290 SUMMAllY OF CUKKENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 



Observations made by the writer on the two genera of the Myopo- 

 v'mQ2d—Myoporum and Eremophila — confirm Solereder's opinion that 

 the glands of this group are of an unstable, transitional form. The 

 most common type found in Myoporum is that seen in varieties of M . 

 i^erratum (Fig. 5). In Eremophila latifolia the general plan of develop- 

 ment resembles that of Myoporum, liut the head-shield is composed of 

 eight cells, and shows two distinct forms ; in one type the vertical 

 divisions are radial and form a sub-spherical shield of eight radiating 

 cells. In the other type two sets of approximately parallel divisions 

 meet the original vertical division at equal angles and form a shield 

 t)f eight cells arranged in two rows of four. All the gland-cells of 

 this species contain clustered crystals of calcium oxalate. S. G-. 



Reproductive. 



Embryo of Gnetum.— H. I. Haining {Bot. Gaz., 1920, 70, 436-44, 

 3 pis., 1 fig.). The earliest stage of the development of the embryo 

 was observed in G. fwiicuJare, wheve the pro-embryo consists of a single 

 cell giving off suspensors in different directions. In most species the 

 suspensors form a coiled rope-like structure in the cavity of the endo- 

 sperm, but in G./unicidare and G. Gnemo/i they branch through the 

 endosperm. In all species except G. Gnemon a peculiar cell at the end 

 of the true suspensor divides to form a long multicellular secondary 

 suspensor, and occasionally the tip of the secondary suspensor divides 

 into a number of branches. Polyeinbryony is the rule, aild usually the 

 secondary suspensors develop equally for some time, but ultimately one 

 separates out, while the others are abortive. The entire development is 

 typical of the gymnosperms except for the reduction in the amount of 

 free nuclear division in all species, and in the character of the suspensor 

 in G. Gnemon. S. G. 



Flower and Seed of Hedyosmum — J. CI. Edwards {Bot. Gaz., 

 1920, 70, 409-24, 3 pis.). An account is given of the development of 

 the seed in Hedyosmum ?iutans and H. arborescens, which constitute the 

 two chief subgenera of this genus of Chloranthacese. The male flowers 

 occur in two long-stalked ovoid catkins at the base of" the female 

 inflorescence, and each stamen has four microsporaugia. The female 

 flowers are in few-flowered panicles, and each has a single ovary 

 apparently formed from three carpels. The perianth, which arises 

 before the carpels, is attached to the ovary at its three corners and by 

 two bands of tissue connected respectively with the apex and base. The 

 perianth is persistent. The ovary is one-celled, with a wall which 

 becomes thickened into thi'ee distinct layers, forming a protective 

 covering for the seed. The ovule is pendulous and orthotropous, and 

 lias two integuments, the inner of which is the longer ; both are 

 thickened round the micropyle, but elsewhere are almost imperceptible. 

 The hypodermis of the nucellus gives rise to the primary archesporium, 

 which divides to form a tapetal cell and an archesporial cell ; the latter 

 divides into three or four megaspores. of which only the lowest one is 

 functional. The embryo-sac is of the type common among angiosperms. 

 The endosperm nucleus is formed from two polar nuclei and possibly a 



