214 
SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 
viz.: — (1) Polyblepharidem : unicellular solitary green organisms of 
cylindrical or globular form, enveloped in a membrane, with four, rarely 
more, cilia of equal length at the anterior end, and one or two contractile 
vacuoles at their base, an eye-spot, and a single chromatophore, which 
is either lobed or mulberry-form, with a pyrenoid and starch-envelope ; 
vegetative multiplication by longitudinal division ; formation of cysts 
without conjugation ( Polyblejpharis , Pyramidomonas, Chloraster , Tetra- 
toma ) ; (2) Chlamydomonadeae ; unicellular solitary green organisms, 
spherical, oval or fusiform ; two or more cilia at the anterior end ; a 
single usually mulberry-form chromatophore, with one, rarely more, or 
no, pyrenoid with a starch-envelope ; delicate closely attached cell-wall 
(rarely thicker and distant), with one or two contractile vacuoles and an 
eye-spot ; propagation by continuous longitudinal and transverse divi- 
sion when in a state of rest, seldom when free-swimming; conjugation 
of mega- and microgonids, or of microgonids only, into a zygote ( Car - 
teria, Chlamydomonas , Polytomci , Chlorogonium , Chlorangium, Sphserella). 
(3) Phacotem ( Pteromonas , Coccomonas , PJiacotus. (4) Yolvocem ( Spondy - 
lomorum , Gonium , StepJianosphsera , Pandorina, Eudorina , Volvox). 
Fossil Halimeda.* * * § — From an Eocene sandstone at Greifenstein, 
Herr T. Fuchs has obtained a fossil impression of an alga clearly 
identical with Halimeda , though not referable to any existing species. 
He proposes for the species the name Halimeda Sajportse. 
Fungi. 
Division of the Nucleus and Formation of the Spores in the Ascus 
of Fungi.f — According to Herr E. A. Harper, the nucleus of the ascus in 
Peziza and Ascobolus is the result of the union of several nuclei which 
are present in the young ascus. Characteristic features of the mitotic 
division by which the eight ascospores are formed, are these : — Imme- 
diately before the formation of the spindle the chromatin consists of a 
group of irregular bodies in the middle of the nucleus, which are united 
with one another and with the wall of the nucleus by fine almost 
achromatic threads. The wall of the nucleus is not destroyed during 
the formation of the spindle and the separation of the daughter-segments 
in the equatorial plane. It disappears only when broken through by 
the further separation of the daughter-nuclei. During the first stages 
of division the nuc-leole is greatly reduced, its substance being probably 
used up in the formation of the spindle. 
Cell-Nuclei of Fungi.J — Herr G. Istvanffi asserts that the presence 
of a cell-nucleus can be demonstrated in every stage of development of 
fungi, and that without a nucleus no growth, development, or formation 
of reproductive organs can take place. 
Secretion-Receptacles of Fungi.§ — Pursuing previous investigations 
on this subject, Herr G. Istvanffi finds receptacles for the storing up of 
* SB. K. Akad. Wiss. Wien, ciii. 1894 (1895) pp. 2G0-4 (1 pi.). 
t Ber. Yersamml. Deutsch. Naturf. u. Aerzte, 1895. See Bot. Centralbl., lxiv. 
(1895) p. 206. 
% SB. K. Ungar. Natur.-wiss. Gesell. Buda-Pest, Feb. 13, 1895. See Bot. 
Centralbl., lxiv. (1895) p. 155. 
§ SB. K. Ungar. Naturwiss. Gesell. Buda-Pest, Dee. 12/1894. See Bot. Cen- 
tralbl., lxiv. (1895) p. 76. 
