Systematik 
373 
COTTON, A. D., On the structure and systematic position of 
Sparassis. (Trans. Brit. Mycol. Soc., 1911, 3, 333—339, Worcester 1912). 
Cotton has examined fresh material of Sparassis laminosa and 
S. crispa and finds that the lobes are fertile only on the under surface. 
In most cases this is discernable to the naked eye, the under surface 
being pruinose and of a different colour from that of the sterile upper 
surface. On the upright branches in and around the centre, and on some 
of the horizontal folds, the hyménium covers both surfaces though these 
internal spore-producing layers appeared to be less productive than the 
outer lobes. „When, as is not infrequently the case, the outer edge of 
a sporophore lobe is strongly incurved so as to grow horizontally inwards, 
the hyménium is found to develop on the lower side of the incurved 
fold i. e., on the surface which is continuous with the sterile upper surface 
of the main branch: and conversely the upper surface of the incurved 
portion (which was formerly the under and fertile) becomes sterile. More 
rarely a double bend occurs during the growth of the branch, such as 
would le represented in a longitudinal section of the lobe, by the letter S. 
There again the distribution of the hyménium is strictly localized, it being 
found on the actual lower surface of the lobe regardless of the general 
direction of the main branch. There appears to be no doubt that gravity, and 
not light, is the determining factor here, and the discontinnous distribution 
of hyménium shows the extreme sensitiveness of the plant to this stimulus.“ 
Of the four other species of Sparassis given in Saccardo’s Sylloge, 
S. foliacea is practically unknown but the description and figure suggest 
S. laminosa . S. tremelloides of which Berkeley’s type specimen was 
examined, proves to be one of the Tremellineae. S. spathulata (co-type 
examined) shows hyménium on one side of lobes only. A*. Herbstii was 
not examined. ( Stereum Carolinensis proves to be Sparassis spathulatai) 
Since the family Clavariae is regarded as having the spore-bearing 
surface amphigenous Cotton suggests that Sparassis should he taken 
out of this family and placed in the Thelephoreae near Stereum or 
Thelephora. „On the whole Sparassis appears to be more nearly allied 
to Stereum , the even hyménium being an important character.“ 
J. Ramsbottom (London). 
SMITH, A. Lorrain, An alien species \ Xylobotryum caespitosum A. 
L. Sm. (Trans. Brit. Mycol. Soc., 1911, 3, 331—332, Worcester 1912.) 
This fungus was described by Phillips in 1875 as a new lichen 
under the name Sphinctrina caespitosa. Phillips’ figures are reproduced 
as well as his diagnosis. A description with measurements is given of 
the fungus. „The genus Xylobotryum includes very few species collected 
in tropical regions on rotten wood. It seems to me that the specimens 
collected at Hereford are due to some accidental infection, and that the 
fungus has been unable to survive in our cold climate. It is so well- 
marked, it could not otherwise have escaped being collected once 
and again.“ J. Ramsbottom (London). 
WEESE, J., Studien über N ectriaceen, I. Mitteil. (Zeitschr. f. 
Gärungsphys., 1912, 1, Heft 2, 126—155; mit 4 Textfig.) 
Die für die Systematik der bekanntlich in ziemlicher Verwirrung 
befindlichen Gattung Nectria wichtige Arbeit bringt neben Beschreibung 
