156 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [AUGUST 
and rhizome, endodermis, and epidermis. The microchemical reactions for 
each of these layers are given. A process called ‘“‘metacutinization” is des- 
cribed, which involves all the outer cells of a root-tip, and occurs at the end of the 
growing season. Four stages in the development of the endodermis are dis- 
tinguished, following KRorMER, viz., embryonic, primary (characterized by 
presence of CASPARY’s points), secondary, and tertiary (showing suberization 
and lignification of a large part of the wall). The endodermis of the root does 
not usually pass through more than the first two stages. The writer brings 
together the information available concerning the presence or absence of an 
endodermis in monocotyledonous stems, and a survey of the tables shows that 
in about 60 per cent of the species an endodermis is present in the underground 
stem, while only in Medeola and Scindapsis has an endodermis been reported 
for the aerial stem. The relation of the starch sheath of aerial stems to the 
endodermis of rhizomes was also studied, and the writer failed to establish an 
actual continuity between the two layers. The function of the endodermis is 
said to be the transfer of water and food between the central cylinder and the 
cortex, and the increasing cutinization is associated with the necessity for check- 
ing the movement of solutes in the radial direction —M. A. CHRYSLER. 
Items of taxonomic interest.—H. D. House (Muhlenbergia 1: 127-131. 1906) 
publishes several changes in the nomenclature of Orchidaceae, and describes 4 
new Californian species of Dichondra—A. A. HELLER (idem 134) publishes @ 
new Californian species of Ribes.—Under the editorship of Icn. URBAN (Engler's 
Bot. Jahrb. 3'7:373-462. pl. 9. 1906) a fascicle of 18 contributions describing 
new Andean plants has been published, among which the following new genera 
appear: Orchidotypus (Orchidaceae), by F. KrAnziin; Laccopetalum (Ranun- 
culaceae), by E. Ursricu; Belonanthus and Stangea (Valerianaceae), by P. 
Pricer (idem, 
has described 2 new genera from Madagascar: Cloiselia (Compositae) and 
Stenandriopsis (Acanthaceae).—R. M. Harper (Bull. Torr. Bot. Club 33-229" 
245. 1906) has described new species from the coastal plain of Georgia under 
Sporobolus and Nymphaea.—W. H. BLANcHaRD (Rhodora 8:95-98. 1906) has 
described two new species of Rubus from New England, both of them high black- 
berries—A. ZAHLBRUCKNER (Ber. Deutsch. Bot. Gesell. 24: 141-146. ft. 10. 
1996) has described a new genus (Lindauopsis) of parasites in the hymenium of 
lichens.—R. SCHLECHTER (Bot. Jahrb. 39: 161-274. figs. 13-23- 1906), in com 
pleting his account of New Caledonian plants, describes the following new engine 
Menepetalum (Celastraceae), Acropogon (Sterculiaceae), Memecylantus 
Pachydiscus (Caprifoliaceae).—J. M. C. 
Double fertilization in Carpinus.—In 1893 Miss BENSON published her oe 
paper on the embryology of the Amentiferae. This is now followed by a seco®! 
