732 SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 



Podocarpinea?, which she has studied especially from the point of view 

 of relationship. The affinities, the author concludes, are probably with 

 the Araucarineas, and both groups seem to be relatively primitive — but 

 the question is by no means closed. 



The paper deals firstly with the detailed structure of the gameto- 

 phytes, fertilization-process, and the embryo of the critical genus 

 Phyllocladus ; and it is concluded that this genus (1) has primitive 

 characters of the Taxineaa, which are being eliminated in the Podo- 

 carpineas ; (2) has primitive characters of the Podocarpineaa, which 

 have been entirely eliminated in the Taxineas ; (3) has some advanced 

 characters of Podocarpineas ; (4) the taxad resemblances are, on the whole, 

 more superficial and variable — the podocarp features more fundamental ; 

 (5) the resemblances to Podocarpineas lead forcibly to the conclusion 

 that Phyllocladus is a relatively primitive member of Podocarpinese which 

 branched off from them shortly after their separation from Taxinese. 



The investigation proceeds with a survey of the gametophytes in 

 Araucarinese and Podocarpineaa, and the intermediate position of Saxe- 

 gothsea is insisted upon, in agreement with Stiles, Noren, Thompson, 

 and Tison. 



The general conclusions lack definiteness, and it is clear that much 

 further investigation is necessary before any decision can be arrived at 

 in regard to relationships. The affinities of the Podocarpineae with 

 Araucarineas are complicated with evidence of connexion, through 

 Phyllocladus, with Taxinese ; and the two last named tribes appear to be 

 widely separated in descent. At the same time, even without the 

 evidence of Saxegothsea, the case for Araucarian affinities seems to be 

 the stronger. On the other hand, the fact that the evidence for the 

 Araucarian connexion is based largely on primitive characters is a weak 

 point, for these may show merely that neither group has advanced far 

 from the ancestral conifer stock. The remaining evidence rests chiefly 

 upon the external morphology of the cones and the distribution of 

 vascular bundles, and this is unsatisfactory because of the great varia- 

 bility of the structures concerned. We have much to learn concerning 

 the Araucarinese ; the present conclusions are based largely upon the 

 male gametophyte ; the female is but little known, and the embryo 

 practically not at all. 



General. 



Clusiaceseof North-west Madagascar.* — H. Tumelle and H. Perrier 

 de la Bathie publish a detailed account of the systematics of the 

 Clusiaceaa found in North-west Madagascar, and nine new species are 

 described. Many of the forms, it is pointed out, are so similar in 

 appearance as to be named by the natives as one and the same — 

 Tsimatimanonta. Most of them secrete a resinous substance resembling 

 the gum-resin of Tsimatima Pervillei. 



* Ann. Sci. Nat. Bot. ser. 9, xi. (1910) pp. 265-85. 



