Bulgaria polymorpha , Well. 129 
extract on concentration gives the usual lignin reactions with 
phloroglucin and hydrochloric acid. 
The results already seen in the decomposition of the 
thickening layers agree with this inasmuch as a cellulose 
basis remains after the disappearance of the lignin, but the 
middle lamella is also delignified and moreover dissolved. 
It is impossible therefore to extend Czapek’s results to 
include the middle lamella, which, as we know from the 
researches of Mangin and Kabsch 1 , is composed primarily of 
pectates, and yet is as lignified as, or more so, than the cell- 
walls. They show us merely that some Fungi have the 
power of dissolving out lignin as such. We have still to 
determine how Fungi utilize this presumably valuable food- 
stuff. That they do so seems certain, for on testing diseased 
wood with phloroglucin and hydrochloric acid I have never 
been able to find a trace of the red staining which should 
accompany unaltered lignin in the mycelium. 
The results of the action of Bulgaria polymorpha upon 
oak-wood are, then, to dissolve and probably decompose the 
lignin, and to dissolve the pectates of the middle lamella. 
I have never seen any evidence, either in pure cultures or 
in naturally diseased wood, pointing to further action, as 
is the case when some Fungi first delignify the wood and 
then decompose the cellulose which remains. Moreover, the 
action is too slight in all the cases I have examined to 
warrant the supposition that the Fungus is capable of causing 
a really serious tree-disease such as Ludwig assumed. 
The development of the ascophore has been traced from 
the pure cultures grown on oak-wood or on the cotton-wool 
plugs on which the blocks rested. The results agree with 
those of Tulasne 2 , except that I have been unable to find 
any spermatia or spermogonia. When, however, one attempts 
to completely cultivate Fungi in pure cultures one realizes 
how difficult it is to successfully imitate the diverse conditions 
1 See previous page, note 2. 
2 Tulasne, ibid. The account given here merely supplements that in the Ann. 
d. sci. nat. 
K 
