BOTANY. 725 



Meadow plants of Central Pranconia, R. Braungart ( Vrtljschr. Bayer. Landw. 

 Rath., 3 (1898), No. 1, p. 52). — Gives notes on the occurrence and relative value of 

 the grasses, leguminous plants, and weeds growing in meadows. 



Eragrostis brownii as a forage plant, J. H. Maiden (Agr. Gaz. New South Wales, 

 9 (1898), No. 10, pp. 1131, 1132). — The value of this grass as a forage plant is ques- 

 tioned. Although growing well and withstanding heat it is said to he harsh and 

 not readily eaten hy stock. 



Rhea, or China, grass, G. Watts (Agr. Ledger, 1898, No. 15, pp. 129, pis. 4). — A 

 review of the existing information relative to this plant, Bcehmeria nirea. 



A sand binding plant dangerous to horses, J. H. Maiden ( Agr. Gaz. New South 

 Wales, 9 (1898), No. 10, p. 1131). — Notes are given of (hiephopsis eriocarpa, which from 

 its habit of growth is dangerous to horses, since in eating it they are liable to get 

 large amounts of sand in their stomachs. 



Trifolium pratense perenne and T. medium, F. Nobbe (Mitt. Dent. Landw. 

 Ge8ell., 13 (1898), No 22, pp. 345, 346, figs. 2).— A note describing the difference between 

 these clovers. 



Notes on poisoning and poisonous plants (Dent. Landw. Presse, 25 (1898), No. 58, 

 p. 645; 61, p. 673). 



New or noteworthy Alabama fungi, F. S. Earle (Bui. Torrey Bot. Club, 25 (1898), 

 No. 7, pp. 359-368). — As a contribution from the Alabama Biological Survey the 

 author has given important notes and descriptions of a number of species of 

 fungi. Among those described as new are Micropeltis alabamensis on living leaves 

 of Magnolia virginiana; Anthostomella splucrotheca and Gnomia sabalieola on dead 

 petioles of Sabal adausoni; Botryosphceria arundinarice and Trichospharia underwoodii 

 on dead stems of Arundinaria; Metasphwria nigromaculans on dead stems of Agave vir- 

 ginica; Nectria (Eunectria) melke on dead twigs of Mella azedarach ; Aulographum con- 

 jluens and Lophodermium rnbiicolum on dead stems of blackberry ; Phyllostiela arida on 

 Acer negundo; P. macroguttata on Meibomia sp. ; and Cercospora ribis on leaves of culti- 

 vated gooseberry. In regard to the last-named fungus the author says: "This con- 

 spicuous and well-marked species attacks the gooseberry foliage abundantly, caus- 

 ing it to fall prematurely. It is probably one of the causes of the failure of the 

 fruit in this region." 



Biological studies of Penicillium glaucum, F. Gueguen (Bui. Soc. Myeol. 

 France, 14 (1898), No. 4, pp. 201-z55, pis. 4). 



On the saprophytic development and cytological structure of the yeast like 

 sporidia of Ustilago maydis, R. Marie (Bui. Soc. My col. France, 14 (1898), No. 4, 

 pp. 161-173, pi. 1). 



Structure of the fruit of some Gramineae, P. Guerin (Jour. Bot. France, 12 

 (1898), No. 23-24, pp. 365-374, figs. IS).— Studies are reported upon Eleusine, Dacty- 

 loctenium, Crypsis, Sporobolus, and Zizaniopsis, the fruit of each of which is said 

 not to be a true caryopsis. 



Studies of the flax fiber, A. Herzog (Oesterr. Chem. Ztg., 1 (1898), No. 1, pp. 

 310-312; 2, pp. 335, 336, figs. 7). — Microscopical and chemical studies are given of 

 the flax fiber. 



On the elongation of nodes, P. Van Tieghem (Ann. Scottish Nat. Hist. Soc, 8. 

 ser., 5 (1898), No. 1-2, pp. 155-160). 



Memoirs of the Institute of Forestry at St. Petersburg (Izvyestia S. Peterburgs- 

 kavo lyesnovo Instituta. St. Petersburg, 1S9S, pt. 1; rev. in Selsk. Khoz. i Lyesov., 190 

 (1898), No. 7, pp. 458, 459). — Of various articles in the publication, that on the lib- 

 eration of heat by germinating seeds by A. Tolski may be mentioned. 



On the growth of Nostoc punctiforme in absolute darkness, R. Bouilhac 

 (Compt. Rend. Acad. Sci. Paris, 126 (1898), No. 22, pp. 1583-1586).— It is stated that 

 this plant is able to grow in absolute darkness if provided with suitable organic 

 material, such as glucose. Under these conditions it will produce green plauts. 

 The color, it is said, is due to chlorophyll, since the alga was able to decompose car- 

 bon dioxid and also as shown hy spectrum analysis of the plants themselves. 



