294 PHYSIOLOGICAL BOTANY. 



nium elatum, which flowered in 1841 in the Garden at 

 Paris. 



On the Development of the Ovary, the Embryo, and the 

 anomalous Corollas of the Ranunculacece. By BARNEOUD. 

 Compt. rend., 1845, ii, 352. As the rows of stamens 

 become doubled, we find at their base two oval, some- 

 what approximated plates, which alternate with the sepals; 

 and a little more internally, in a different plane, we find 

 five other ovate plates, which are smaller than the former, 

 and opposite the segments of the calyx. This shows that 

 the two spur-shaped petals belong to another and larger 

 whorl, the other elements of which abort regularly ; the 

 next whorl also aborts. The ovule is always anatropous, 

 but exhibits three remarkable types. According to the 

 first, it makes half a rotation upon itself, in an horizontal 

 direction, and the exostome is directed towards that side 

 on which the placenta is situated, as in the Helleboreae, 

 Pceonieae transverse anatropy. In the second type, the 



Jr / / XT y 



ovule rotates vertically, and the margin of the exostome 

 is turned towards the base of the carpel inferior ana- 

 tropy, as in the Ranunculese. According to the third, 

 the ovule is suspended, and the exostome turned towards 

 the summit of the cavity superior anatropy, as in the 

 Clematideae and Anemoneae. The embryo-sac exists pre- 

 .viously to impregnation ; it becomes filled with cells, 

 which are subsequently transformed into the albumen. 



Chemical Researches upon the Ripening of Fruit. 

 Compt. rend., 1844, 784. This subject is a most im- 

 portant one, and as the chemical changes which occur 

 during the ripening of fruits are very distinct, perhaps one 

 not very difficult of attainment. But isolated remarks 

 against this and that point, such as we find here, are of 

 no use. The experiments must first be performed upon 

 one fruit only, and cherries would be best for this pur- 

 pose, because they quickly ripen, and undergo great 

 changes during maturation ; moreover, as it appears to 

 me, their analysis would be easier than that of the pear, &c. 



