318 SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 



a current of air through the juice of plants of Lathrma Squamaria, were* 

 able to precipitate by baryta solutions an oxydase which has also the 

 properties of the peroxides, notably that of freeing iodine from potassic 

 iodide. M. Chodat has also isolated from Russula fattens a ferment 

 which behaves at once like an oxydase and a peroxide. The reactions 

 of the peroxides can be obtained with the fresh plants ; the authors 

 experimented with a large number, the most active were Monstera 

 deliciosa and Silphiwrn perforatum. The characteristic reaction was also 

 obtained in the living cells of the potato, without injury to the cell ; the 

 iodine which is set free combines at once with the starch and is thus put 

 out of the sphere of action. 



The authors also isolated peroxidases which stimulate the action of 

 the oxydases. Catalases are produced by plants to decompose the peroxides 

 which when present in sufficient quantity are injurious. 



General. 



Plants of Catalonia.* — A list of the flowering plants of Catalonia 

 with notes on distribution, critical remarks, and descriptions of new 

 species and varieties, from material left by the late Sr. Vayreda. The 

 death of the author interrupted the production of a more detailed flora. 



African Flora XXIV.f — 'Includes the following papers : — African 

 grasses III. by R. Pilger, containing a discussion of the relation between 

 the section PtychophyUum of the genus Panicum and its relation to the 

 genus Setaria. The author regards Setaria as forming with Ptycho- 

 phyUum a section of Panicum. He also describes new species of 

 Panicum and allied genera. African orchids VII. by F. Kranzlin ; 

 descriptions of a number of new species in various genera. African 

 I)ichapetalacea3 II. by A. Engler and W. Ruhland ; descriptions of a 

 number of new species of Dichapetalum. African Lentibulariaceas by 

 F. Kamienski, notes on distribution and description of new species. 

 African Moraceaj II. by A. Engler, description of new species. African 

 Urticaceaj, by A. Engler, description of new species in various genera. 

 African Violaceas by A. Engler, including notes on the systematic sub- 

 division of Rinosea and description of new species. African Passifloracea? 

 by H. Harms ; description of a new genus Schlechterina and new species 

 of Tryphostemma and Adenia. African Leguminosas by H. Harms, 

 description of new species. African Acanthacege VI. by Gr. Lindau, 

 description of new species. African Dilleniaceas by E. Gilg, a revision 

 of the African species of Tetracera. 



CRYPTOGAMS. 



Pteridophyta. 



Morphology of Spore-producing Members : General Comparisons 

 and Conclusion.J — F. 0. Bower in a concluding memoir (No. V.) gives 

 a general discussion of the results acquired in the four previous parts, 



* Anales Soc. Espafi. Hist. Nat., ser. ii. x. (Dec. 31, 1902) pp. 491-582 (3 pis.). 

 t Engl. Bot. Jahrb., xxxiii. (1902) pp. 1-208. 

 % Proc. Roy. Soc, lxxi. (1903) pp. 258-64. 



