230 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [MARCH 
and in a few very vigorous tubes about twenty. All other living gymnosperms 
yet described have but two sperm tells. The pollen grains of Cordaites con- 
tain a cell complex which has been interpreted as an antheridium. The cell 
complex in Cupressus seems to be similar, although in Cordaites it is formed 
n the pollen grain, while in Cupressus is formed later in the pollen tube. 
Callitris guadrivalvis was also examined, but the pollen tube structures 
are practically the same as described by Belajeff for Juniperus and by 
Land for Thuja.—C, J. CHAMBERLAIN. 
ND FLICHE” have discovered fossil remains of Sequoia in 
Portlandian beds near Boulogne-sur-Mer. This is a discovery of great 
importance, since Sequoia has not previously been reported from Jurassic 
strata, Even at this early date the generic characters were well marked, « 
and some of the specific characters of Seguoia gigantea were present. Of no 
less importance is the finding of Pinus in the same beds, one of the Strobus 
type, and one more like P. Zariczo. Pinus is thus surely established as a 
Jurassic genus, and largely differentiated as now. Although Jurassic pines 
have been reported at least three times in as many places, not till now has 
there been such undoubted evidence. Perhaps most remarkable of all is the 
fact that this oldest of known pines is in no sense generalized or archaic, but 
belongs to the most highly specialized group of pines as they exist today. 
Thus in the pines, as in so many plants and animals, are the first known 
forms as highly specialized as any which come later.— H. C. COWLES. 
MATHEWS” has hit upon what seems to be a generalization of rather 
broad significance in his work upon the toxic action of ions upon eggs of 
Fundulus. Since this may well apply to plant protoplasm as well as to that 
of animals, it would be well for plant physiologists who are working with 
poisons to be familiar with it. The hypothesis is briefly this: The physio- 
logical action of both kations and anions is an inverse function of their 
solution tension, z. ¢., their affinity for their electric charge. Thus ‘‘mercury, 
silver, and copper are poisonous because they part with their charges to the 
protoplasmic particles easily, thereby bringing about changes in the state of 
aggregation of the colloidal particles, and decomposition of the molecules.” 
The physiological action of a salt is, therefore, an inverse function of the 
sum of the solution tension of its resulting ions. There seems also to be an 
inverse relationship between atomic volume and toxicity, and a direct rela- 
tion between this and equivalent weight. Poisonous action of metals would 
thus appear to be a “periodic function of their atomic weights.” While the 
evidence is fairly in unison, the hypothesis must needs be tested much 
further before it is fully established.— B. E. LivinGsTon. 
» ZEILLER, R., and FLICHE, P., Découverte de strobiles de Sequoia et de Pin 
dans le Portlandien des “environs de Boulogne-sur-Mer. Compt. Rend. 137: 1020-1022. 
1903. : 
s, A. P., The relation between solution tension, atomic volume, and 
the phytssiocneal action of the elements. Am. Jour. Physiol. 10 : 290-323. 1904 
