116 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



[May 1, 1S70. 



MICROSCOPY. 



CuCKOO-PINT AND THE El>I AS MICROSCOPIC 



Objects.— A leading feature of Science-Gossip is 

 the pleasant and easy means it affords of intercom- 

 munication among naturalists of many different de- 

 partments. Thus while we have from Major Holland 

 an agreeable account of the Cuckoo-pint {Arum macu- 

 latuni) in No. 61 of Science-Gossip, and numerous 

 observations by Mr. Robert Holland and others on 

 the Elm {Ulmus), none of these writers seem to be 

 aware that these plants afford some most interesting 

 objects for microscopic amusement and instruction. 

 The Cuckoo-pint,besides its beautiful vascular struc- 

 ture, abounds throughout in mostbeautifulRaphides; 

 they may be easily seen in the corm, leaves, and 

 berries. The Elm, on the other hand, affords excel- 

 lent examples of small, but very distinct Splnera- 

 phides, which are very fine and pretty in the testa, 

 or seed-coat, and especially in the membrane of the 

 fruit. Of Spha>raphides and Raphides, figures are 

 given, with reference to Professor Gulliver's obser- 

 vations, at p. 92 of Science-Gossip, for April, 1870. 

 It is desirable that, while describing the outer 

 characters and the traditions of plants, we should 

 also pay attention to the inner and intimate struc- 

 ture; for thus we may, as Prof. Gulliver shows, 

 advance at once our knowledge of physiological 

 and systematic botany, and this by a pleasing and 

 interesting use of the microscope. — Q. F. 



Hair of Tillandsia. — Among the most beauti- 

 ful and interesting "common objects" for the 

 microscope are the " stellate" hairs or scales of 

 plants of which the Eleagnus furnishes the best 



Fig. 122. Scale of Tillandsia , x 90. 



known example. I have, however, to notice a very 

 remarkable form, found in a stove Epiphyte called 

 Tillandsia argentea, differing entirely from Eleagnus 



in having one ray of the star elongated in a very 

 curious manner, and as I have never seen r.ny such 

 noticed before, I venture to append a sketch of a per- 

 fect scale, thinking it mayinterest someofthe readers 

 of Science-Gossip. Many of these scales have 

 the caudate appendage somewhat shorter, and these 

 are found near the midrib of the leaf ; those nearest 

 the edge of the leaf being the longest, they form a 

 fringe visible to the naked eye. The whole plant 

 is covered with these curious hairs, giving it a very 

 beautiful silvery appearance. Another beautiful 

 example of the stellate hair is to be found on a 

 tropical fruit, the Durion {Burio zibefhinus), but 

 the above is the only one I have found with this 

 curious appendage. — Jno. Carpenter, 16, If eld Road, 

 Browpf.o.u 



Pollen-grains. — Air. Barker's paper iu the 

 March number of Science-Gossip, p. 52, is a 

 valuable contribution in favour of the value of 

 Pollen-grains, as diagnostics between nearly allied 

 plants, and in this point of view supports the obser- 

 vations of Prof. Gulliver, in the Popular Science 

 Review for July, 1S6S. Much service to systematic 

 botany may be expected from further researches in 

 this direction, and the more so as systematists have 

 so sadly neglected the importance of cell characters, 

 both in botany and zoology. The Polleu-grains of 

 Ranunculus arvensis, as Mr. Barker correctly says, 

 are recognizable at once by their comparative large- 

 ness, from those of their species most nearly allied 

 to that plant ; but he omits to mention another and 

 most important difference, equally characteristic, 

 and this is that the surface of the Pollen-grain of 

 R. arvensis is remarkably rough or muricated, while 

 the Pollen-grains of the others, and related species, 

 are comparatively smooth. Even in two such closely 

 related plants as Lotus corniculatus and L. major, 

 there is plainly a difference of size in the Pollen- 

 grains, though in this case the form and surface is the 

 same as the Pollen-grains of both plants. The whole 

 subject is admirably fitted for interesting and instruc- 

 tive microscopic recreation at this season in the 

 country.— Q. F. 



Croydon Microscopical Cltjb.— We are glad 

 to see that a microscopical club has been inaugurated 

 at Croydon. On the 6th of April a meeting was 

 held in the public hall, when Henry Lee, Esq., 

 P.L.S., E.G.S., E.R.M.S., was elected as president 

 of the new club, supported by Dr. Bowerbank, the 

 Rev. J. B. Reade, J. Glaisher, Esq., E.R.S., Dr. 

 Millar, and others. The inaugural meeting was 

 certainly a most successful one, and we hope that 

 the society commencing under such auspices will 

 soon satisfy the most sanguine expectations of its 

 best friends. A better president could hardly have 

 been found, which promises well for success. May 

 they go on and prosper ! 



