t 





 I 



1 



\ 



1907] 



BRIEFER ARTICLES 



227 



On the whole the few changes in the names of North American trees 

 necessitated by the adoption of the Vienna code are not greatly to be 

 regretted. The substitution of Carya for the now generally accepted and 

 excellent name of Hicoria for the hickories is unfortunate, although it 

 cannot lead, to much confusion. More serious is the change in the name 

 of the Rocky Mountain spruce, now known and cultivated in all northern 

 countries as Picea pungens Engelm. {P. Parryana Sarg. of the Silva). 

 The name of this tree must now become P. Menziesii Engelm. (not Carr.), 

 although this unfortunately is the name by which P. Silchensis Carr. of the 

 northwest coast, was long known, and is still cultivated in many European 

 countries, especially in Great Britain, where it is a favorite ornamental 

 tree. — C. S. Sargent, Arnold Arboretum, 



i 



REMARKABLE 



7 



IN FERNS 



I 



\ 



4 



(WTCTH ONE figure) 



While studying the embryolog}^ of ferns during the past year in Indiana 

 University, some prothallia of Onodea slrutJiiopleris were supplied me, 

 which had been preserved ten hours after the 



introduction of spermatozoids. From one of 

 these prothaUia especially good preparations 

 were obtained, showing various stages in the de- 

 velopment of archegonia up to normal fecunda- 

 tion. Two cases of polyspermy also were found, 

 of which the most remarkable one is shown in 

 the accompanying figure. No less than seven 

 spermatozoids were counted, entirely within the 

 nuclear membrane and occupying the central 

 part of the nucleus. Nothing in the appear- 



Section of egg cell of 

 Onocka striithiopteris, sbf)W- 

 ing seven sperms (four 

 entire and sections of the 



above the egg cell. 



ance of the egg, either in the cytoplasm or other three) entirely within 

 nucleus, indicated an abnormal condition of the egg nucleus and three 



the egg or egg nucleus. The chromatin net- T™'.._^__!^ln'''"''''''^ 

 work was broken up and irregularly massed, 

 but it could hardly have been otherwise after the entrance of so many 

 spermatozoids. Four of the spermatozoids, as shown in the figure, were 

 obtained entire in one section, three others being cut in two and lying 

 in the neighboring sections. Three spermatozoids, which did not suc- 

 ceed in entering the egg, lie in the concavity just above it. — William I^. 

 Wood BURN, Indiana University. 



1 



