146 
Eumycetes. — Myxomycetes. 
Endocalyx, described by Berkele\ r & Broome from dried CejTon 
specimens. He shows it to be a true fungus, one which exhibits remar- 
kable differences in development according to the weather-conditions 
obtaining during the formation of the fruiting body. 
Three species are dealt with. 1) E. Thwaitsii B. & Br. (including 
E. pilostomci B. & Br. as synonym), 2) E. cinctus n. sp., 3) E. mela - 
noxanthus Petch (— Melanconium melanoxanthum B. & Br.). An 
aecount of the development of the last named is given in detail, whilst 
a briefer account is given of the other two. 
E. melanoxanthus forms conical erumpent pustules more or less 
embedded in the leaf-tissue of the host. There is no parenchymatous 
perithecial wall, but the periphery of the pustule is composed of fine 
parallel hyphae, the upper extremities of which, cemented together 
by a yellow secretion, may curve outwards and form a “pseudo- 
peridium“. The latter is excessivety brittle and breaks up into frag- 
ments, which take the form of thin plates each composed of a few 
lajmrs of parallel hyphae. The spores which are at first yellow and 
finally black, are borne lateralty on erect hyphae in the centre of 
the pustule. The plant as thus described is of frequent occurence in 
the tropics, and very variable; being brittle it is seldom seen in per- 
fection. The author suggests that Phaeodiscula gonospora Penz. & 
Sacc., Melanconium projundum Penz. & Sacc., M. Yatay Speg. and 
Graphiola macvospora Penz. & Sacc. are all identical w T ith this 
species, the differences recorded being dependent on weather- 
conditions, nature of the host etc. 
The short conical form above described is stated to be a “fair- 
weather form“; it probabty represents a case of arrested growth. 
In wet weather the fruiting body becomes a long cylindrical column, 
and it is here the connection of Melanconium melanoxanthus B. & Br. 
with the genus Endocalyx is seen. The outer wall of the column 
is formed of parallel hyphae cemented together, and a basal ring of 
yellow fragments may or may' not be present. Columnar forms were 
readily grown from the fair-weather forms when the latter were 
placed in damp Petri dishes. 
Of the other two species, E. cinctus resembles the columnar 
form of melanoxanthus , but differs in the possession of a distinct 
yellow Stilbum-Xike stalk, surrounded by a close fitting carbonaceous 
cylinder at the base; whilst E. Thwaitsii B. & Br. would appear to be 
closely allied, but distinguished by the larger warted spores. The 
original figure of this plant is shown to be somewhat inaccurate, the 
cup being much exaggerated; the whole plant should be minutely 
roughened instead of floccose. 
In the concluding remarks the author States that he regards the 
genus as more suitably placed with the Phaeostilbeae than with the 
Melanconiae. The resemblance of Endocalyx to Graphiola is superfi¬ 
cial; though it is possible that several plants referred to Graphiola 
may prove to be stages in the life-history of E. melanoxanthus . 
Diagnoses of the three species are appended. A. D. Cotton. 
Lister, A. and G., Notes on Swiss MycetoBoa. (Journ. of Botanv 
Vol. XLVI, July 1908. p. 216-219.) 
Notes on species of Mycetosoa collected in the neighbourhood of 
melting snow. The gatherings show certain modifications, apparently 
induced by alpine conditions, viz. great Variation in the shape and 
size of the sporangia, in the nature of the deposits of calcium car- 
