28 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



reaction in the case of plants is not absolutely as marked as with the 

 higher animals, but when comparisons are made between the ordinary 

 temperature of plants and the surrounding medium the rise in tempera- 

 ture after injury is as great, if not greater, than in the case of animals. 



Summarizing the results of his experiments, the author states that 

 (1) there is a certain rise in temperature of the adjacent tissue follow- 

 ing the wounding of plants; (2) this reaction runs a definite course, 

 attaining its maximum some twenty-four hours after injury; (3) the 

 maximum rise in temperature due to injury of all the plants investi- 

 gated was between two and three times the difference in temperature 

 between the living and dead tissue of the same plants; (4) in potatoes 

 and similar massive tissues the effect is local, while in onion bulbs a 

 much greater extent of tissue is affected. 



Assimilatory inhibition of plants, A. J. Ewart (Jour. Linn. Soc. 

 Bot., 31 [1897), No. 219, pp. 55i-57<;).—Ix\ continuation of his previous 

 work upon this subject, 1 the author gives the effects of continued 

 absenee of light and carbon dioxid upon assimilation, both these agen- 

 cies being omitted from the previous paper. 



After describing and commenting at length upon the numerous experi- 

 ments conducted, the author gives the following conclusions: 



"Chloroplastids developed in darkness, whether they become green or are etiolated, 

 may possess a fairly active power of assimilation corresponding to their size and 

 depth of coloration. The power of assimilation is absent while the etiolated leaf is 

 still <[iiite young, and finally disappears again after the leaf has been kept for a long 

 time in darkness, even though abundant supplies of food material may be present. 

 Etiolated leaves exposed to light in an atmosphere deprived of all carbon dioxid 

 turn green and may acquire a quite active power of assimilation, which, however, 

 soon begins to weaken and is in most cases rapidly lost. The stoppage of assimila- 

 tion may take place while the chloroplastids are still normal in appearance; butin 

 all cases a visible change in appearance and coloration is finally produced. From 

 the first condition recovery is generally, but from the second only rarely, possible. 

 Assimilatory cells or tissues, therefore, which are prevented from assimilating by 

 being kept in darkness, or by being exposed to light in an atmosphere deprived of 

 all carbon dioxid, retain their potential power of assimilation only for a given 

 Length of time, which is, the other conditions being similar, shorter in the latter case 

 than in the former, and which is in each case mainly dependent upon the hereditary 

 nature of the given plant.'' 



New species of fungi, J. B. Em. is and 1'.. M. Everhart (Amer. Nat., •■'/ {1897), 

 No. 865, pp. /.' (SO). — Notes and descriptions are given of 20 species of fungi from 

 various localities. 



New West Indian fungi, .1. B. Ellis and F. 1>. K elsey (Toi-rey Bui., U (1897), 

 No. 4, pp. 207-209). 



Concerning the present, systematic classification of fungi, G. Lindat ( Bot. 

 Ceulr. J',1., 70 (1897), No. 1, pp. 2-1 



Numerical variation of parts in Ranunculus repens, J. H. PLEDGE (Nat. Set., 

 10 (1S97), No. 68, ]>j>. 32 828, figs. 4). 



How flowers attract insects, V. Plateau (Bui. Acad. Hoy. Set. Belg., ser. 

 (1S97), No. 1, pp. 17-41 : al>s. in Hot. Ztg., 55 ( 1891 I, So. 7, pp. 108-109). 



An ecological study of the genus Talinum with descriptions of two species, 

 J W. HARSHBERGER i Toi-rey Hut.. 24 (1891 ), No. 4, pp.7?8-188, pi. 1). 



Mour. Linn, gqc, Bot, ^ (1896), No. 217, p. 364 (E. S. R., 8. p. 287). 



