Morphologie etc. — Varietäten etc. 243 



origin of plastids from chondriosomes, which is due to the inde- 

 pendent work of Lewitsky and Pensa. 



Agnes Arber (Cambridge). 



Chupch, A. H., On the Flora! Mechanism of Welwitschia 

 mirabilis Hooker. (Proc. Roy. Soc. Ser. B. LXXXVII. p. 354— 355 

 1914.) 



The primary structural features of the flower are regarded as 

 referable to an anthostrobiloid condition closely comparable with that 

 of Cycadeoidea. Secondary features of biological interest are mainly 

 consequences of xerophitic specialisation in inflorescence and 

 condensation of the whole System to a "cone". Similarly, secon- 

 dary clisanthy in the cone mechanism necessitates special features 

 in the individual flowers, such as the long, exserted, micropylar 

 tube. It is probable that entomophily was in this case antecedent to 

 dicliny. Agnes Arber (Cambridge). 



Green, M. L., Note on Anomalous Bulbus in a Lily. (Ann. 

 Bot. XXVIII. p. 355-358. 2 textfigs. 1914.) 



An account is given of anomalous bulbils taken from the stem 

 of Liliccni Fortunei giganteiirn (a variety of L, tigrimim). These bul- 

 bils exhibit various degrees of transition between the bulbil-scale 

 and the perianth leaf, and also between the bulbil-scale and stamen. 

 Reasons are given for considering the bulbils as homologous with 

 flowers, and two other comparable cases are cited, namely, similar 

 abnormal ities recorded in the literature for Gagea arvensis and 

 Lüiuin biilbiferurn. Agnes Arber (Cambridge). 



Hill, T. G. and E. de Fraine. On the Classification of 

 Seed Leaves. (Ann. of Bot. XXVIII. p. 359-3ö2. Ap. 1914.) 



This paper is a reply to the adverse criticisms brought forward 

 by Compton in his study of Syncotyly and Schizocotyly (Ann. 

 Bot. 1913 p. 793) as to the structures termed „subsidiary cotyledons". 



The authors deal with the criticisms in detail, and further, shew 

 that Phacelia tanaceiifolia lends considerable support to the proposed 

 Classification and does not give evidence against it, as Compton 

 States, They point out that the misunderstanding probably arises 

 from the fact that, the first Organisation of the root structure was 

 taken as a factor in the Classification on account of the frequent 

 altera tion in the number of root poles at a lower level, whereas 

 Compton correlates the final root structure with the cotyledonary 

 bundles. E. de Fraine. 



Collins, G. N., A drought-resisting adaptation in seed- 



lings of Hopi Maize. (Journ. Agric. Res. I. p. 293—301. 4 pl. 



2 textfig. 1914.) 



The agricultural Indians of the southwestern United States 



have continued from prehistoric times to grow maize successfully 



in regions where drought, and especially the absence of spring 



rains, makes it much more difficult to Start the crop than in the 



Great Plains. A study of the varieties grown by the Hopis shows 



that these varieties possess two adaptations: 1) a greatly elongated 



