FECUNDATION OF GLOXINIA ERECTA. 185 
duced by means of these fascicles of rather fleshy leaves. The young 
roots and first new leaves appear to be nourished at the expense of the 
materials laid up in them, as they gradually shrink as those organs are 
developed, and by the time that they are exhausted the roots are able 
to derive the requisite nourishment from the soil ; in fact, they act just 
as bulbs and oviparous buds do in other plants which increase in that 
way. M. Henrotay was very careful in his observations, and made 
several experiments for the purpose of becoming quite sure of the 
facts, before venturing upon their publication. They are most credit- 
able to his care and judgment, and a valuable addition to our botanical 
knowledge.—C. C. BABINGTON. 
FECUNDATION OF GLOXINIA ERECTA. 
In the Bulletin de la Soc. Botan. de France, vol. vii. p. 772 (pub- 
lished in April, 1863), there is a note by M. Ern. Faivre upon the 
fecundation of G@lowinia erecta, well deserving of attention. Amongst 
other interesting remarks, he states as follows :— On June 26th, four 
flowers opened at 4 P.m.; June 27th, at 7 A.M. the style was 10 
millimetres in length ; at 7 p.m. of that day, it had attained a length 
16 millim.; on the 28th, at 7 A.M., it measured 22 millim. ; at 
3 P.M. it had lengthened sufficiently to come into contact with the co- 
herent anthers, and, being arrested in its ascent by them, was much 
curved. This contact lasted for about four days. On July 2nd, it 
released itself from the anthers, was straightened, and continued to 
lengthen for twenty-four hours, when it had attained its full length of 
33 millimetres. The flower did not fall until July 7th. The filaments 
of the stamens also slightly lengthen, but more slowly than the style, 
and are recurved after fertilization has taken place. Thus im seven 
days the style grows from a length of 10 millimetres to one of 33; 
after the expansion of the flower, it takes about 32 hours for the stigma 
to reach the stamens, and is lengthened 12 millimetres in that time. 
Only two of the four flowers observed were fertilized and produced 
seeds. M. Faivre has observed the same thing in Agave densiflora and 
Bonapartea juncea—C. C. BABINGTON. 
fe elas Saleen DEN, eee 
