76 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [JULY 



very late. Double fertilization was observed, andjthe writer believes that 

 in all cases the union of the male nucleus with the polar nucleus takes place 

 earlier than the fertilization of the Q%g. Although the occasional occurrence 

 of ambisporangiate flowers may indicate a reduced rather than a primitive 

 condition, the Juglandaceae are to be regarded as one of the lowest families 

 of the angiosperms. 



Professor Karsten's arguments for the derivation of angiosperms from 

 gymnosperms are based upon embryological characters, and the most impor- 

 tant points are well summed up in his diagrammatic comparison of the embryo- 

 sacs of Gnetum and the angiosperms. as follows: 



Gnetum 



Angiosperms. 



Prothallium in lower part = Antipodals. 



Egg cells 



Egg cell and synergids. 



Endosperm nuclei = Polar nuclei. 



The stimulus to development of em- 1 f The stimulus to development of the 



bryo and endosperm by fertilization ! 

 of at least two egg cells. 



embryo by fertilization of the egg, 

 and development of endosperm by 

 (^ vegetative reproduction. 



Charles J. Chamberlain. 

 Items of taxonomic interest are as follows : J. K. Small (Torreya 



2 : 74. IQ02) has described a new Helianthus from the sea beach of Florida. 

 F. S. Earle (Bull. N. Y. Bot. Garden 2 : 331-350. 1902) has published 

 the first of a series of papers entitled ** Mycological studies." It contains the 

 announcement of the genus Ascocorticium in North America ; a synopsis of 

 the North American species of Periconia, 1 1 being recognized, 3 of which are 



new 



Hyp 



and Ohleriella f Amphisphaeriaceae) being new genera. — R. S. Williams 

 {idem 35^-380. P^s, 34-39) has published a preliminary list of Montana 

 mosses, including new species of Dicranum and Barbula.— R. Pilger 

 (Engler's Bot, Jahrb. 32 : 53-55. 1902) has described a new African genus 

 {Acritochaete) of grasses (Paniceae).— W. Schmidle {idem 82) has described 

 a new African genus {Characiella) of Protococcaceae.— A. EngleR {idem 

 108-125) has described the following new African genera : Lepidobotrys and 

 Nectaropetalum (Linaceae), Pedaliophyton (Pedaliaceae), and Pistaciopsis 

 (Simarubaceae). — E. Gilg {idem 139) has described a new African genus 

 {Dekindtia) of Oleaceae.— V. S. White (Bull. Torr. Bot. Club 29 : 251-280. 

 ph, 14-18. 1902) bas published a revision of the Nidulariaceae of North 

 America, Cyathia P. Br. {Cyathus Haller) containmg thirteen species, one of 

 which is new; Crucibulura Tul. with one species ; Nidula, a new genus con- 

 taining two species, one of them new; and Granularia Roth with three 

 species, two of them new.— Marshall A. Howe {idem 281-289) in "Notes 

 on American Hepaticae," discusses Cephalozia coiinivens, Telaranea, Arach- 



