_ two cells one large and one small. The larger one, a, pro 
18 The Botanical Gazette. [January. 
appearance in a hypertrophic rudimentary anther which under 
their stimulation, forms the ordinary dehiscence lines, it hap- 
pens that when the spores of the Ustilago are ripe, they are 
distributed by the same means and agencies which commonly 
distribute the Lychnis pollen. This is of clear advantage to 
the fungus for it is thus sown upon young buds as well as upon 
stigmatic areas. The whole series of phenomena is one which 
indicates in very interesting fashion how intimate and remark- 
able may be the relation between host and parasite. —CON- 
WAY MACMILLAN. i 
The behavior of the pollen-tube of gymnosperms. 
In a recent paper,! preliminary to a more complete re- 
search Belajeff publishes some suggestive observations regard- 
ing the divisions which take place in the pollen-tube of Zarus 
baccata. 
It is well known that one or more cells are commonly cut off 
from the body of the pollen grain early inits development. Man 
have considered this cell or cells as representing a male prothal- — 
lium, and Strasburger states that they have to do with the for- — 
mation of the pollen tube, and after that have no further part — 
to play. Belajeff, however, was led by his researches into the — 
antheridia of the higher cryptogams and the pollen tubes 0 
the angiosperms to think that it was not the large cell of the 
pollen grain of gymnosperms, but the small ones which have — 
to do with fertilization. He therefore examined with great 
care the processes in Taxus baccata with the following result: 
In this plant the contents of the pollen grain divides into. 
duces the tube, the nucleus and other contents wandering t® 
theapex. The smaller cell 4, whichremains behind, then divide 
* Berichte der deutschen bot. Gesellschaft rx. 280. (1891.) 
. 
