388 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [NOVEMBER 
in pollen mother-cells of angiosperms. It seems probable that a reduction of 
chromosomes is effected during these two divisions. If this is correct, there is 
in Coleochaete no generation with the double number of chromosomes, except 
the zygote itself. There is no generation which could be called a sporophyte. 
Each cell of the spore mass which has usually been regarded as the sporophyte 
has the reduced number of chromosomes like the vegetative cells of the thallus. 
The statement that there is no generation which could be called a sporophyte, 
seems to the reviewer to be a serious mistake. Riccia has a sporophyte just as 
truly as has Sequoia, the extent of its development being unessential as far as the 
logical presence of a sporophyte is concerned. The sporophyte generation in 
lower plants as well as in higher begins with the fertilized egg. Whether the egg 
then divides once, twice, or a million times, or not at all, neither strengthens nor 
weakens its title to the term, sporophyte. It seems to us that there is an impor- 
tant difference between extreme reduction and complete elimination.—C. J. 
HAMBERLAIN. 
ITEMS OF TAXONOMIC INTEREST are as follows: R. ViGUIER (Bull. Soc. Bot. 
France IV. 5:285-314. 1905), in presenting the Polyscias group of Araliaceae, 
has described two new genera—Tieghemopanax, with 26 species; and Bonnierella 
with one species.—J. M. GREENMAN (Proc. Amer. Acad. 41:235-270- 1905) has 
published descriptions of new species of angiosperms from the southwestern United 
States, Mexico, and Central America, the new genera being Mimophytum (Bora- 
ginaceae) and Lozanella (Urticaceae), both from Mexico, and the new species 
from the southwestern United States belonging to Cassia, Cedronella, Salvia, 
and Erigeron.—B. L. Roprnson (idem 271-278), among diagnoses and id 
relating to American Eupatorieae, has described new species in Ageratella (which 
here receives its first formal and detailed characterization as a genus), Fleisch- 
mannia, Piptothrix, and Eupatorium (5).—W. A. MuRRILL (Bull. Torr. Bot. 
Club 32: 353-371. 1905), in a synopsis of the brown pileate species of Nat 
American Polyporaceae, describes the following new genera: Coriolopsis (2); 
Flaviporus (2), Cerrenella (2), Nigroporus, Fomitella, Amauroderma (3); 
Porodaedalea.—C. L. GruBer (idem 389-392) has described 3 new species 
Crataegus from Berks Co., Pa—Pu. VAN TrecHem (Ann. Sci. Nat. Bot. 
I:247-320. 1905) has established a new family Irvingiaceae upon the eo 
Irvingia and three allied genera, which have been associated heretofore ar 
the Simarubaceae.—W. J. TutcHER (Jour. Linn. Soc. London 37:58-7° ie 
among other new Chinese plants, has described a new genus (Dunnia) of “ a 
ceae.—Orro Stapr (idem 79-115), in his “Contributions to the flora of ue 
has described the following new genera: Alroxima (Polygalaceae), U: ) 
(Olacaceae), Androsiphonia (Passifloraceae), and Afrodaphna eons 
M. L. Fernatp (Rhodora 7:146-1 50. 1905), in presenting the genus ae C 
i ; : nh 5 eae 
northeast America, recognizes seven species, describing three as ne J ae 
IN A PAPER read before the Royal Dublin Society, Drxon** answers 
24 Dixon, H. H., The cohesion theory of the ascent of sap. Nowe 
Trinity Coll. Dublin 1: 203-216. 1905. 
