1913] CURRENT LITERATURE 247 
indicators of phylogeny.” “In fact, until more knowledge is obtained with 
regard to the interrelationship of plant members and the influence of environ- 
ment—in a word, the influence of physiological necessity on morphological 
expression—we cannot determine with any degree of certainty the precise value 
of many anatomical characters.” The same disposition is made of the size and 
number of vascular bundles in connection with the transition phenomena. 
“Sufficient has been said to show the enormous importance of physiology in 
questions relating to vascular tissues; for our own part we are strongly of the 
opinion that no real further advance in our knowledge of morphology, more 
especially of the higher plants, is possible without an adequate investigation of 
the physiology of the members concerned.” —J. M. C. 
Inheritance of quantitative chaiettacs:<eigeior and East® have dis- 
cussed this subject rather fully and have presented data bearing upon it secured 
from experiments with maize. Inheritance was studied in number of rows per 
ear, length of ear, diameter of ear, weight of seeds, breadth of seeds, and height 
of Plants. The general conclusion is stated compactly as follows: ‘‘The results 
endelian manner. It is quite likely that genetic correlations occur between 
factors for distinct quantitative characters. ese and the physiological cor- 
relations so frequently noted make the results more difficult of interpretation, 
but do not throw them out of the realm of Mendelian phenomena. Physiological 
correlation is a phenomenon of development, not of inheritance, and as.such has 
less interest for students of genetics than for experimental morphologists. Even 
in practical plant breeding, correlations of this sort are of importance mainly on 
account of the physiological or morphological limits that tgp set to the perfect 
development of particular combinations of characters. YJ, M. C. 

The individuality of ~ —_— 
years ago, Sapéhin found plastids even tissue, both in eprearenates 
types, like Anthoceros, I sods; and Selaginella, andi in onlpianes: forms, like the 
majority of plants. In a second preliminary account® he deals principally with 
Lycopodium, which he finds to belong to the monoplastic type; and with Funaria, 
which belongs to the polyplastic type. In the antheridium of Funaria, 
which starts as a polyplastic organ, cell division is not accompanied by any 
division of the plastid, and consequently the spermatogenous cells soon become 


“ Emerson, R. A., and East, E. M., The inheritance of quantitative characters 
inmaize. Agric. Exper. Station, Univ. Neb., Research Bull. 2. pp. 120. figs. 21. 1913. 
“Sapkuin, A. A., Uber das Verhalten der Plastiden in sporogenen Gewebe. 
Ber. teas Bot. Gesells. 29491-4906. figs. 5. 191. 
——, oe oe iiber die Individualitit der Plastide. Ber. Deutsch. 
