372 The Botanical Gazette. [June, 
The root-hairs of Coniferz. 
Dr. C. von Tubeuf closes a series of papers entitled, ‘‘Die 
Haarbildungen der Coniferen” in Forstlich-naturwissenschaft- 
liche Zeitschrift with an account of the root-hairs of the Con- 
ifere,’ of which the following is an abstract. 
Of the root-hairs of Conifere little is known. In the few 
instances in which they have been observed they have been 
considered functionless. Schwarz found among all the spe- 
cies of Pinus and Abies observed, only Abies obovata some- 
times with very short hairs which could scarcely be of any 
importance in absorbing water. 
Strasburger states? that root-hairs are entirely wanting in 
species of Thuja, Sequoia, and Araucaria; are present excep- 
tionally in Ephedra, sparingly in Pinus spp., and abundantly 
only in Taxus. 
But von Tubeuf finds twenty-four species capable at least 
of producing root-hairs, and though no root-hairs were found 
on seven species he thinks it not certain that these species do 
not, at other times or under other conditions, form root-hairs. 
root tip. 
The function of the root-hairs appears to be that of these 
structures elsewhere, viz.: to increase the surface by whic 
water and food materials are absorbed. Frank combats the 
idea that they can suffice for this work and thinks that it 1s 
properly accomplished only when fungi (which he calls 
‘‘Baumammen”) invest the lateral roots as a mycorhiza. From 
orstl.-naturwiss. Zeits. 5: 173-1 1 My 1806 
? Coniferen u. Gnetaceen 343. 73-193. pls. 7. My 1896. 
rn ee 
