UU BOTANICAL GAZETTE. 



Oct., Nov. and Dec, 1878. — The botanical contents are ''On the Black 

 Mildew of Walls," by Dr. Jos. Leidy, ''Irritable or Sensitive Stamens,"' 

 '^Calluna vulgaris," "Dimorphism in Mitchella repens," by Thos. Mee- 

 han, and ''Aspidium aciileatnm in Pennsylvania," by Mr. Crozer 

 (jritfith. 



Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science, 1877 and 1878. — This 

 makes a very neat pamphlet of 94 pages and is tilled with interesting 

 notes in almost every department of science. The botanical section 

 is occupied chiefly in listing the plants of Kansas. 



American Journal of Science and Arts, April. — Besides the article 

 quoted from above, Dr. Gray has a notice of a paper by Strasburger 

 on ^'Poh/embryon}/, true and. false, and its relation to Parthenof/enesis." 

 According to Strasburger's investigations the embryo-sac of angio- 

 sperms very seldom produces more than one embryonal vesicle which 

 is fecundated. The fact that many seeds contain more than one em- 

 bryo is explained by the statement that they are adventitious, formed 

 outside of the embryo-sac and enter it by pushing the walls before 

 them or by piercing them. Thus situated the}'^ can hardly be dis- 

 tinguished fiom the embryo that has resulted from fecundation. This 

 then explains the well known cases of partlienogenesis. 



American Naturalist^ April. — Mr. E. J. Hill has a note on the "Num 

 ber of Stamens in Brasenia peltata.'''' From a study of specimens from 

 several localities he concludes that the typical number is six, the 

 number ranging from 12 to o6. 



Bulletin rf Torreij Botanical (Jluh, Jan. and Feb. — Francis Wolle has 

 an article on Fresh Water Algfie, being a synopsis of discoveries -and 

 researches in 1878. An obituary notice is given of Robt. H. Brownne, 

 who died Feb. 15, 1879, at the age of 69. 



Fer?i EtcJiings. by John Williamson. — Mr, Williamson is preparing 

 a Mork bearing the above title. It will contain etchings of all the 

 Ferns that have been found in the Eastern and Middle States. The 

 price will be $7.50 a copy, including mailing. Any one desiring to 

 subscribe for the work can address the author at Louisville, Ky. 



MonograpJdix' Phanerogamarum. — The work upon the Monograph of 

 the Araceec^ by Dr. Engler, for Vol. 2 of the Monograpliire Phanerogam- 

 arum, is already advanced. It will form one volume, for the number 

 of known species has very greatly increased. In a third volume will 

 be given Monographs of the 'Cucurbitaccx by M. Alf. Oogniaux, and 

 the Arcdiaceec by M. Marchall. Later will be given the immense w^ork 

 of Gen. Wm. Munro upon Gramincx, in the meantime other small 

 families being given. 



