32 THE JOURNAL OF BOTANY 



the external morphology of the specimens, supports the already 

 accepted idea of a uniform Mesozoic Flora. 



The November number (vol. ii. no. 3) of the Journal of 

 Genetics (Cambridge University Press, 10s. net) contains a 

 detailed account of the experiments, in the course of which about 

 10,000 specimens have been examined, that have been carried on 

 by' Dr. A. H. Trow for the last six years on the inheritance of 

 certain characters in Senecio vulgaris and its segregates. Dr. 

 Trow finds that the Groundsel includes many segregate or ele- 

 mentary species, of which twelve " have been cultivated and 

 maintained pure and true to type for at least several generations. 

 Six of them have been studied in detail, and are distinguished by 

 more or less descriptive names — prcecox, erectus, multicaulis, lati- 

 folius, genevensis, and lanuginosus " — the last being radiate, the 

 remainder non-radiate. " Lanuginosus was obtained from the 

 Channel Islands, genevensis was collected in the vineyards near 

 Montreux, and the others were found in the neighbourhood of 

 Cardiff." The paper, which is of great interest and importance, 

 is illustrated by four plates from photographs of the principal 

 forms. Drs. Keeble and Frankland Armstrong have in the same 

 number a paper on "The role of oxydases in the formation of the 

 anthocyan pigments of plants," based on observations on Primula 

 sinensis (of various flowers of which a coloured plate is given) 

 and Dianthus barbatus. The Journal is beautifully printed. 



Penicillium glaucum, the blue-mould, is one of our most 

 familiar fungi and to most botanists represents the " green " 

 Penicillium species which have been studied in great detail by 

 Richard Westling (Ueber die grunen Spezies der Gattung Peni- 

 cillium. Arkiv fur Botanik, ii. n. 1, Upsala). He obtained material 

 from decaying fruits, cheese, &c., and has made artificial cultures 

 on different media. He has discovered a great many additional 

 species, and gives us diagnoses of forty-four which he considers 

 well-established, as they remained unchanged in the different con- 

 ditions to which he subjected them. He found that Coremium 

 formation, in which the conidiophores grow in compact, stalk-like 

 groups, was not the result of any special nutrition, but that it was 

 a character constant in certain species and therefore of diagnostic 

 value. He relies largely on spore characters in the determination 

 of species, as they are unaffected by external changes. The genus 

 L'itromyccs has been included by Westling in Penicillium, as he 

 finds connecting forms between the two genera. The historical and 

 biological notes will prove to be of service in the study of other 

 groups as well, and enhance the value of the monograph. Most 

 of the species are illustrated in the text. — A.L.S. 



We understand that the Scottish Botanical Review, which 

 completed its first volume with the number for October, will not 

 be continued. 



We regret to announce the death, on December 13, of the 

 Rev. John Gerard, S.J., of whom a notice will appear in our next 

 issue. 



