1889. J BOTANICAL GAZETTE. 20Q 



In some " remarks on the color reactions and the aldehyde nature of 

 wood," 1 Dr. Emil Nickel contends that the reactions of anilin sulphate, 

 phloroglucin, etc., are not due to the vanillin in the lignified walls, as has 

 long been believed, but that the woody wall itself reacts to these sub- 

 stances as do the promatic aldehydes and allied bodies. He has shown 

 that vanillin does not approach wood in sensitiveness to the " lignin rea- 

 gents." Investigations in this direction may shed light on the obscure 

 nature of " lignification." 



E. R. Trautvetter has willed his herbarium, which is exceedingly 

 rich in Russian plants, to the Herbarium of the Royal Botanic Garden at 

 St. Petersburg. This is most fitting, for it puts these plants in the place 

 where they will be of the most benefit to those who will need them most. 

 It is in striking contrast with the disposition which the late H. G. Reich- 

 enbach made of his collection of Orchids, and which all botanists unite 

 in condemning. Reichenbach has been for years the most indefatigable 

 student of this group, and has described a great many new species, whose 

 types are chiefly confined to his own collection. By the terms of his will 

 this collection goes to the Imperial Hof Museum at Vienna, where it is 



twenty fi 



l 



The gigantic Sumatran Aroid, discovered by Dr. Beccari in 1878, 

 and transplanted to Kew Garden, has at last concluded to bloom. It is a 

 veritable Titan, bearing the name Amorpfwphnllus Titanum Beccari. The 

 tuber is 5 feet in circumference; the solitary leaf stalk 10 feet high ; the 

 leaf 45 feet in circumference ; the scape 19 inches high ; thespathe 3 feet 

 in diameter; and the spadix nearly 6 feet long. The smell from this 

 huge inflorescence is almost overpowering, but lasts only about two days. 

 It is said to be like that of " rotten fish, but of an intensity unspeakable. 

 The plant was at its best for so short a time, that all the study arranged 

 for could not be carried out, but the monster is now fairly well known so 

 far as its outward appearance goes. 



Kny's recent researches on the formation of periderm in tubers oyer 

 the surface of wounds have led him to the following conclusions : 1. The 

 cell-divisions which produce the periderm cells proceed most rapid y in 

 an atmosphere of medium humidity. 2. In chlorophyll-free tubers light 

 does not influence them. 3. Tubers which were kept for twenty-five 

 days previous to the experiment at a temperature of 6-7°C. formed peri- 

 derm more slowly than similar ones which were kept for the same time 

 at a temperature of 18-21 °C. 4. The position of the wound has no influ- 

 ence. 5. Free oxygen is necessary not only for the beginning of the cell- 

 divisions, but also for the suberization of the membranes. In these ex- 

 periments the tubers of Solanum, Inula, Gloxinia, Begonia, Dahlia, Gladi- 

 olus, Maranta, Tradescantia and other genera were used. 1 



»Bot. Centralblatt, xxxviii. 753. 



«See Berichte d. D. bot. G. — ■lis. vii. 154- 



