ABSTRACTS. 



1. The Microgametophyte of the Podocarpineae, by E. C. Jeffrey and 

 M. A. Chrysler. (" The American Naturahst," xh, pp. 355-364, 7 figs, in 

 text ; June, 1907.) 



The species dealt with were Podocarptis polyslachya (material from Java), P. ferru- 

 gineus, P. dacrydioides, Dacrydium Bidwillii, and, for comparative purposes, Agaihis 

 australis (material from New Zealand). 



The conclusions reached by the authors are : — 



1. The Podocarpinece, as represented by Podocarpus and Dacrydium, are characterized 

 by a proliferation of the two original prothallial cells through more or less numerous 



anticlinal divisions. 



2. The anticlmal proliferation of the prothallial cells is accompanied by a similar 

 proliferation of the generative cell, an abnormality which appears to have been described 

 in no other Gymnosperms. 



3. Similar proliferation^^of the two_^ original prothallial cells has been observed in the 

 araucarian genus Agathis,^ 



4. The proliferation of the two prothallial cells in the PodocarpinecB and the Aran- 

 carineoe, and the proliferation of the generative cell in certain species of Podocarpus, 

 -cannot be regarded as a primitive feature. 



5. The ground-plan of microgametophytic development found in the PodocarpinecB 

 and Araucarinem pomts to their derivation from an ancestral stock allied to the 



-Ahietinece. 



6. Since the Podocarpinece and Araucarinece present many features of similarity 

 in general habit, m geographical distribution, in the organization of their megasporo- 

 phylls, and the development of their microgametophytes, it seems not improbable that 

 they are somewhat more nearly allied than has been supposed. 



L. C. 



2. The Staminate Cone and Male Gametophyte of Podocarpus, by 



L. L. Burhnghame. ("' Botanical Gazette," xlvi, pp. 161-178, pi. viii, ix, 

 and 9 figs, in text ; 1908.) 



An examination was made of material from New Zealand {Podocarpus totara var. 

 Hallii, P. nivcdis) and South Africa {P. elongata) fixed in a 5-per-cent. solution of com- 

 mercial formalin m 70 per cent, alcohol, which gave an unexpectedly good result. 

 Though the collections were few, they included a considerable range of developmental 

 stages. The results in the main confirm those of the few previous investigators — Coker 

 (1902), Jefi'rey and Chrysler (1906-7), Young (1907)— and show specially that the 

 phenomena described by these authors are also exhibited by the species studied by 

 Burltnghame. These show two prothallial cells which may or may not divide, but as 

 many as eight prothallial cells in two tiers may be derived from the two primary ones. 

 There is a stalk-cell and a body-cell which frequently differ but little from one another 

 in appearance ; but it was not ascertained whether both produced male cells. The 

 number of chromosomes is twelve and twenty-four. At the time the poUen-graui is 

 «hed it contains a variable number of cells or fi-ee nuclei. 



Besides figures showmg various stages of development, two reproductions of photo- 

 graphs are given, one showing a remnant of the former extensive taxad forest near Inver- 

 cargUl, taken by Crosby-Smith, and the other the buttressed base of Podocarpus dacry- 

 dioides m the ancient forest of the Canterbury Plaui near Christchurch, taken by the 

 reviewer. 



L. C- 



