158 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [AUGUST 
1500 proembryos, but actually it produces only ro to 20 seeds. The factors respon- 
sible for the difference between the theoretical and the actual output are consid- 
ered, both in the field study and in the cytological work.—CHaArLEs J. CHAM 
BERLAIN. 
Geotropic curvature.—Poropko, reinvestigating the statement of Koxt that 
“the geotropic curvature extends also to parts of the stem in which growth can 
no longer be demonstrated,”’ comes to the contrary conclusion, though he does 
not discover the source of Kout’s error, unless in the fact that he did not use the 
microscope in his measurements.?4 
Bacu’s conclusion that the presentation and reaction times for geotropic 
curvatures are not affected by shaking and jarring, has been welcomed by oppo- 
nents of the statolith theory of geoperception as depriving it of an important sup- 
port, though Bacu himself does not so use his data. HABERLANDT, whose 
experiments in shaking and jarring led him to quite the opposite conclusion, 
reexamines BAcu’s data, criticizes his methods somewhat, and interprets some of 
his experi t h g the very thing which BAcu thought they did not show.?5 
HABERLANDT also pays his compliments to LiNsBAUER, who raised a theoretical 
objection to the value of the jarring experiments. The statolith theory has a 
watchful champion, ready to meet all comers.—C. R. B. 
A lycopod with a seedlike structure.—Miss BENSon’s abstract of her paper 
on Miadesmia was noticed in this journal.?° The full paper has now appeared,” 
and the fuller description and plates make the situation more evident. The 
discovery of the sporophylls of this minute, herbaceous, paleozoic lycopod, has 
shown a clear relationship to the ligulate Lycopodiaceae, especially Selaginella. 
The megasporangium produces a single, thin-walled spore, which germinates # 
situ. An integument is developed around the sporangium, leaving 4 micropyle; 
and from the surface of the integument numerous long processes develop, giving 
quite a fringed look to the apparatus. At maturity. the sporophyll is shed, the 
whole structure resembling a winged and fringed seed. The relation of this 
“integument” to the “‘velum” of other groups is vague and apparently : 
worth considering; but another case of integumented sporangium, to be added 
to the previously described Lepidocarpon, is quite worth while.—J. M. C. . 
Dwarf male prothallia.—Booprr?® has observed that if Todea phiciel : 
filmy species, be kept in a sufficiently damp atmosphere, the sporangia do no 
24 Poropko, T., Nimmt die ausgewachsene Region des orthotropen Stengels 4” 
der geotropischen Kriimmung teil? Ber. Deutsch. Bot. Gesells. 26a: 3-14- ‘ ps 
25 HABERLANDT, G., Ueber die Einfluss des Schiittelns auf die Perception 
geotropischen Reizes. Ber. Deutsch. Bot. Gesells. 26a: 22-28. 1908 
26 Bot. GAZETTE 44:318. 1907. ic 
27 BENSON, MARGARET Miadesmia membranacea Bertrand; a new palaeo ve 
lycopod with a seed-like structure. Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc. London B. 199:409-4 
pls. 33 -37. 1908. aaa Todea- 
] rd 1 , ae) eee 
f 
Annals of Botany 22:231-243. pl. 16. 1908. 
