ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 493 



parenchymatous meshes upwards, and by their extension, phylogenetically 

 speaking, laterally and downwards. This leads to great irregularities, 

 especially in the larger cones, these irregularities taking the form of 

 local duplication of the whorls, and even the development of pseudo- 

 whorls. 4. Owing to the persistence of meshes on either side of a strand 

 through more than two internodes, a superposition of traces at their 

 origin is relatively common, especially in cones with a relatively more 

 reduced vascular system. 5. Another effect of the reduction of the 

 vascular system is the presence of unlignified parenchymatous cells be- 

 tween the tracheides, and the poor ligniii cation of the latter, especially 

 in the lower part of the cone. G. One character, apparently relatively 

 new in the phylogeny, leading locally to increase of xylem, is the 

 tendency for two or more strands to become united by the production of 

 additional tracheides at a considerable distance below the departure of 

 the traces. 7. Groups of medullary tracheides seem to be not uncommon 

 in the cones of E. maximum. 8. The traces of the lower whorls of 

 sporangiophores often diverge downwards ; this is especially common in 

 the mature cones, and is probably chiefly due to the pull exerted by 

 reflexed sporangiophores, and to the unequal elongation of the inner 

 and peripheral tissues of the axis. Though the analogy with Palseo- 

 stachya is suggestive, the sporangiophores appear to be morphologically 

 distinct in the two genera. The analogy in the course of the traces of 

 the sporangiophores of Equisetum maximum and Palseostachya is not a 

 close one, and their downward sweep is probably not due mainly to the 

 same causes. 9. An abnormal branching of the cone is described, as 

 are also exceptional cases of the dying out of incoming traces in the 

 cortex. An abnormal abortive branching of the vegetative part of the 

 fertile stem was also met with. 



Anatomy of South American Ferns.* — E. Borkowski publishes the 

 results of his anatomical and biological researches on some ferns of the 

 Columbian Andes. The ferns which he studied he divides into three 

 groups : — 1. Xerophytes growing at high altitudes, sun-baked and dry, 

 viz. Poli/podium murorum, P. angustifolium, P. crassifolium, Gymno- 

 gramme antioquiana, G. Mayoris, Elaphoglossum lingua, Lycopodium 

 Maydris. 2. Hygrophytes growing in shaded moist warm places, viz. 

 Ahophila coriacea, Pteris pungens, Asplenium pirsemorsum, Diplazinm 

 angelopolitanum. 3. Intermediates, viz. Doryopteris Mayoris, Diplasium 

 Mayoris, Poly podium May or is, Gymnogrammefumarioides. 



Pteridophyta of Formosa, f — B. Hayata publishes an enumeration 

 of the pteridophyta of Formosa, based on the Government collections of 

 the Botanical Survey of the island. He describes and figures seventy- 

 three new species of ferns, three fern-allies, and several new varieties and 

 forms ; he also re-describes a number of species which previously were 

 insufficiently defined. His figures give a photograph of the type, with 

 pen-drawings of details — venation, sori, sections, scales, etc. 



* Bull. Soc. Neuchat. Sci. Nat., xl. (1914) pp. 3-79. See also Bot. Centralbl., 

 cxxviii. (1915) p. 359. 



t Icones Plantarum Formosanarum. IV. Taihoku : published by Government 

 of Formosa, 1914, pp. 129-257 (figs. 68-180). 



Oct. 20th, 1915 2 m 



