860 RfiiPORT— 1903. 



Among fossil plants the following genera and species exhibit the phenomenon 

 of homoeomorphy; — 



Alethopteris and Loneliopteris (Carboniferous). 



Kturopieris IieterojjJiylla and Linopterii JU'iinsteri . „ 



JVeuropterix gigantea and Linopteris sub-Brongniarti . ,, 



Otozamites and Dictyozamiies ..... (Jurassic). 



Glossopteris and Gangamopteris ? .... (Permo- Carboniferous). 



6. Methods of Mapinnif Plant Distribution. By T. W. Woodhead. 



WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16. 



The following Papers were read : — 



1. On some Anatomical Features of the Saitelhim in Zea Mais. 

 By Ethel Sargant and Agnes Robertson. 



The epidermis of the scutellum develops into a well-marked epithelium over 

 the face which is in contact with the endosperm. We have found that this 

 epithelium folds in on itself in places, forming narrow clefts of considerable depth 

 in the dorsal surface. Both sides are of course lined with the epithelial layer, 

 and the cleft is so narrow that they often touch each other. Traces of secretion 

 are, however, commonly found within these structures which may fairly be described 

 as glands. Their number and size vary in the individuals examined. Their 

 distribution over the dorsal surface of the scutellum is also variable, but they are 

 least frequent near the apex and in the regions bordering on the median longitu- 

 dinal section ; indeed, they are often quite absent from these parts. The glands 

 are fully formed in the ripe seed, and we have not traced their development. 



Similar glands are found in the allied genus Coi.v, but in the individuals of 

 C. lachryma-Jobi which we examined they were less well developed than in Zea. 



Vascular tissue, — The main bundle of the scutellum runs upwards to the apex 

 from the level at which it is inserted on the stele of the axis. Just above its 

 insertion this massive bundle is collateral, with some slight suggestion of a double 

 structure. The single group of xylem is on the ventral side of the bundle. 

 Higher up in the scutellum the xylem begins to creep round the phloem, at the 

 same time throwing out short branches consisting of tracheids and albuminoid 

 cells. Near the apex the main bundle becomes amphivasal, and slender branches 

 are given off profusely from the dorsal face of the bundle. They penetrate all the 

 tissue on the dorsal side of the scutellum apex, but are most frequent near the 

 midrib. These little branches always end freely just under the dorsal surface, 

 commonly about two rows of cells below the epithelium. In character they 

 resemble the transfusion tissue described by Professor Weiss in Stigmarian 

 rootlets. 



We have not observed any relation between the terminations of the vascular 

 branches and the epithelial glands. These terminations occur in those parts of 

 the scutellum where the glands are least frequent. 



2. Experiments tvith the Staminal Hairs of Tradesoantia. 

 By Harold Wager. 



If the staminal hairs or petals of the purple-flowered Tradescantia virginica be 

 killed, either by heat or by certain fixing reagents, the coloured sap in the dead 

 cells is at once taken up by the protoplasm, and especially by the nucleus, which 

 becomes deeply stained red, blue, or greenish blue, according to the nature of the 

 reagent used. The alcohols and corrosive sublimate give a blue or bluish-green 

 coloration; acid alcohol or Pereny's fluid red, and if killed by heat the coloration 

 is reddish violet. 



Preparations thus made may be mounted permanently either in glycerine or 



