1900] CURRENT LITERATURE 209 
the neck, the other moves down into the body of the flask, and a wall is 
formed across the base of the neck, giving rise to two endosperm chambers. 
The upper endosperm nucleus divides and forms a‘ compact tissue in the 
upper chamber; while the other enlarges but never divides, the lower and 
larger endosperm chamber apparently being related to the adjacent peri- 
sperm as an absorbing organ. In the upper chamber the embryo is organ- 
ied, and the endosperm about it encroaches upon all the nucellar tissue 
adjacent to it. 
The germination of the seed is also very peculiar, the endosperm emerg- 
ing first, and retaining hold of the cotyledons and supplying nutrition after 
the cotyledon tips have carried the old seed well up into the air. The 
author concludes that there is no evidence that Saururus is more primitive 
m character than many other dicotyledons.— J. M.C. 
9 ceca has devised an apparatus for research on the effect of 
air pressure on plant growth,’ in which the plants can be culti- 
ee eiereble time without being in a stagnant atmosphere and 
ee cS subjected to repeated evacuation of the culture chamber, Te 
ak are ls the use of a tubulated bell jar to which air is admitted 
§" a capillary tube, a water pump in continuous operation serving 
to 
exhaust the chamber more rapidly than the air can enter through the 
capillary passage, ' 
He find 
specially that of the leaves, while germination is retarded and 
shed O pressure. The acceleration of growth, however, is not 
(which really tends to retard growth slightly), nor to les- 
2 Pressure, nor to the altered light, heat, or moisture. The only 
Seems to be that the plants absorb water more rapidly 
Sure (isolated cylinders of live pith do so), and conse- 
reach their definitive size more quickly, thus attaining earlier 
The copious guttation observed both by Débereiner 
aib ; 
© also accords with this explanation.—C. R. B. 
ITeus OF 
8: 385-510, 
Fegion, 
bing numerous new species. NVeogoetzea Pax (Euphorbiacee), 
(Gesneriacex), Megalopus K. Schumann (Rubiacez), and 
and J. y. * Rania (Composite), are the new genera.— HENRY Deans 
are publishing in Proc. Linn. Soc. of South Wales a series 
*Fiinfstuck? i 
82: 52, thas. S$ Beitr. z, wiss. Bot, 4:93-148. 1900. See also Bot. Centralbl. 
