628 
SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 
Algae. 
Continuity of Protoplasm in Algae.* * * § — Herr F. G. Kolil has detected 
continuity of the protoplasm from cell to cell in Spirogyra. The con- 
nection is of two kinds, one of which is transitory, the other permanent. 
The pores in the septa through which the threads of protoplasm pass 
exist from the time when the membrane is first formed. The staining 
reagent with which the best results were obtained was tannin-anilin. 
Mr. B. M. Davis f describes the same phenomenon in the cells of the 
filament of the Chantransia - form of a species of Batrachospermum. The 
best staining reagent is, according to him, an alcoholic solution of eosin, 
after the application of which the filament is first washed with water, 
and the cell-contents then shrunk by dilute glycerin. 
Histology of Polysiphonia fastigiata.J — Mr. B. J. Harvey-Gibson 
describes several features in the structure of this sea- weed, epiphytic on 
Ascophyllum nodosum. The protoplasm both of the central and of the 
pericentral cells are in complete communication when in a young con- 
dition ; but the author believes that this is not maintained in older 
conditions. The tetraspores appear to be formed by a process of ordinary 
but incomplete division of the contents of an apical cell. They have 
special cell- walls while still within the mother-cell. Between the cen- 
tral and the pericentral cells well-marked intercellular spaces occur, 
which have a distinct lining of their own. The attachment of the 
epiphyte to its host is very intimate. Boot-filaments given off from 
the base of the frond penetrate deeply into the tissue of the host, 
and wander amongst the cortical cells and medullary hyphae ; these 
filaments have very thick cell-walls. 
Sporange of Rhodocorton.§ — Mr. B. J. Harvey-Gibson describes 
the tetrasporanges of Bhodocorton BotJiii and fioridulum , the tetraspores 
being formed in them as quadrants, not as tetrahedra. After the forma- 
tion of the first sporange a series of fresh ones are sometimes produced 
by a method of innovation, which is simply an extension of the mode of 
renewed growth of the vegetative filaments. 
Caloglossa Leprieurii.|| — Prof. C. Cramer describes the vegetative 
structure and the reproductive organs of this sea-weed. The tetraspores 
are formed in mother-cells, which are metamorphosed superficial cells, 
and escape through oval or fissure-like openings. These mother-cells 
are situated on each side of the row of cells which subsequently becomes 
the mid-rib of the leaf, and are distinguished from the first by a special 
mode of growth and of division, in consequence of which they become 
much larger than the sterile marginal cells. Antherids appear to be of 
very rare occurrence ; they are situated, like the tetraspores, in a double 
row on each side of the mid -rib of the leaf. 
Antherids of Lomentaria.T — Mr. H. J. Webber describes the 
antherids of Loruentaria uncinata, which are usually found at the ends 
* Ber. Deutsch. Bot. Gesell., ix. (1891) pp. 9-17 (1 ph). 
t Bot. Gazette, xvi. (1891) p. 149 (1 fig.). 
X Joum. of Bot., xxix. (1891) pp. 129-32 (1 pi.). 
§ Joum. Linn. Soc. (Bot.), xsviii. (1891) pp. 201-5 (1 pi.). 
|| ‘Ueb. Caloglossa Leprieurii,’ Zurich, 1891, fol., 18 pp. and 3 pis. 
Tl Ann. of Bot., v. (1891) pp. 226-7 (2 figs.). 
