1907] CURRENT LITERATURE 239 



i 



Carano, whose paper was noticed in the March number of this journal. From a 

 number of careful measurements of trunks of different species the author concludes 

 that there is no secondary grov^ih in the stem of Pandanus, and that the dimensions 

 of the stem are to be ascribed wholly to the primary growth in the vegtative 



cone. — ]M. A. Chrysler. 



Subsoil water and forests; — Pearson*^ has investigated the level of forest 

 subsoil waters in India as compared with readings made in Russia and France. 

 The conclusions are as follows: the levels within the forest are lower and steadier 

 than those without, the e^eci of rain is felt later and lasts longer within than 

 without, and the old w^oods low^er the level more than young woods. — J. M. C. 



Mutation in Nephrolepis. — Observations upon plants of Nephrolepis Dufjii 

 cultivated in a w^arm, moist atmosphere have brought Goebkl*^ to the con- 

 clusion that this species is a mutation from N. cordijolia, the mutation here being 

 a, case of atavism. He believes that this and other cases of mutation in ferns 

 may be due to adaption to environment. — Charles J. Chamberlain. 



r 



Leguminosae of Porto Rico, — Miss Janet Perkins^^ has published an account 

 of the Leguminosae of Porto Rico, 67 genera and 141 species being recognized. 

 ^ One genus (Stahlia) and eight species are peculiar to the island. The number of 



genera is rather remarkable, the largest being Cassia with 16 species. No new 

 species are described. — ^J. M. C. 



Crossing of Reana and Zea. — Vilmorik^^ has reported the crossing of a 

 species of Reana (teosinte) with Zea Mays, the latter being the pollen parent. 

 The phenomenon of xenia was strikingly developed, the characteristics of the 

 two genera appearing in the ears. — J. M. C. 



Diseases of cereals. — Butler^'^ has described four diseases of grasses in 

 India caused by Sderospora graminicola, the hosts being Pennisctum typhoideum^ 

 Andropogon Sorghum^ Setaria italica, and Euchlaena luxurians. — J. M. C. 



22 PEARSON; Ralph S., The level of subsoil waters with regard to forest. Indian 

 Forester 33:57-69. 1907. 



23 GoEBEL, K., Morphologische und biologi^sche Bcmerkungcn. — 17, Nephro- 

 lepis Duffii. Flora 97:38-42. 1907. 



'4 Perkins, J., The Leguminosae of Porto Rico. Contrib. U. S. Nat. Herb. 10: 

 133-220. 1907. 



35V1LMORIN, Ph., Reana luxurians X Zea Mays. Bull. Soc. Bo t. France 54:39-42. 

 ph J 1907. 



^^BuTLERj E. J., Some diseases of cereals caused by Sderospora graminicola. 

 Mem. Dept. Agric. India Bot. Series 2^: pp. 24- pis J 1907. 



