Band 122. Nr. 4. XXXIV. Jahrgang. I. Bd. Nr. 4. 



Botanisches Centralblatt. 



Rel'erirendes (Jrgan 



der 



Association Internationale des Botanistes 

 für das Gesamtgebiet der Botanik. 



Herausgegeben unter der Leitung 

 des Präsidenten: des V ice- Präsidenten : des Secretärs: 



Prof. Dr. E. Warming. Prof. Dr. F. W. Oliver. Dr. J. P. Lotsy 



und der Redactions-Coniinissions- Mitglieder : 



Prof. Dr. Wm. Trelease, Dr. C. Bonaventura, A. D. Cotton, 



Prof. Dr. C. Wehmer und Dr C. H. Ostenfeld. 



von zahlreichen Speciah^edacteuren in den verschiedenen Ländern 



Dr. J. P. Lotsy, Chefredacteur. 



??o. 4. 



Abonnement für das halbe Jahr 14 Mark 

 durch alle. Buchhandlungen und Postan stalten. 



& 



1913. 



Alle für die Redaction bestimmten Sendung:en sind zu richten an: 

 Redaction des Botanischen Centralblattes, Haarlem (Holland), Spaarne 17. 



Compton, R. H., An Investigation ofthe Seedling Struc- 

 ture in the Legianinosae. (Journ. Linn. Soc. Bot. XLI. p. 1 — 122. 

 9 pl. June 1912./ 



The author gives a detailed description of transilion phenomena 

 of about 140 species of the Leguminosae , the species belong to most 

 of the tribes of the three sub-orders. A Summary List of the most 

 important features of form, size and structure is given; in this list 

 is shewn the habit of growth' of the mature plant, the type of ger- 

 mination, the length and diameter of the hypocotyl, the dimensions 

 of the cotyledon lamina, the number of protoxylems in the root and 

 the type of symmetry on which the transition is effected and the 

 level of transition. This list of foUowed by a concise resume of the 

 characteristic features of the indiviiiual tribes and sub-orders. 



A general discussion of the relations between seedling anatom}'- 

 and other vegetative features follows. and the foUowing conclusions 

 are reached: 



1. The hypocotyl is "a specialised region of a primitively un- 

 diflferentiated axis." 



2. Germination is probably hypogeal when the ratio of bulk -of 

 cotyledons to diameter of hypocotyl is above a certain limit, other- 

 wise it is epigeal. 



3. The level of transition is intimately connected with the ab- 

 solute size of hypocotyl, mainly with the area of cross section. Lov^^ 

 transitions are characteristic of massive, high transitions of slender 

 hypocotyle. 



4. The type of symmetry and the level of transition are closely 



Botan. Centralblatt. Band 122. 1913, 6 



