Notes and Comments. 243 
plates of Geese, Swans and Ducks. Plate 30 illustrates 
Pallas’s Sand Grouse, a species of great interest to northern 
Naturalists, and there are also Ptarmigan, Pheasants, Par- 
tridges, Crakes, etc. 
PURPLE HEATH GRASS, 
In The New Phytologist there is a second illustrated article 
on the Purple Heath Grass by the Rev. T. A. Jefferies, F.L.S., 
entitled ‘ The Vegetative Anatomy of Molinia caerulea.’ It 
follows up the author’s former account of the plant’s ecology, 
based on a study of the species carried out on the Slaithwaite 
Moors near Huddersfield at the suggestion of Dr. T. W. Wood- 
head, and describes many peculiar features in the morphology 
of this interesting grass. The roots have root-hairs dis- 
tributed over the entire system and more abundant on the 
thick cord-roots than on the fibrous; the piliferous layer 
does not become cuticularized and mycorhiza are common ; 
the cord-roots have a well developed stele containing a strong 
sclerenchymatous pith and very large vessels, and surrounded 
by a prominent pitted endodermis. The rhizomes are usually 
much reduced, but elongate considerably when conditions 
call for an upraising of the leaves. The aerial stems have 
tuberous ‘ basal internodes’ containing very thick walled 
storage tissue, having wide pits which clearly show continuity 
of protoplasm, and packed with starch and protein grains. 
AND ITS ANATOMY. 
These storage organs remain throughout the winter to 
feed the spring growth, and are ‘evergreen’ in the upper 
part. Two series of leaves spring from the top and the bottom 
of these “ basal internodes,’ and it is noteworthy that in this 
monocotyledonous species we have absciss layers to protect 
the food reserve after leaf fall. The leaves, which, unlike 
some other common moorland grasses, are of the flat ribbon 
type, possess a highly developed motor mechanism, and have 
vascular bundles with very thick walled elements, double 
sheaths, and stereome girders. In addition to the ‘ basal 
internodes’ food reserves are stored in the rhizomes and in 
the cortex of the cord-roots, and in the latter case the thick 
walled storage tissue functions also as an aerating tissue. 
Other striking features are the wealth of mechanical 
strengthening tissue in all parts, and the remarkable develop- 
ment of xylem elements. The galls of Oligotrophus ventn- 
colus, which are regularly found on this grass, are also briefly 
described. 
OXLIPS. 
In a district where both primrose and cowslip are plentiful 
(says Mr. Highfield in an article in a recent number of Know- 
ledge) it is quite a commom thing to meet with intermediate 
1916 Aug. 1. 
