1) The Clavariese, the lowest type, and showing the 
least amount of differentiation (about 300 species) ; (2) The Thele- 
phoreae, exhibiting the gradual evolution of a method for the protection 
of the hymenium from rain and dust (about 1000 species) ; (3) The 
Hydneae, in which we see the introduction of a new plan for increasing 
the area of the hymenium, by covering the spore-bearing portion with 
densely packed slender teeth (about 1000 species) ; (4) The Polyporeae, 
in which the same idea is carried out in another way, by the hymenium 
lining the cavities of innumerable slender tubes (about 2500 species) ; 
(5) The Agaricineae, the most modern and highest type (nearly 6000 
species). 
Tulasnellacese, a new Family of Fungi.* — Herr N. C. Juel pro- 
poses a new family of Fungi, Tulasnellace^e, intermediate between the 
Tremellaceae and the Dacryomycetaceae, with the following diagnosis : — 
Gymnocarpous Basidiomycetes with spherical unicellular basids without 
sterigmas ; spores not deciduous, germinating on the basids and pro- 
ducing conids. It is made up of the two genera Tulasnella (syns. 
Prototremella and Pachysterigma), and Muciporus g. n., diagnosed as 
follows : — Beceptacle expanded flat, with large crowded pits, consisting 
of a spongy moderately resistant hyphal tissue, and bearing a very 
fugitive hymenium ; basids and spores as in Tulasnella. To this genus 
belong M. corticola {Poly porus corticola Fr.), and M. deliquescens sp. n., 
found as a thin slimy coating on the bark of an aspen. 
Structure of Mycorhiza/f — M. L. Mangin distinguishes the myco- 
rhizas formed on the roots of different species of Cupuliferse into two 
kinds, living and dead. With regard to living mycorhiza, the author 
disputes the statement usually made that rootlets attacked by mycorhiza 
are destitute of a root- cap, or that this structure is, at all events, greatly 
reduced in size. He finds, on the contrary, that the cap attains its 
normal development, but that it never peels off ; the entire surface of 
these rootlets is covered by the cells of the root-cap, which are partly 
disorganised. The apex of the rootlet becomes hemispherical instead 
of conical. When the mycorhiza has completed its term of activity, the 
substance of the hyphee becomes connected into a mucilaginous mass 
composed of pectic and gummy substances, which gradually weaken the 
vitality of the rootlet, and give rise to the appearance of a great variety 
of saprophytes. 
Protophyta. 
a. ScMzopliycege. 
Stapfia, a new Genus of Palmellacese.J — Trot. R. Chodat founds a 
new genus of Palmellacem, very nearly allied to Tetraspora, with the 
* Bih. K. Svensk. Vetensk.-Akad. Hand!, xxiii. (1897) No. 12 (1 pl.)= Sec Bot. 
Centralbl., lxxiv. (1898) p. 116. t Comptes Rendus, cxxvi. (1898; pp. 978-81. 
t Bull. Herb, Boissier, v. (1897) (1 pi.). See La Nuova Notarisia, ix. (1898) 
p. 24. 
