656 
SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 
membrane. The growth of the involucral branches begins immediately 
after fertilisation. The later stages in the development of the cystocarp 
are obscured by the formation of a coating of hairs. 
Development of Uemalion.* * * § — Miss Grace D. Chester describes the 
germination of Nemalion multijidum from the carpospore. The first 
product is a prostrate row of rounded cells comparable to the protballus 
or protoneme of BatracTiosjpermum. From this arises a branched plant, 
corresponding to the chantransia-stage in Lemanea and Batracliosjoermum 9 
which bears the sexual organs of reproduction. Tetraspores were not 
observed. 
Fertilisation and Segmentation of the Spore in Fucus.f — Prof. J. B. 
Farmer and Mr. J. LI. Williams give some details respecting the mode 
of segmentation in the spores of several species of Fucacese — Ascojphyllum 
nodosum , Fucus vesiculosus , F. platycarpus — and point out that, as 
regards the number of chromosomes, the Fucus- plant resembles the 
sporopliyte of the higher plants ; while the gametophyte of the latter, 
with its reduced number of chromosomes, finds its analogue in the 
maturing sexual cells of Fucus. 
Heterogamy in Ectocarpus.f — M. C. Sauvageau has observed in 
Ectocarjous secundus a distinct differentiation between the male and 
female sexual elements. They differ greatly in form, and no tendency 
to conjugation is observable while they are both in motion. But as soon 
as an oosphere comes to rest, several of the antherozoids approach it, and 
one of them becomes completely absorbed into it, the portion of the 
antherozoid which bears the eye-spot being always the last to penetrate 
the oosphere. Unfertilised oospheres can germinate, but the process 
differs in some respects from the germination of impregnated oospheres. 
Fungi. 
Cell-Wall of Fungi. § — Herr E. Winterstein confirms his observation 
of the frequent existence of a substance identical with cliitin, or very 
closely allied to it, in the cell-wall of fungi. He found it in Agaricus 
camjoestris and in several Polyporete. The carbohydrate which accom- 
panies the chitin gave chemical reactions which indicated its identity 
with para-iso- dextran, differing from ordinary cellulose in being soluble 
in dilute lyes ; it is coloured blue by iodine and sulphuric acid. It was 
investigated specially in Polyjoorus betulinus and Pachyma Cocos. Glucose 
was also found in various fungi. 
Oxidising Ferment of Fungi. — M. E. Bourquelotjj gives further 
chemical details respecting the nature of the oxidation brought about by 
the ferment which he finds in many fungi. The presence of an acid or 
of an alkali plays a very important part in this process. The colouring 
reactions produced by the ferment vary greatly in different cases. 
M. G. Bertrand finds that laccase and tyrosinase may both exist at 
* Bot. Gazette, xxi. (1896) pp. 340-7 (2 pis.). 
t Ann. Bot., x. (1896) pp. 479-87. 
% Comptes Itendus, cxxii. (1896) pp. 360-1. Cf. this Journal, ante, p. 547. 
§ Zeitsclir. f. pliys. Chemie, xxi. (1895) pp. 134-51. See Bot. Centralbl., lxvii. 
(1896) p. 269. Of. this Journal, 1895, p. 460. 
|1 Comptes Kendus, cxxiii. (1896) pp. 260-3, 315-7. Cf. this Journal, ante, 
pp. 430, 548. Tom. cit., pp. 463-5. 
