CURRENT LITERATURE 215 
1898] 
are the three large centers of development. The author divides the family 
into two groups, one of which includes nearly related forms occurring in 
most salt steppes, and the other including a large number of monotypic 
forms in isolated locations, and sharply distinct from each other, the remnants 
ofa previous development. The character of the first group requires the 
supposition of migration within rather recent times, and the original center 
was probably Australia or the Mediterranean region, the American forms 
having come from Australia. A southern extratropical origin seems most 
likely. The means of dispersal is not clear, since the seeds are not adapted 
for flotation nor for clinging to objects, such as birds. The character of the 
second group leads Mr. Bray to the idea that the isolated forms are relics of 
a far wider distribution in the past, when there were, perhaps, much more 
‘stensive halophytic areas than exist today.—H. C. CowLes. 
Coxtinuine THE WORK of Kny, Mr. C. O. Townsend * has completed a 
toe experiments at Leipzig in the Pfeffer laboratory, whose results throw 
*ew light upon the precise effect of injury upon growth. The study was lim- 
= to seed plants, excepting a number of experiments upon Phycomyces 
my Cuttings and introduction into an atmosphere of ether were the 
‘ynesemployed. The fully tabulated results definitely establish that slight 
1 oapdalaad empty accelerates the rate of growth, while, as the 
Tarying oa injury is increased, the acceleration becomes preceded hy : 
sheers a of retardation. In seed plants the minimum “latent period 
St oa hours, but in Phycomyces injury to the mycelium produced 
mal rate bein - > ota of the growth of the sporangia stalks, the nor- 
found to act ae in from thirty to sixty minutes. Such irritation was 
i rough distances up to 260™™, slight injuries to the root tips 
Stn, ° Sainte in changing the rate in the growing zone of the 
tly the most nge may vary from the normal rate by o to 70 per cent., but 
Of course general resuits could be foretold from a specified injury ; largely, 
Cotter. use the influence of turgor could not be eliminated.— J. G. 
. * Saal as recently investigated the embryo sac of several Narcissus 
Non were co Nga hybrids. In the hybrids various degrees of reduc- 
*dosperm nucle Sometimes there was a small sac with egg apparatus and 
he ov a often there was no trace of a sac, and in some cases 
In referrin ules were developed. ee 
the leas : chromatophily the author quotes Auerbach, who would 
Cyanophilous and erythrophilous almost synonymous with 
os eee 
Trelati ai: 
ibaa i of growth under the influence of injuries. Annals of Botany 
& + che: 
5:948-o5. aes, sac embryonnaire de quelque Narcissées. Bulletin L’Herb. 
