New Genera of Cladochytriaceae

Abstract

The thallophytes described in this paper are believed to be fungi belonging to the family Cladochytriaceae.They all possess a definite hyphal mycelium and either terminal, subterminal, or intercalary enlargements which frequently contain spores and assumedly are sporangia.The thalli proliferate within the limy matrix of Echinoderm spicules, shells of molluses, and foraminifera, and within the spicules of calcareous sponges.The entire fungus is buried within the substrate and communicates with the exterior only by means of single pores which open into the sporangial sacs.All the described forms were found by the writer about two years ago in calcareous Australian sand associated with such fossils as Globigerina, Textularia, Nodosaria, Lagena, and Spiroloculina.Their age, therefore, may range froin Cambrian to recent.The samples of sand were obtained from Ward's Natural Science Establishment, Rochester, N. Y., and were collected at Ninety Mile Beach in South Victoria, Australia.'1 Tt is to be regretted that E T the eolleetor of these fungi, nor their exaet location could be determine labels accompanying the samples of sand merely stated '' Ninety Mile Haast.SCH Victoria, Australia."The party collecting these sands has died, and no additional information was available.To clear up their origin, the writer dispatched an inquiry to Sir Douglas Mawson, at the Uni versity of Adelaide, which elicited the following reply:* The locality 'Ninety Mile Beach, South Victoria,' is not specifically correct for either of the two Ninety Mile Beaches figuring on our maps.There is such a at Gippsland, Victoria, where it faces the Pacific Ocean.But there is Wee Ninety Mile Beach in South Australia which faces the Southern Ocean, and extends east from the mouth of the Murray River **T can't imagine how Wards got a sample from the South Australian Ninety Mile Beach and think it most likely that yours came from Gippsland.I will therefore get in touch with F. Chapman, Palaeontologist of the National Museum, Melbourne, who is an authority on foraminifera and much interested in marine sands.He may be able to get some Gippsland beach sand for you.** As for our Ninety Mile Beach sand I will take the first opportunity to enlist the services of any scientists going that way-and hope to procure some for you.