tal 
the Himalayas, boreal Eurasia and North America, and from the 
Andes in South America. As might be expected, various forms 
are assumed by the species in these diverse geographical areas. 
The variety from northeastern United States and Canada has 
been set apart as E. pauciflora var. Fernald (Rhodora 36: 380. 
1934). A new species of Eleocharis from Brazil was described as 
FE. squamvgera. 
GENETICS 
By Ratrpu C. BENEDICT 
A Study of Variation of Nephrolepis 
My study of variation in the fern genus, Nephrolepis, began at 
the Brooklyn Botanic Garden twenty years ago, in January, 
1915. Since that time, special attention has been given to two 
types of variation: (1) bud variation of Nephrolepis exaltata 
bostoniensis; (2) variation in the spore progeny of NV. exaltata 
fertilis. Incidentally, considerable attention has been paid to 
the study of variation among the natural species of this genus. 
Beginning early in 1934, this phase of the problem has been 
taken up more intensively. The help of a considerable number 
of botanists the world over has been requested in the collection of 
species of Nephrolepis native in their regions. A special phase 
of this study has been the initiation of spore cultures of a number 
of different species. By this method, it is hoped that the collec- 
tion of plants of various species may be increased, and that a 
comparative study of the gametophytic stage of the different 
species may be accomplished. 
Economic BOTANY 
By RatpH H. CHENEY 
Studies of Coffea arabica 
A study of the molds which develop on commercial coffee 
essences and prepared, concentrated liquids was begun. The 
investigation concerning the formation and histology of the coffee 
leaf glands has progressed. 
The summer of 1934 was devoted to research at the Marine 
Biological Laboratory at Woods Hole, Massachusetts. The 
