No. 1, August, 1920] MORPHOLOGY, ETC., VASC. PLANTS 77 



582. Spratt, Amy Vera. Some anomalies in monocotyledonous roots. Ann. Botany 34: 

 99-105. 77. 3, 1 fig. 1920. -Members of several monocotyledonous natural orders show an 

 anomalous root condition consisting in the filling in of a large pith with scattered vascular 

 strands. These may be formed by secondary growth {Dracaena) or differentiated at the 

 growing point (Pandanus, Yucca) and at later stages may form a solid stele in some cases. 

 The secondary thickening in hracaena may occur in the pericycle or in cortical layers. — 



W. P. Thompson. 



583. SpRBCHBR, A. Etude sur la semence et la germination du Garcinia mangostana L. 

 [A study of the seed and germination in Garcinia mangostana L.] Rev. Gen. liot. 31: 513-531, 

 609-G34. PI. o 7,34jig- 1919. — In the East Indian "mangosteen," a member of the (oil tiferae, 

 the ovule is anatropous and has two integuments. During the development of the embryo 

 the nucellar cells are absorbed, the sac coming to life directly against the inner integument. 

 The cells of the latter bud into the sac and form an embryo, which becomes del ached from the 

 integument and is completely surrounded for a time by the endosperm cytoplasm with its 

 free nuclei; these soon disappear. When fully developed the embryo has the form of a swollen 

 tubercle which represents the hypocotyl; there is no trace of root, stem, or cotyledons. Two 

 or three such embryos are occasionally developed in one embryo sac, forming a compound 

 tubercle. The central cylinder which differentiates in the tubercle usually lies along the lon- 

 gitudinal axis of the latter, but in many cases it develops in an oblique or transverse position. 

 Normal fertilization and embryogeny also occur. — The course of the vascular bundles in the 

 flower and fruit is followed, and it is shown that the white pulp in which the seed lies (usually 

 only- one seed matures) represents the endocarp; this separates at an early stage from the red 

 mesocarp, becomes divided into sections, and grows fast to the integument. The histological 

 changes occurring during the development of the fruit are described. — At germination a root 

 and a stem grow out from the embryonal tubercle and develop very- slowly. If the stem nnd 

 a portion of the tubercle be removed a new stem is regenerated. In polyembryonic seeds 

 more plantlets develop from the tubercle. The primaiy root has no root haire, but the walls 

 of certain epidermal and hypodermal cells remain thin; water enters at these points. — The 

 arrangement of vascular bundles in the seedling and the histology^ of its various parts are 

 briefly described. In root, stem, leaf and fruit there is a system of secretory canals which 

 arise schizogenously. — L. W. Sharp. 



584. Stout, A. B. Intersexes in Plantago lanceolata. Bot. Gaz. 68: 109-133. 2 pi. 

 Aug., 1919— See Bot. Absts. 3, Entry 1518. 



585. Styger, Jos. Beitrage zur Anatomie des Umbelliferen-fruchte. [Contribution on 

 the Anatomy of Umbelliferous Fruits.] Schweiz. Apotheker Zeitg. 57: 199-205, 22S-235. 7 

 fig. 1919.— See Bot. Absts. 5, Entry 831. 



586. Turrill, W. B. Observations on the perianth in Ranunculus auricomus and Anem- 

 one coronaria. New Phytol. 18:253-256. 3 fig. 1919. — The author describes transition stages 

 between stamens and petals, petals and sepals, and sepals and bracts- in Ranunculus; and m 



a sepal occurring in the whorl of bracts in Anemone. — I. F. Lewis. 



587. Weatherwax, Paul. Paraffin solvents in histological work. Bot. Gaz. 68: 305- 

 306. Oct., 1919. — The sinking of paraffin in the replacement of xylol may be avoided by run- 

 ning a current of cold air through the melted paraffin, thus causing it to harden as a frothy- 

 mass of lessened specific gravity. Before allowing it to harden, the mass is kneaded to secure 

 finer grain and a more even distribution of the air bubbles. The author, however, does not 

 find' any special disadvantages in the old method, and sees no valid reason for the rather gen- 

 eral abandonment of the use of chloroform as a medium for the introduction of paraffin. — 

 H. C. Coivles. 



588. Weingart, Wixh. Vom Reif des Cereus trigonus Haw. var. guatemalensis Eichl. 

 [The bloom on Cereus trigonus var. guatemalensis.] Monatsschr. Kakteenkunde 29: 80-84. 

 1919.— The author shows that the bloom contains resin as well as wax. — .4. S. Hitchcock. 



