Morphologie, Teratologie, Befruchtung, Cytologie. 211 



und ist geeignet, die Auffassung von der Abstammung der He/obtae 

 von den Polycarpicae zu stärken. G. Samuelsson (Upsala). 



Berridge, E. M., The Structure ofthe Flower of Fagaceae, 

 and its Hearing on the Affinities of the Group. (Ann. 

 Bot. Vol. XXVIII. p. 509—526. 9 textfig. 1914.) 



After discussing the views that have been hitherto held as to 

 the affinities of the Fagaceae, the author describes the structure 

 and anatomy of the inflorescence, fiowers and cupule ofCastanopsis 

 chrysophylla. This plant was chosen for detailed study because it 

 is one of the less well-known members of the order. The flower of 

 Castaiiopsis is then compared with that of Castanea vulgaris, Fagtis 

 sylvatica, Quercits Robur and Juglans regia. The flower of the 

 Fagaceae is shown to differ in no essential feature from other 

 epigynous types of angiospermic flower, and a close comparison is 

 instituted between the Rosaceae and Ciipnliferae . It is suggested 

 that the epigynous Rosaceae are the forms with dosest affinity to 

 the ancestors of the Fagaceae. Agnes Arber (Cambridge). 



Farmer, J. B. and Digby, L. On Dimensions of Chrom o- 

 somes considered in Relation to Phylogeny. (Phil. 

 Trans. Roy. Soc. Lond. Ser. B. Vol. 205. p. 1-25. 2 pl. 1914.) 



The authors show by an examination of certain nearly related 

 varieties of Athyvium Filix-foemina and Aspidiuni Filix-nias that 

 the number of chromosomes in these cases affords no certain 

 indication of the value of the "Kern-plasma" relation of Hertwig. 

 The chromosomes in these ferns are not adapted for measurement, 

 but material suitable for this purpose was found in the two types 

 of hybrid known as Priniida Kewensis. The nuclei of one of these 

 hybrid forms contain twice as many chromosomes as those of the 

 other, but the increase in number is associated with a corresponding 

 diminution in size, so that the total amount of chromatin substance 

 is the same in the two tj^pes. 



The authors have also examined a number of animals and 

 plants in order to ascertain whether the important generalisations 

 published by Meek are well founded (See Meek, C. F. U. 1912. 

 A metrical Analysis of Chromosome Complexes, showingCorrelation 

 of Evolutionary Development and Chromatin Thread-width throughout 

 the Animal Kingdom. Phil. Trans. Ser. B. Vol. 203. p. 1-74). The 

 authors' conclusions are strongly opposed to those of Meek. They 

 show that no animal or plant which they have examined has been 

 found to have a constant chromosome width. The ordinary extent 

 of the Variation is comparable with that found in other structures, 

 whether of animals or plants. The width of a chromosome is seldom 

 uniform throughout its length. The nuclei of some animals and 

 plants possess chromosomes of very different sizes; and consequently, 

 the width measurements vary within wide limits. The chromosomes 

 in oögonial divisions ma}'' be larger and wider than those in corres- 

 ponding spermatogonial divisions. Chromosome width cannot be 

 intimately correlated with phylogenetic order, for closely related 

 forms may possess chromosomes differing widely in shape and size 

 ^nd character. Agnes Arber (Cambridge). 



Fräser, H. C. I. (Mrs. Gwynne-Vaughan). The Behaviour 



