116 
Fungi, Myxomyceten, Pathologie. 
Geopora und Pseudhydnotria\ letztere Gattung muss gestrichen 
und der Gattung Geopora eingereiht, und demnach den Pezizeen 
zugezählt werden. 
Hysterangium und die Clathraceenre\\\e\ Es werden zwei neue 
Hysterangium&rten. erwähnt, welche zeigen dass auch innerhalb 
dieser Gattung Abstufungen in der Differenzierung der Fruchtkör¬ 
per auftreten, die den Uebergang zwischen Hysterangium und Phal- 
logaster vermitteln. Neger (Tharandt). 
Fraser, H. C. I., On the sexuality and development of the 
Ascocarp in Lachnea stercorea, Pers. (Ann. Bot. XXI, July 
1907, p. 349-359, 2 Plates.) 
The discovery by the writer of fertilization in Lachnea stercorea 
adds yet another Variation to the phenomena presented in connection 
with the sexual reproduction of Discomycetes. In the present instance 
the plant possesses an antheridium and a well developed trichogyne, 
both these organs are however functionless: the male nuclei of the 
antheridium do not reach those of the ascogonium, the latter on 
the other hand fuse in pairs in a manner similar to those of Hu¬ 
mana granulata. 
The trichogyne of L. stercorea is variable as to its position, 
being either terminal, lateral, or nearly basal. In its young state it 
is unicellular but when fully grown consists of 4—6 coenocytic cells. 
The antheridium is often poorly developed, its origin was not deter- 
mined with certainty; but the presen ce of a large more or less 
empty sac, continuous with the terminal cell of the trichogyne, 
leaves little doubt of the presence of such a bod}^. The nuclei of 
the antheridium either remain in situ, or pass into the terminal 
cell of the trichogyne. The fusion of the female nuclei was clearly 
made out; the fusions do not all take place at the same time as in 
Pyronema but extend over a considerable period as in Humaria 
granulata. The development of the ascogenous hyphae is of the 
usual type. The authoress remarks that Lachnea stercorea Stands in 
a position intermediate between Pyronema (antheridium and tricho¬ 
gyne present and functional) and Humaria gramdata (antheridium 
and trichogyne absent). At the same time it agrees with certain 
forms of Pyronema described by Dangeard in which the male 
nuclei are functionless. 
At the beginning of the paper an account is given of the ger- 
mination of the spores after treatment with digestive fluids. An 
attempt was made to imitate the normal conditions undergone by 
coprophilous fungi, the spores being placed successively in saliva, 
gastric juice, pancreatic juice and düng extract and kept at atempera- 
ture of 38° C. When treated with digestive fluid or with düng extract 
alone, the spores germinated freely, approximately 50 hours after the 
commencement of the experiment. From the experiments it is con- 
cluded that the combined influence of warmth and an alkaline medium 
are most effective in bringing about germination of the spores. 
A. D. Cotton (Kew). 
Heald, F. D., Gymnosporangium Macropus. (Science XXVI. 
p. 219. 1907.) 
As a result of the very severe attack on cedar trees by Gym¬ 
nosporangium macropus, the author made a number of observations 
to determine the relation between the cluster-cups formed on the 
