'94 SUMMARY OF GURKENT RESEARCHES RELATING 10 



other V)ranch continued the axis. These ol)servations lead the author to 

 hrins; too^ether from Uterature all the various accounts of the mode of 

 branching of the Pteropsida ; and this enables him to show that the 

 mode of branching of all Pteropsida rests at bottom on the same 

 principle, and that angle-leaf and subtending leaf are homologous. 



Pteridium aquilinum.* — M. Biisgen writes on some peculiarities of 

 Pteridium aquilinum. He has made an examination of the structures 

 on the back of the leaf-stalk, which are considered by Hofmeister to be 

 buds of fohar oi'igin, as well as the mode of branching of this species. 

 Shoot and leaf-stalk are easily distinguished anatomically from one 

 another, by an inspection of the figures sketched out in rough brown- 

 walled cells on the transverse section. In the leaf-stalk is the figure of 

 an eagle, in the main stem an oval figure. The author has made a 

 series of successive sections through the leaf -stalk, from its junction 

 with the main stem and the bud on the back uf the stalk : and he finds 

 that the apparent leaf-stalk base is in reality a lateral branch of the 

 main stem, which has been hindered in its development by the more 

 vigorous growth of the leaf, and consequently appears to be an appendage 

 of the strongly developed leaf-stalk. The power of growth at the tip of 

 this nob-like lateral branch has not, however, ceased. It is able to pro- 

 duce short shoots richly covered with leaves. These branches arise by 

 a forking of the apex. One of the forks is hindered in its development 

 by the growth of the leaf and so forms a short branchlet. 



The author describes the development of a frond up to a height of 

 ?) m., and the anatomy of the rhizome of Pteridium, on wliich are notice- 

 able to the naked eye two opposite light brown stripes, resembling the 

 lenticels of the higher plants. The rhizome of P. aquilinum has been 

 used for food in Xew Zealand and the Canary Islands on account of its 

 richness in starch. The author suggests that in case of hard times in 

 Europe it might be used as food for pigs. 



Bornean Ferns. f — E. B. Copeland publishes some notes on Bornean 

 ferns, with descriptions of four new species, critical notes on five others, 

 and figures of Angiopteris Brooksii. 



Bryophyta. 



(By A. Gepp.) 



(Ecogenesis of Liverworts. f — K. Kavina writes on the oecogenesis. 

 of the Liverworts. He says that tliey show such a wide power of adapta- 

 tion that it is very difficult to determine the systematic worth of this 

 or that plant. Geological sulistratum and moisture of the ground and air 

 play a part in the oecogenesis. The s]iecies of Pellia have certainly 

 arisen tlu'ough differences of their substratum. In damp air luxuriant 



* Zeitschr. Forst. u. Jagdwesen, xlvii. (1915), pp. 235-41 (figs.). See also Bot. 

 Centralbl., cxxix. (1915) p. 496. 



t Philippine Journ. Sci. (Bot.) x. (1915) pp. 145-9 (1 pi.). 



X Vestuik V. sjez. ces. prir. (1915) p. 335. See also Bot. Centralbl., cxxix. (1915) 

 p. 888. 



