RECENT ADVANCES IN SCIENCE 391 



throughout the life cycle. It is during this first division of 

 the zygote that reduction is effected. 



Morphology. — A new Lepidodendraceous genus is described 

 by Bassler {Bot. Gaz.) under the name Cantheliophorus. The 

 species, of which some were already imperfectly known, and 

 seven additional representatives are here described, are char- 

 acterised by a large lamellar sporangiophore in the radial 

 plane of the cone axis and bearing a sporangium on each side. 

 There is a prominent sterile lamina, but no ligule has as yet 

 been detected. 



In the same journal Stout describes the occurrence of 

 almost every gradation, in the flowers of Plantago lanceolata, 

 from the typically hermaphrodite to those which are com- 

 pletely female. The various grades are characterised by 

 different degrees of development of the stamens, and indications 

 are not lacking that there is also variation with respect to the 

 pistil. Even on the same plant similar variability may be 

 exhibited. 



It appears from experiments by Kundson (Amer. Jour. Bot.) 

 that in culture solutions the sloughed root cap cells of Pea 

 and Corn are still alive at the time of detachment, and may 

 remain so for a prolonged period. 



Taxonomy. 

 Spencer le More contributes to the Journal of Bota?iy descriptions of new 

 species belonging to the genera Buchnera, Rhamphicarpa, Streptocarpus, Justicia, 

 Dicliptera, Lippia, Clerodendron (4 spp.), Loranthus, Acalypha (2 spp.), and 

 Mollinedia. 



In the same Journal Wernham describes further Rubiaceao belonging to 

 Mussaenda (2 spp.), Sabicea, Bertiera, Randia, Ancaralia (2 spp.), and Morinda. 



A critical review of species of Echium appears in the Journal of the Linnean 

 Society from the pen of Mr. Lacaita. 



A new genus of Marattiacea? {Protomarattia) is distinguished by Bunzo 

 Hyata from Tonkin. It differs from Marattia in possessing linear sori borne on a 

 simply pinnate frond, and in having more numerous loculi in each synangium. 

 New species of Phoma are enumerated in the Keiv Bulletin, and in the Trans. 

 Roy, Soc South Africa, Pole-Evans and Bottomly describe a new species of 

 Diplocystis. 



Economic. 



Barber, in an extensive paper of over 150 pages, published by the Indian 

 Department of Agriculture, deals with the underground branching of the sugar- 

 cane. 



Dixon (Notes from the Botany School, Dublin) enumerates the microscopical 

 characteristics of a number of species commercially known as Mahogany. 



Ecology. — The presence of colloidal substances as normal 

 constituents of the soil is a factor regarding the influence of 

 which our knowledge is all too small. Jenning {Amer. Jour. 

 Bot.) has investigated the effect of this class of substances on 



