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Aleurodiscus gigasporus sp. nov. is characterized by ornamented, broadly ellipsoid basidiospores 2934(-39) x 22-28(-30) ,um, abundant acanthophyses, rare monilioid gloeocystidia 6 ,tm diam, and hyphae with clamp connections. It has been collected on Keteleeria davidiana. Aleurodiscus subglobosporus sp. nov. is characterized by subglobose, ornamented basidiospores 19-20(-23) x 15-19(-21) t,m, abundant acanthophyses, infrequent gloeocystidia about 100 x 12 Am, and hyphae with clamp connections. It has been collected on Abies veichii.

(1990). Nanstelocephala, A New Genus of Stalked-Capitate Basidiomycetes. Mycologia: Vol. 82, No. 6, pp. 782-786.

Species of Tremella occurring in China have been little studied (Liu et al, 1983; Peng, 1984). From observations elsewhere, one can expect that most of the Tremellas in temperate China are the common taxa occurring in Europe and North America. However, Asia seems to be especially rich in species of both the Sirobasidiaceae and Tremellaceae (RJB, pers. obs.) and many taxa there remain to be described. One such, the object of this paper, is a species of Tremella parasitizing Stereum hirsutum (Willd.: Fr.) S. F. Gray and allied taxa growing on Quercus and Betula spp. The new species is one of a group with rep? resentatives known from North America, South America, Asia, and Europe, all parasitizing Ste? reum mycelium and with basidiomes consisting of both host and parasite hyphae. In most, hy? phae of the host form a white, fibrous to fleshy core surrounded by a gelatinous layer of mainly Tremella elements. Alternatively, the lobes can be either hollow or with only seattered hyphae of the host extending into the basidiocarp, as in many fructifications of T. aurantia Schw.: Fr. Tremella aurantialba is so-named because ofthe

Descriptions are provided of new basidiomycetous taxa based upon the teleomorph of Hyalopycnis blepharistoma\ the taxa are: Heterogastridiales, Heterogastridiaceae, Heterogastridium, and Heterogastridium pycnidioideum. The type species is characterized by a pycnidioid basidiocarp with an internal basal hymenium. Phragmobasidia produce sessile, digitately branched basidiospores that are released passively. Ontogeny of the basidia, basidiospores, and septal pores has been studied. The septal pores are simple, but vary morphologically during ontogeny. Hyphal cells, conidiogenous cells, and conidia are dikaryotic. The structure of the spindle pole body indicates heterobasidiomycetous affinities.

Forty-seven specimens of Tremella mesenterica, growing on a variety of hardwoods, were obtained from Europe and North America. Macroand microscopic examinations were made of these specimens. Single spore isolates were obtained from 46 collections, and the mating types identified by intraand interstock crosses. Although T. mesenterica is, mor? phologically, a variable species, there are no morphologically distinct populations associated with substrate, or with geographic distribution. Interstock crosses also did not demonstrate any intersterility groups associated with substrate, or with collection site. The variations observed in the morphological features of the basidiocarps are attributable to normal developmental changes, responses to different environmental conditions, and/or genetical dif? ferences that do not restrict interbreeding. Because of the macroand microscopic variation exhibited by T. mesenterica, two taxa, T. lutescens and T. mesenterica, have been recognized by various authors. Tremella mesenterica has been selected as the correct name, and a neotype has been designated.

SUMMARY Agaricostilbum palmicolum, originally placed in the Deuteromycetes, is shown to be a basidiomycete related to the stilboid Auriculariales. The species has a haploid yeast phase, cylindric, 4-celled basidia, and blastogenous production of basidiospores. The generic description is emended in accordance with these findings.

Ingoldiella nutans Bandoni and Marvanovi, sp. nov., is described from mixed Pinus contorta-Sphagnum litter collected in a peat bog. Conidia of the species have clamp connections and both primary and secondary branches. The tapered branches are mostly unilateral, pendulous, and lack hooked tips.

Authentic collections of five species of Tremella described by A. Moller were examined. Based upon these specimens and information provided by Moller, new descriptions are provided for T. anomala, ...

Artificial "baits" were prepared for in situ baiting for water molds. The baits, consisting of dialysis tubing containing agar media, were submerged in an eutrophic pond in southern Illinois. When retrieved, after 2 wk to 2 mo, the baits contained sterile, unidentifiable hyphae of several types. Reproductive structures of some oomycetous fungi and those of species of Nowakowskiella, Anguillospora, and a Cylindrocarpon-like fungus also were found. Although there are problems in handling artificial baits their value as a known substrate cannot be overemphasized. The promise this research technique offers for critical in situ studies of aquatic fungi by both taxonomists and ecologists is immeasurable.

Naiadella fluitans Marvanova & Bandoni, gen. et sp. nov. (Moniliales) was isolated from Scirpus microcarpus leaf litter collected in Vancouver, Canada, and from foam in Czechoslovakia. The genus is characterized by (1) dikaryotic hyphae with clamps; (2) serially arranged monoblastic conidiogenous cells, the protoplasmic content of each of which is transferred to a single conidium; (3) binucleate fusoid conidia with 3-4 bristle-like branches typically near the distal end; (4) germination of conidia by a germ tube, the conidial protoplast moving into the tube; (5) the presence of binucleate cells which we interpret as haustorial branches similar to those in mycoparasitic Tremellas.

Dacrymyces aquaticus sp. nov., found on wood floating in freshwater or in very wet terrestrial habitats, is described and illustrated. The sporocarps are composed mainly of fragmenting hyphae, but scattered basidia are always present. The basidiospores, aseptate to 1- or 2-septate, germinate by germ tube. In the southwestern mainland of British Columbia, an inconspicuous dacrymycetaceous fungus is often present on wet coniferous wood. To date, the species has only been found on wood floating in shallow ponds and streams or on sodden wood in low, wet areas. Basidiocarp composition varies in the species, most being predominantly arthroconidial. Although the basidia are typically sparse, we have not found any fructifications in which basidia were absent. Characteristics of the arthroconidia and the basidiospores, as well as the unusual habitat, set this species apart from all described taxa. It is therefore described here as a new taxon. Dacrymyces aquaticus Bandoni et Hughes, sp. nov. FIGS. 1-8 Fructificationes rotundae vel pulvinatae, melleae vel aurantiae, firme gelatinosae, usque ad 1 mm in diam et ad 0.5 altitudine, per occasionem coalescentes et ad 3-4 mm crassitudine; basidia et arthroconidia commixta, probasidia clavate, (26-)33-42(-48) Am longitudine, ad apicem 3-3.5 um, ad basem 2-2.5 tm crassitudine; sterigmata cylindracea, 12-33 x 2.5-3 Am; basidiosporae cylindraceocurvatae, plerumque 1-septatae, interdum 0-septatae, raro 2-septatae, 8.5-11(-12) x 3.5-4.5 inm; arthroconidia elliptica, 4-6.5 x 2.5-3.5 ium, aut extremis truncatis. In ligno humidissimo, British Columbia.

(1979). A New Species of Rozella on a Basidiomycete. Mycologia: Vol. 71, No. 6, pp. 1261-1264.

Atractogloea stillata gen. et sp. nov. is described and illustrated. Morphological features of the taxon, including ultrastructural details, are similar to those of other species in the Hoehnelomyc...

Christiansenia pallida Hauerslev, a heterobasidiomycetous parasite of Phanerochaete cremea (Corticiaceae), was cultivated and studied with light and electron microscopes. Monokaryotic basidiospores bud as yeasts. Compatible cells conjugate and dikaryotic mycelia develop when yeast cells are grown together with the host on artificial media. Thread-like, monokaryotic hyphal outgrowths originate from clamps and function as haustoria, penetrating host cells. In its parasitic stage, Christiansenia pallida propagates chiefly by conidia. These are formed on short, terminal, monokaryotic, conidiogenous cells; conidia originate side by side, then fuse to form one dikaryotic zygoconidium. Dikaryotic conidia germinate to produce short-celled, dikaryotic hyphae which bear haustorial branches. Dikaryotic conidia are capable of dedikaryotization, thereby producing monokaryotic yeast cells. Usually, in a later stage of ontogeny, basidia develop on dikaryotic hyphae. Basidial morphology is rather variable, but subumiform basidia are typical. More than four sterigmata often are formed.

The genus Sirobasidium was erected by Lagerheim and Patouillard (1892) to include two species, 5\ albidum and 5\ sanguineum, collected in the crater of Pululahua, Ecuador. In addition to having basidia borne in catenulate series, the genus was described as producing sessile fusiform basidiospores, the germination of which had not been observed. Three years later, Moller (1895) described a third species, 5\ brefeldi? anum, from Brazil. He was able to germinate the spores of his species, but it is clear from his discussion and figures that he misinterpreted the results. From the large number of spherical spores which he found in his cultures, Moller concluded that the fusiform spores typical of the genus were not completely mature when shed, "und gehen, wahren sie durch die Luft fliegen, von der langlichen zur kugelrunden Gestalt uber." Since then several mycologists have observed germination of spores of vS\ sanguineum and 5\ brefeldianum by budding or by germ tube. (Coker, 1920; Olive, 1947; Lowy, 1956), and Martin (1936) re? ported germination by repetition of the spores of a specimen of S\ san? guineum from Australia. Recently, during examination of specimens of Tremella in the Lloyd Mycological Collections, it was found that the type specimen of T. fusca Lloyd (nec T. fusca DC.) is a Sirobasidium. In it, some of the fusi? form spores retained in the gelatinous matrix had germinated by the production of short tubes tipped with sterigmata upon which were borne typical apiculate basidiospores (fig. 1, d, e). That this was not simply a case of germination by repetition is indicated by the fact that the apiculate spores differ conspicuously from the fusiform structures pro? duced by the basidia, whereas the phrase "germination by repetition" implies the production of a ballistospore morphologically like the parent basidiospore, but usually somewhat smaller. Subsequent examination of specimens of Sirobasidium in the herbaria of the New York Botanical Garden and of the State University of Iowa revealed the presence of typical apiculate basidiospores in most collections. Spores of a specimen of Sirobasidium sanguineum, collected and de? termined by B. Lowy (collected 5 miles south of Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Unisexual forms of certain Tremella species produce extracellular acidic heteropolysaccharides when grown on media containing glucose. The isolated polysaccharides contain the same components found in polymers produced by strains of Cryptococcus laurentii, i.e., D-glucuronic acid, D-xylose, D-mannose, and O-acetyl. Optical rotations and molar ratios of components were determined. The polysaccharides are characteristic of the various species of Tremella which produce them. Some of these species produce polymers that contain much higher proportions of xylose than are found in the polymers produced by C. laurentii. Those tremellae that produce polymers resembling C. laurentii polysaccharides also give similar carbon assimilation patterns, but tremellae that produce polymers of higher xylose content also assimilate fewer carbon compounds. These findings, together with similarities in starch synthesis and morphology, suggest a relationship between some species of Tremella and Cryptococcus.

Cinnamylpyrogallol was found to be a greater inhibitor of fungal growth than either cinnamyl alcohol or pyrogallol. Antifungal activity decreased with time owing to oxidation of the compound in solution. Cinnamylphloroglucinol was less active than cinnamylpyrogallol against the 27 species of fungi (including dermatophytes) tested. In addition these substances also were active against two of the four bacterial species tested.

(1979). Safranin O as a Rapid Nuclear Stain for Fungi. Mycologia: Vol. 71, No. 4, pp. 873-874.

(1956). A Preliminary Survey of the Genus Platygloea. Mycologia: Vol. 48, No. 6, pp. 821-840.