188 SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 



Seibata, K. — Weitere Mitteilung iiber die Chemotaxis der Equisetum-Spermato- 

 zoiden. (Further communication on the Chemotaxis of Spermatozoids of Equi- 

 setum.) Bot. Mag. Tokyo, xix. (1905) pp. 126-30. 



Tbeboux, 0. — Die Keimung der Moossporen in ihrer Beziehung zum Lichte. 

 (The germination of moss-spores and its relation to light.) 



Ber. Deutsch. Bot. Oes., xxiii. (1905) pp. 397-400. 



CRYPTOGAMS. 



Pteridophyta. 

 (By A. Gepp, M.A., F.L.S.) 



Chloroplast in Selaginella.* — G. Haberlandt describes the proto- 

 plasmic layer which lines the concave side of the chloroplast in the 

 epidermal assimilating cells of the leaf of Selagimlla Martensii. It is 

 highly refractive, 8-4/a thick, homogeneous, and separates the chloroplast 

 from the protoplasm that surrounds the nucleus of the cell. The author 

 describes his microchemical experiments upon it, and discusses its minute 

 structure. He is led to believe that its function is not connected so 

 much with assimilation as with the movements of the chloroplast in 

 response to the stimulus of incident light. 



New Genus of Ophioglossaceae.f — H. L. Lyon has been studying 

 the gametophyte of Botrychium obliquum and other species, and, in con- 

 sequence of the differences observed both in the embryonic development 

 and also in the mature sporophytes of the ternate species, regards the 

 latter group as worthy of segregation in a distinct genus, for which he 

 proposes the name Sceptridium, from the sceptre-like sporangiophore. 

 Under this name he enumerates 20 species and 4 varieties. The generic 

 description is as follows : — Stem subterannean, short, erect, with many 

 clustered roots. Sporophyll dividing near the stem into a long-petioled 

 sporangiophore and a shorter-petioled sterile segment. Sporangiophore 

 erect, bi-, tri- or even quadri-pinnate, bearing naked, spherical sporangia 

 in two rows. Sterile segment inserted obliquely near or at the surface 

 of the ground, ternately divided or compound. Gametophyte tuberous, 

 subterranean, saprophytic, monoecious. Embryo with a suspensor and 

 without a pronounced lateral cotyledon ; its axis straight, the root emerg- 

 ing from the lower side of the gametophyte. 



Alcicornium.J — L. M. Underwood gives under this revived generic 

 name a revision of the genus PJatycerium, recognising 13 species. For 

 these he has constructed a synoptical key, to which is added an enumer- 

 ation bringing together the synonymy, illustrations, and principal 

 references to literature. One new species is described. In an historical 

 account of the genus the author shows by how much nomenclatoriai 

 confusion two of the commonest species have been obscured, and has 

 planned out his revision on the lines of the Rochester code. In a foot- 

 note, evidence is given that Presl's Ephneliae Botanicae, though dated 

 184!) on the title page, was not published till 1852. 



* Ber. Deutsch. Bot. Ges., xxiii. (1905) pp. 441-52 (1 pi.). 



t Bot. Gazette, xl. (1905) pp. 455-8 (1 fig.). 



1 Bull. Torrev Bot. Club, xxxii. (1905) pp. 587-96. 



