BOTANY. (515 



First annual supplement to the fourth State catalogue of Ohio plants, 

 W. A. Kellermax {Bui. Oliio State I'nii., 4. ser. {1900), No. 28, pp. 10). — A list Ih given 

 of plants which have hitherto not been reported in the State catalogue of the plants of 

 Oliio. The (listriliution of the different sj)e('ies l)y counties is shown. 



Fodder and forage plants exclusive of the grasses, J. G. Smith ( V. S. Dept. 

 Agr., Division of Agroi^tology Bui. 2, rev., jyp. 86, ph. 2, figs. 46). — This is a revised 

 and enlarged edition (E. S. E., 8, p. 306). INIany of the plants here described were 

 either unknown or have become of increasing importance since the first edition. In 

 the present enumeration 333 species of forage and fodder plants are described, 168 of 

 which belong to the Leguminoste and 30 to the Salsolacefe. 



Studies on American grasses. A revision of the North American species 

 of Bromus occurring north of Mexico, C. L. Shear ( U. S. Dept. Agr., Dirhion of 

 AgroMology Bui. 2S, pp. 66, figs. 40). — The present paper contains descriptions of 6-4 

 species and varieties, 45 of which are native and 19 introduced. Of this number the 

 author describes 3 species and 15 varieties as new. 



Under a discussion of economic importance, Bromus p)umpellkmus, a native of the 

 northern Rocky Mountain region is said to be very promising and, since it is closely 

 related to B. hwnnis, is adapted to similar conditions of soil and climate. Nearly all 

 of the introduced species are said to show decided weed propensities and are quite 

 trou1>lesome, especially in the Western coast region. 



Enumeration of the plants producing caoutchouc and gutta-percha col- 

 lected in the islands of Sumatra, Borneo, and Java, J. G. Boerlacje {'Slmifls 

 Plantentuin, Bui. Inst. Bot. Buitenzorg, 1900, No. 5, pp. 29). — A list, together with 

 brief notes, is given of 76 species of caoutchouc and gutta-percha bearing plants, rep- 

 resenting 20 genera. 



Investigations on lenticels, H. Devaux {Ann. Sci. Nat. Bot., 8. ser., 12 {1900), 

 Nos. 1-4, pp. 1-240, jilx. 6, fig.-<. 7). — A report is given on the occurrence and distribu- 

 tion of lenticels in phmts, and special studies on their structure, origin, evolution, 

 physiology, and function. An extensive bibliography completes the publication. 



The role of laticiferous tissues, L. Gaucher {Ann. Set. Nat. Bot., 8. ser., 12 

 {1900), No. 5-6, pp. 241-260, figs. 9). 



The relation between the habitat and form of Cruciferae, E. Steiger ( Ver- 

 haudl. Naturf. Gesell., Basel, 12 {1900), No. 3, j)p. 373-401). 



Sugar as an aid to the growth of plants, J. Golding {Jour. Soc. Clwm. Iml., 19 

 (1900), ]>p. 324, 32.5; ahs. la Jour. Chem. Sor. [London], 78 {1900), No. 455, 11, p. 617). 



Recent investigations on the diastatic functions of plants, L. Breaudat 

 (.■]///(. Ilyg. et Med. Colon., 1900, No. 2, jJp. 203-205). 



Notes on carbon assimilation, X. Wetterwald ( Verliandl. Naturf. Gesell., Basel, 

 12 {1900), No. 2, pp. 225-243). 



The origin of tannin in galls, H. Kraemer {Science, n. .^er., 12 {1900), No. 303, 

 pp. 583, 584). — Notes are given on the origin of tannin in galls produced on Quercus 

 coccinea and Q. imhricaria. If examined in a young state, while the larvaj, which are 

 supposed to be those of Cynips aciculata, are immature, a large amount of starch is 

 observed. When the winged insects are developed, specimens treated with copper 

 acetate solutions showed numerous brownish-red tannin masses adhering to the 

 yellowish-brown crystals of gallic acid. The gallic acid ajipears to be formed at the 

 expense of the starch in the gall, during the chrysalis stage of the insect. 



A mold isolated from tan-bark liquors, Katharixe L. Goldex {Science, n. ser., 

 12 {1900), No. 303, p. 582). — A note is given on a ))right pink mold isolated from tan- 

 bark liquors which were obtained from a tanning factory emijloying the liming pro- 

 cess. The mold has a characteristic powdery appearance, due to the great numl^er 

 of spores formed. The organism fermented sucrose, dextrose, and maltose. Three 

 distinct enzyms were developed by the action of the mold — a tryptic, a diastatic, and 

 a rennet enzviu — all of which were fairlv active. 



