418 Morphologie, Teratologie, Befruchtung, Cytologie. 



cupule, and only a very few late-formed branches originate directly 

 from the main vascular System of the inflorescence. Each of these 

 bundles, on reaching the level of Insertion of the outermost of the 

 three coats of the ovule, becomes very broad and gives off two 

 traces to this outer coat or "perianth"; then turning inwards and 

 upwards each passes on to supply the two inner coverings, which 

 are probably best regarded as integuments. Just above the point of 

 departure of the two traces to the outermost coat, each main bündle 

 gives rise to a curious complex of vascular Strands. 



It is suggested that this ring of vascular com.plexes may indicate 

 that the ovule was primitively Surround ed by a whorl of male flo- 

 wers. If this were the case, the female inflorescence of Gnetum 

 would have been originally Compound and bisexual, and from such 

 a form the existing male inflorescence can easily be derived. 



Agnes Arber (Cambridge). 



Dümmer, R. A., A Bisexual 'Gymnospermous' Begonia. 

 (Ann. Bot. XXVI. p. 1123—1124. 1 textfig. 1912.) 



This note is an account of an abnormal flower borne by Begonia 

 semperfloreyis , var. gigantea Lemoine (a hybrid of B. seniperßorens 

 X B. Lynchianä). The petals and stamens resembled those produced 

 by normal male flowers, while, in addition, there was a superior 

 gynaecium, in which the ovules were wholly exposed instead of 

 being protected by an ovary wall. Agnes Arber (Cambridge). 



Dümmer, R. A., Peloria in Saintpaulia ionantha, Wendland. 

 (Ann. Bot. XXVI. p. 9. 6 Textfig. 1912.) 



This note is a record of the occurrence of abnormal flowers 

 possessing a rotate coroUa and five stamens, in place of the irregu- 

 lär corolla and two stamens characteristic of the Gesneraceous 

 species: Saintpaulia ionantha. The author also draws attention to 

 a case of a four-stamened flower of Aristea dichotonia Ker-GawU 

 which he interprets as due to chorisis. 



Agnes Arber (Cambridge). 



Gibson, R. J. H., The Extent of the Root-system oi Cucu- 

 mis sativus. (Ann. Bot. XXVI. p. 951—952. 1912.) 



The root-system of a flourishing plant, of Cucumis sativus was 

 measured with various precautions to ensure accuracy. The total 

 length was found to be 280 feet. This result seems to throw some 

 doubt upon the accuracy of the oft-quoted Statement of Clark that 

 the root-system of a plant of Cucurbita maxima, which he measured , 

 was more than 80,000 feet in length. Agnes Arber (Cambridge). 



Saxton, W. T., Note on an Abnormal Prothallus oi Pinus 

 maritima L. (Ann. Bot. XXVI. p. 943—945. 1 textfig. 1912.) 



The author records the discovery of a prothallus of Piniis ma- 

 ritima L. in which the usual terminal group of two or three arche- 

 gonia was replaced by two lateral groups of two archegonia each. 

 The possible significance of this abnormality is discussed. 



Agnes Arber (Cambridge). 



