28 
Biologie 
PETCH, T., Termite fungi: a resume (Ann. Roy. Bot. Gardens, Para- 
deniya 1913, 5, 303—341). 
In tliis paper Petch summarises the numerous contributions to the 
knowledge of the fungi known to grow in and on Termite nests. 
From the various observations made by different mycologists and ento- 
mologists the fungi may be classified as follows: A. Species which develop 
on the comb within the nest while the nest is inhabitited by the termites: 
— 1. A white “conidial” stage; 2. Agaricus spp. B. Species which develop 
on the comb after the nest has been abandoned by the termites, or when 
the comb is taken from the nest and placed under a bell jar; 3. Xy- 
laria spp. (including Sclerotium ); 4. Peziza epispartia B. et Br. C. Spe¬ 
cies which occur in the neighbourhood of termite nests but liave not been 
traced down to the comb, and species found on exposed combs, probably 
purely adventitions; 5. Podaxon spp.; 6. Neoskofitzia termitum v. Höhn. 
The “conidial" stage was named Aegerita Duthei by Barkelay the same 
species apparently occuring in the nests of all the fungus-growing termites 
of the Eastern Hemisphere. The Agaric has received several names “but 
from a comparison of the descriptions, and the type specimens in some 
cases, it is quite certain that the species which develops from termite 
nests is the same in all the countries in which it has been found up to 
the present". A list of seventeen of tliese names is given. Tliere appear 
to be two species of Xylaria ; the synonomy of these is given. 
J. Ramsbottom (London). 
REUKAUF, E., Über eine der häufigsten Nectarhefen (Prometheus 
1913, 24, 745-746; 5 Abb.). 
In Linden-, Holunder-, Salvia - und Lonicera caprifolium-Blüten 
kommen Hefen vor, die durch absonderliche kreuzförmige Gestalt auf¬ 
fallen. Um die Hefen zu isolieren, sammelt man am Abend eines schönen 
Tages eine Anzahl von offenen Blüten, die also schon von Bienen und 
Hummeln besucht und inficiert worden sind, ein und bewahrt sie in einer 
feuchten Kammer auf. Nach 1—2 Tagen haben sich die Hefen aus¬ 
reichend vermehrt, so daß der an sich cristallklare Honigsaft beim Aus¬ 
drücken aus der abgerupften Kronenröhre milchig getrübt erscheint. 
Cultiviert man die Hefen in verdünntem Honig, so verdicken sich die 
Sproßverbände mehr und mehr und zerfallen schließlich in Einzelzellen, 
die zu Boden sinken und hier auch Fusionen bilden. — Verf. gibt einige 
gute Microphotogramme der Salvia- Hefe. W. Herter (Berlin-Steglitz). 
MASSEE, 1., Observations on the life-history of Ustilago 
Vaillantii Tul. (Journ. Econ. Biol. 1914, 9, 9—14). 
The fungus investigated was parasitic on Scilla bifolia. The myce- 
lium is at first intercellular, dissolving the pectin compound of the middle 
lamella, and forcing apart the walls of adjoining cells. At a later stage 
the mycelium penetrates the cell-walls which appear to be dissolved by 
the tip of the hyplia. The hyphae were never observed to pass through 
pits in the cell walls. When a seedling is infected the germ-tube of the 
spore enters along the line of the middle lamella. The mycelium passes 
into the flattered stem at the base of the bulb. Numerous haustoria, 
formed of short inflated branchlets crowded together and forming a 
botryoid mass, are present in the cells. Hyphae from the perennial 
