660 Varietäten etc. — Physiologie. 



study of the inflorescence among the Dicotyledons. The accompa- 

 nying plate illustrates graphically the evolutionary scheme suggested 

 by the author. The main conclusions reached may be summarised 

 as foUows: 



It is highly probable that flowers were originally borne on the 

 plant singly, each terminal to a leaf}^ shoot. Several genera and 

 species, chiefly in those families which for other reasons may be 

 considered primitive, retain for the most part this early and simple 

 arrangement; e.g., Magnolia, Liviode)idron, Calycanthns, Paeonia, 

 TrolliuSj Adonis, Papaver, Rornneya, Kerria, spp. of Pyrus, Ruhus, 

 and Rosa. From such a shoot (or shoots) bearing foliage leaves below 

 and ending in a Single terminal flower, all inflorescences as well 

 as the solitary axillary flower, have probably arisen. The first flower- 

 cluster to arise from the solitary terminal flower is cymose in cha- 

 racter. Racemose inflorescences have proceeded from cymose ones, 

 the pleiochasium or panicle being the intermediate stage. Both 

 racemose and cymose inflorescences are grouped by the author 

 under the general term "apical", while a second class is distinguished 

 under the name "intercalary". An intercalary inflorescence is cha 

 racterised by the fact that the main axis, after emitting a number 

 of flowers laterally, continues its apical growth vegetatively ; thus 

 the flower Cluster is inserted on the axis between two sets of foliage 

 leaves. Examples of this type of inflorescence are Drimys, Choisya, 

 Boroma, CaUu^ia, Kalniia, CalUsternon , Metrosideros etc. A "pseudo- 

 terminal" inflorescence may arise from the intercalary t3'^pe through 

 the abortion of the vegetative continuation. 



Agnes Arber (Cambridge). 



Halket, A. C, The Effect of Salt on the Growth of Sali- 

 covnia. (Ann. of Botany. XXIX. 113. p. 143—154. l pl. 1915.) 



Seedlings of Salicornia and Suaeda were grown in various 

 amounts of Na Cl in two ways: 1) in natural turfs (including Gly- 

 ceria) from Erqui (France) treated with Solutions of Tidman's sea 

 Salt; 2) in nutritive Solutions containing known quantities of Na Cl. 

 The results of periodic measurements of growth are shown by graphs. 

 Successful water cultures were obtained by seedlings from Erqui 

 of Sah oliveri, Sal. rainosissmia , and Siiaeda maritima, the results 

 are shown in plate. The experiments reveal considerable difference 

 in the genera tested. The two species of Salicornia grow better in 

 presence of NaCl, maximum 2—3 p. cent, while higher p.c. reduce 

 growth; they can resist a large amount, up to 17 p.c. NaCl, but 

 the plants do not grow larger. 5?m^<i« grows equally well in absenceas 

 with 1 p.c. NaCl, and growth decreases with increase of salt. The 

 growth of Glyceria maritima decreases with increase of salin it5^ 



W. G. Smith. 



Pougnet, J., Observations anatomiques et physiologi- 

 ques sur les organes de v^getaux exposes aux raj'^ons 

 de courte longueur d'onde. (Ass. frang. p. l'avanc. sc. Con- 

 gres Nlmes. 41e Session, p. 781 — 783. 1912.) 



Les feuilles soumis aux radiations ultra-violettes emises par 

 une lampe en quartz ä vapeurs de mercure, brunissent au bout 

 d'un certain temps variable suivant les especes. 



Les Cryptogames verts resistent bien mieux que les Phandro- 

 games et parmi ces dernieres, les plus sensibles aux radiations de 



