46 



of different varieties, several hundred plants representing sets of 

 selected varieties, have been widely sent out to commercial grow- 

 ers and agricultural schools for extension of some of the experi- 

 mental studies. 



Systematic Botany 



For several years Dr. Gundersen has been engaged in a study 

 of the general problem of the relationship and evolutionary se- 

 . quence of the families of Dicotyledons, at first with reference to 

 the Sympetalae, the group of families whose flowers have their 

 petals united. During the past two years special attention has 

 been given to groups with parietal placentation {e.g., Violaceae 

 and Passifloraceae), and central placentation {e.g., Caryophyl- 

 laceae and Primulaceae). In connection with studies of floral 

 structure, drawings of flower sections have been made by Miss 

 Maude Purely, and photographs of flower sections from nature, 

 by Mr. Louis Buhle. The work is particularly concerned with 

 new lines of evidence as to family relationships, especially where 

 such evidence appears to lead to conclusions at variance with 

 generally accepted views. Such studies as this would eventually 

 make possible a reconstruction of the " family tree " of Dicotvle- 

 dons more nearly in accord with the facts of nature. 



Herbarium 



In connection with the investigations in plant pathology, the 

 Garden has been fortunate in being able to purchase the unusually 

 valuable mycological collection of Dr. Franz Bubak, formerly pro- 

 fessor of botany and plant pathology in the Royal Agricultural 

 Academy and director of the Botanical Garden at Tabor, Bohemia. 



The collection consists of ^^779 specimens most of which are 

 arranged in 139 fascicles. In the 31,548 specimens thus arranged, 

 8,127 species of Fungi are represented. These are distributed 

 among the principal groups of Fungi as follows: Myxomycetes, 

 66; Basidiomycetes, 1,230; Aseomycetes, 2,139; Hemibasidii, 267; 

 Uredinales, 1,437; Imperfecti, 2,796; and Phycomycetes, 192. 



The collection includes the specimens which served as the basis 

 for Dr. Bubak's numerous contributions to mycology and plant 

 pathology. Dr. Bubak has made very extensive mycological col- 



