152 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [august 



result is a valuable contribution to the morphology of the Laminariaceae. 

 The distribution and habitat are also presented in full, as well as an interesting 

 account of the economic use of the genus. More than 32 species have been 

 described since the genus was established in 1830, but the author recognizes 

 only 15. The uncertainty of specific limitations has been due to the fact that 

 the describer has not observed the stages of development or the effects of dififer- 

 ent habitats, so that different forms of one species have been described as 

 distinct species. The author has studied Alaria in its habitats throughout the 

 northern Pacific from Vancouver Island to Japan, and the result is a reorganized 

 presentation of the genus, only one new species being recognized {A. ochotensis) , 

 but a number of old "species" disappearing as stages or habitat frrms of 

 other species. — ^J. M. C. 



Cones of Williamsonia. — The organization of the cones of Williamsonia 

 gigas has been a "palaeobotanical puzzle" ever since the original description in 

 1849. Since that date it is said that approximately 100 memoirs have discussed 

 this subject. The late E. A. Newell Arber'" left a brief paper summing up 

 the difficulties, and suggesting conclusions. The difficulties presented are 4 

 in number: (i) were the cones monosporangiate or bisporangiate? (2) where 

 were the microsporophylls attached? (3) what structure was borne on the 

 axis of the cone above the megasporophylls? (4) was there an infundibular 

 expansion, similar in form to the united whorl of microsporophylls, but sterile, 

 and where was it attached? 



The answers given are as follows: (i) the cones were probably mono- 

 sporangiate; (2) the ovulate cone bore only seeds and interseminal scales on 

 a conical axis; (3) the staminate cone had an urn-shaped axis, sheathed below, 

 which bore apically a whorl of partly united microsporophylls and no 

 interseminal scales; (4) there is no evidence of any sterile infundibular organ 

 attached to or terminating either cone. — J. M. C. 



Zingiberaceae of Java. — In 1904 Valeton" published an account of the 

 Zingiberaceae of Java. This account he has now supplemented" by further 

 investigation during the last 1 5 years. The present extensive paper is only the 

 first part, dealing chiefly with Curcuma, Gastrochilus, Kaempferia, and 

 Zingiber. There is a very full discussion of the characters of the family, and 

 each species is presented in great detail. The 4 genera referred to are repre- 

 sented as follows: Curcuma, 21 spp. (10 new); Gastrochilus, 16 spp. (5 new); 

 Kaempferia, 4 spp.; Zingiber, 17 spp. (5 new). — J. M. C. 



'° Arber, E. a. Newell, Remarks on the organization of the cones of William- 

 sonia gigas. Ann. Botany 33:173-179. figs. 5. 1919. 



" Bull. Inst. Bot. Buitenzorg. no. 20. 1904. 



" Valeton, Th., New notes on the Zingiberaceae of Java and Malaya. Bull. 

 Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg. no. 27. pp. 168. pis. jo. 1918. 



