and Laboratory Methods. 1461 



life histories of typical forms are thoroughly illustrated. The most important 

 genera and the commonest species are often mentioned, so that while the book 

 does not pretend to be a manual for the identification of genera or species, it 

 nevertheless serves this purpose in many cases. The large number of excellent 

 illustrations, together with the clear style in which the book is written, afford the 

 English speaking student a good opportunity for improving his German while 

 increasing his knowledge of Algae and Fungi. c. j. c. 



Bernard, Ch. Recherches surles spheres attract- For the past five or six years many in- 

 ives Chez Lilium candidum, Helosis guaya- vestigators have denied the existence 



nensis, etc. Jour, de Botanique 14: ii6- ° 



124, i77-[SS, 206-212, pis. 4-5, 1900. of centrosomes in the higher plants, 



while other investigators, working with 

 practically the same material and employing the same methods, have insisted 

 that the centrosomes are present. Prof. Bernard has examined Lilium candidu7n, 

 L. Martagoii and Helosis guayancnsis and has convinced himself of the presence 

 of these much discussed structures. Material was fixed in alcohol and in Flem- 

 ming's solution and was stained in a mixture of fuchsin and iodin green (1 per 

 cent, aqueous solution of fuchsin, '1 parts ; 1 per cent, aqueous solution of iodin 

 green, 2 parts, and water 40 parts). The safranin-gentian-violet orange combi- 

 nation did not give as good results. In L. cafididumthe centrosomes were found 

 tjuite regularly during various phases in the germination of the megaspore. They 

 resemble the structures described by Guignard, but are not so sharply defined. 

 The centrosome was also identified in the gametophytes of Helosis. In Z. Mar- 

 tagon centrosomes were found in the female gametophyte, in the vegetative cells 

 of the ovule, but could not be positively identified in the endosperm. The centro- 

 some is cytoplasmic in origin. 



Incidentally, it is noted that there are sometimes two embryo sacs in Z. ca?idi- 

 dum. In this species a very large vacuole develops between the two polar 

 nuclei, preventing the nuclei from fusing. The writer suggests that this may 

 account for the sterility of this species. It is also noted that the upper polar 

 nucleus and the nuclei of the egg and synergids are erythrophilous, while the four 

 nuclei at the antipodal end of the sac are cyanophilous. This difference in 

 chromatophily is attributed to chemical differences due to sexuality, the nuclei at 

 the antipodal end of the sac having lost all sexual character. c. j. c. 



Chodat, R., and Bernard, C. Sur le sac embry- Comparatively little is known of the 

 onnaire de I'Helosis guayanensis. Jour, de embryology of the BalanophoraceJE, 

 Botanique. 14: 72-79, pis. 1-2, 1900. ... 



but it is certain that they have puzzling 

 peculiarities. Writers agree that there is no ovule or placenta in Balanophora^ 

 but that the megaspore is situated in a tissue at the base of a prolongation incor- 

 rectly termed a "style." Van Tieghem (1896) found that in B. iudica the polar 

 nuclei do not fuse and that fertilization occurs at the antipodal end of the sac as 

 often as at the upper end. According to Treub (1898), in B. elongata the mega- 

 spore germinates in the usual manner. The polar nuclei, however, do not fuse, 

 but each divides independently. The egg apparatus breaks down and there is 

 no fertilization, but an embryo develops from one of the cells of the endosperm. 

 Lotsy (1899) investigated B. globosa and supported Treub in every particular, 

 including the peculiar origin of the embryo. 



