718 
SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 
which are formed by increase in size of some of the cells. The 
daughter-ccenobes escape from the parent-coenobe as spheres of similar 
biciliated cells. 
Mr. D. M. Mottier and Mr. G. P. Clinton * * * § have found the same 
organism in Indiana and Illinois respectively. 
Fungi. 
Influence of the Tension of Aqueous Vapour on the Growth of 
Fungi. | — As the result of a series of experiments on mould-fungi 
(especially Penicillium glaucum), M. P. Lesage states that these organisms 
are sensible to very slight differences in the tension of aqueous vapour ; 
an increase of moisture promotes their growth when the temperature 
remains the same. 
New Genera of Chytridiacese. — In the oogones of Vaucheria sessilis 
and terrestris , Prof. W. Zopfij; finds a parasitic organism, which he 
makes the type of a new genus of Chytridiacese under the name 
Pair ostium comprimens. It occurs in the form of roundish resting- 
spores between the wall of the oogone and the oosphere ; and of lens- 
shaped zoosporanges occupying a similar position, from which escape a 
large number of minute zoospores. Latrostium is nearly allied to Bhizo- 
phidium , but differs in the form of the zoosporanges and resting-spores 
(both lens-shaped at a certain stage) ; in the zoospores having their 
cilia in front during swarming ; in the zoospores not having the jerking 
movement of the Rhizophidieas ; and in the greater thickness of the 
membrane of the resting-spore. 
M. A. Prunet § finds the corn in the south-west of France attacked 
by a parasitic fungus belonging to the section Cladochytrieae of Chytri- 
diacea), to which he gives the name Pyroctonum sphsericum g. et sp. n. The 
genus differs from others of the family in the form of the zoosporanges, 
which is usually ovoid or pyriform ; in their mode of opening by an 
apical pore ; and by the ordinary zoosporanges being accompanied by 
others which are resting zoosporanges or cysts, usually smaller and 
nearly spherical. 
Woronina.|| — Prof. W. Zopf has made a careful study of the life- 
history of Woronina glomerata , parasitic on Vaucheria. The organism 
partakes of the distinguishing character of the family Woronineas of 
Synchytriacege, the cycle of development consisting of two stages, one of 
which terminates with the production of swarm-forming cysts, the other 
with that of simple resting-spores. The first form is produced only 
immediately after the disappearance of the ice, later both together, and 
finally only the second. The resting-spores are found in the Vaucheria - 
filaments collected into sori. They have a finely sculptured surface, 
and appear to be formed from a plasmode. The resting-spore becomes 
a zoo-sporange or swarm-cyst, its contents breaking up into swarm- 
* Tom. cit., pp. 383-4. f Comptes Rendus, cxviii. (1894) pp. 607-10. 
X Beitr. z. Pliys. u. Morph, niederer Organismen (Zopf), Heft 4 (1894) pp. 62-5 
(1 pb). 
§ Comptes Rendus, cxix. (1894) pp. 108-10. 
|| Beitr. z. Phys. u. Morpli. niederer Organismen (Zopf), Heft 4 (1894) pp. 43-60 
(1 pi. and 3 figs.). 
