1905] CURRENT LITERATURE 159 
true to its new characters. The author gives repeated assurance that the care 
taken with these plants leaves no possibility of error. He does not consider the 
theoretical possibility that his plants were the “extracted recessives” in second- 
generation Mendelian hybrids instead of mutations.—G. H. SHULL. 
STEINER*® has found intumescences on the leaves of Ruellia formosa and 
Aphelandra Porteana, and traced their development. Excessive humidity is 
found to be the determining condition, as is already known in the case of several 
other plants. Submersion and darkness each inhibit the appearance of such 
swellings, while wounding or poisoning cannot be used to induce their formation. 
The author has evidently overlooked ATKINSON’s work of several years ago, in 
which excessive humidity was found to be important in causing oedema of tomato. 
—RKAyYMOND H. Ponp 
BARBER?” has given an account of the haustoria of the roots of Santalum 
album. It seems that those in charge of sandal plantations were for a long time 
uncertain as to the parasitic nature of this tree. There is a certain amount of 
selection as to hosts, certain plants being much more efficient “nurses” than 
others. The haustorium arises independently of the presence of any foreign 
rootlets. When there is contact with such a rootlet the haustorium applies itself 
closely to its surface, enlarges, and assumes a “conical or bell-like form.” —J. M. C. 
Miss Berripce?® has discovered and studied two new specimens of the 
Carboniferous strobilus described by Scorr as Spencerites insignis, of which 
only four specimens were known. In consequence, the original diagnosis is 
considerably modified, but the relationship to other paleozoic Lycopods as 
outlined by Scorr remains unaffected.—J. M. C 
THE FISHER FOLK of the Hawaiian Islands apply the term “limu” to the 
seaweeds of their coasts. They make use of a large number of forms as food 
and garnishes with fish, shrimps, and limpets. SETCHELL”? gives a lengthy list 
of the native names, identifying them in many cases with particular species.— 
B. M. Davis. 
Leavirr and SpaLprNc° have announced their determination of partheno- 
Senesis in Antennaria jallax and A. neodioica, and the great probability of its 
occurrence in A. canadensis and A. Parlinii. A detailed account, with drawings, 
will be published later.—J. M. C. 
Vaan 
"STEINER, R., Ueber Intumeszenzen bei Ruellia formosa Andrews und A phel- 
andra Porteana Morel. Ber. Deutsch. Bot. Gesells. 23: 105-112. pl. 2. 1905- 
5 
BERRIDGE, Miss E. M., On two new specimens of Spencerites insignis. Ann. 
5. 
*° SETCHELL, W. A., “Limu.” Univ. Cali. Pub. Botany 2:91-113- 1995- 
. % Leavirr, R. G., and Spatp1n, L. J., Parthenogenesis in Antennaria. Rhodora 
+105, 1905. 
