60 
sidered a link between Parictales and Centrospermac, the same as 
Frrankeniaceac ( Parietales . 
The second illustration (lig. 5) shows the sections of bud and 
adult flower of a Selenicereus species with two interesting dif- 
ferences. In the bud the ovary is almost entirely divided, which is 
approximately the condition in Atgoaceae. Again, in the bud the 
ovules are sessile on the ovary walls, while in the adult they are 
attached to long branching funicult. This difference is suggestive, 
for in the genus Pereskia, which by its ordinary leaves appears to 
be a primitive form of the Cactaccae, the ovules are sessile and 
— 
basal, in this respect like many plants of the Centrosperimace. 
Miss Maud HH. Purdy has made a number of drawings and 
paintings showing details of flower-structures. Figure 6 illus- 
trates the axile placentation of Solanaccae, also the relatively large 
size in the bud of anthers and ovules compared to floral envelopes. 
In Fig. 7, of Primula, the corolla tube is proportionately much 
‘pearly’? ovules 
” 
‘ 
shorter in the bud than in the adult flower; the 
and central placentation characterize Centrospermae as well as 
Primulales. The early appearance in the bud of the characteristic 
placentation is of interest. 
By Henry K. SvENSON 
Galapagos Collections 
Systematic work of the past year has been largely concerned 
with determinations and notes on the specimens collected on the 
Astor Expedition to the Galapagos and Cocos Islands in 1930. I 
have had the cooperation of numerous specialists in difficult groups 
and the work is nearing completion. 
Eleocharis 
A second installment of a monograph of Eleocharis has been 
turned in for publication. Although part of this work was com- 
pleted before I came to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, much of 
the revision has been done here, many specimens having been 
borrowed for study through the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. The 
paper is a treatment of a primarily North American group of 
sedges, known as spike-rushes, which have always been difficult 
to identify, the group of species centering about Eleocharis capitata 
(/:. tenuis) being especially discussed. 
