Morphologie etc. — Varietäten etc. — Physiologie. 85 



Verdoppelter Quirl der Involucralblätter, sonst wie 7.— 10. V'erein- 

 zelte, ungestielte Blüten mit schwach umgewandelten, sterilen Car- 

 pellen. — 11. Alle Blüten mit sterilen Carpellen. — 12. Alle Blumen- 

 blätter kronblattähnlich. Kelchblätter relativ normal. Staubblätter 

 vermehrt, schmal, die inneren gelappt. Fruchtblätter tief gelappt 

 oder in lange, feine Lappen zerschlitzt. Involucralblätter normal. 



Grevillius (Kempen a. Rh.) 



Cockayne, L., Observations concerning Evolution, derived 

 from ecological studies in New Zealand. (Trans. N. Z. Inst. 

 XLIV p. 1—50. 8 plates (13 figs ), 3 figs in text. 1912.) 



No particular theory is supported, though the relation of plant 

 to environment takes the leading place. The matter is considered 

 under seven groups for each of which numerous examples are 

 given, some being illustrated, so that the paper is a useful one for 

 reference. The concept of elementary species is regarded as appli- 

 cable to the N. Z. flora, some species being definite and fixed, 

 while others are extremely variable; illustrations are given for 

 Pittosponim rigidiirn and Veronica buxifolia. Variation and Mutation 

 are exemplified by cases from the author's observations and garden 

 experiments. Epharmony is discussed at length in support of the 

 view that there is greater probability that hereditary epharmonic 

 Variation has been brought about by the direct action of ecological 

 factors than by the continuous accumulative selection of fluctuating 

 variations. The examples given are illustrative of plasticity, response 

 to such factors as soil, light, wind , water, and the after-effect or 

 persistance of a Variation after the Stimulus is removed. Convergent 

 epharmony is seen in the divaricating shrubform, the cushion, 

 lianes, etc. The persistence of juvenile forms is an interesting 

 section introducing much of the author's work in this brauch. A 

 brief reference is made to the occurrence of wild hybrids in N. Z. 

 In discussing struggle for existence the author points out that the 

 rapid extinction and replacement of indigenous species by introduced 

 ones is to be explained thus: about 555 species have been introduced 

 into N. Zealand, but less than 180 are common, and these give a 

 characteristic stamp to the Vegetation only where draining, culti- 

 vation, burning of forest, etc. and the grazing of domestic animals 

 have made absolutely new edaphic conditions which approximate 

 to those of Europe. Again he sa5^s "the indigenous Vegetation is 

 still virgin and the introduced plants altogetherabsent where grazing 

 animals have no access and where fires have never been." The 

 factors leading to the present distribution of species are indicated 

 and examples are given to show that closely related plant entities 

 may exist side by side for considerable periods, whereas discon- 

 tinuous distribution is more often to be accounted for by the view 

 that such species were at one time more widely spread. A special 

 section is given to the evolution of the genus Veronicain N. Zealand. 



'^ W. G. Smith. 



Armstrong, H. E., E. F. Armstrong and E. Horton. Herbage 

 Studies. 1. Lotus corniculaiits, a C3'^anaphoric plant. (Proc. 

 Roy. Soc. 84. N» B 574. p. 471-484. 1912.) 



In Lotus corniculntus an enzyme of the emulsin type is associa- 

 ted with a cyanophoric glucoside. When plants from various places 



