62 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [JANUARY 
Mr. JOHN KLERCKER has published a very interesting paper® upon the 
polymorphism of some lower forms of algz, speaking chiefly of Stichococcus 
subtilis and S. bacillaris. These forms are found to exist either as isolated 
cells or as filaments. Great variation is shown in both species as to the . 
dimensions of the cells, size of the chloroplasts, and behavior of the forms in 
different culture media. e old taxonomy called the unicellular forms 
Stichococcuss ubtilis and S. bactllaris, while the filamentous forms were known 
as Ulothrix subtilis and U. flaccida, respectively. These seem to be nothing 
more than different phases of the same thing, if it be conceded that the fila- 
mentous forms of Stichococcus warrant their association with Ulothrix fila- 
ments. The author states that no starch grains are formed in S. subtilis — 
o.W. Cc 
IN HIS RECENT revision? of the genus Si/ene Mr. Frederic N. Williams 
recognizes nine genera in the subtribe Silenoidez, viz., Agrostemma, Lychnis, 
Coronaria, Petrocoptis, Heliosperma, and Melandryum, with one-celled cap- 
sules ; and Viscaria, Eudianthe, and Silene, with capsule plurilocular at base. 
This treatment refers many North American species to Melandryum which 
have been described under Silene, as S. Bernardina, Lemmoniti, montana, 
occtdentalis, Oregana, Palmeri, Parishit, platyota, plicata, Shockleyi, Thurbert, 
all of Watson, S. Drummondi H 
Greene, and .S. subciliata Robinson. Thus restricted, 390 species of Silene 
are recognized, but twenty-five of which are natives of North America. The 
author is to be congratulated that in the revision of so large and perplexing 
agenus he has found it necessary to describe but five new species. The 
synonymy of three North American species may be noted. S. verecunda 
Watson is S. Behrizg Williams ; S. incompta Gray (S. multicaulis Durand) is 
S. Bridgesit Rohrb.; S. Scouleri Hook. contains S. Drummondii Gray, S. Hallit 
Watson, and S. Jurpurata Greene.— J. M. C. 
. AT A RECENT MEETING of the German Academy of Science and Arts at 
Frankfort, Professor O. Drude presented a contribution on the taxonomy of 
hangar ‘ange is ceety and somewhat unsatisfactorily reported.” As 
: his difficult group in hand for several years for pres- 
"entation in als and Prantl’s Natirtiches Pflanzenfamilien no small 
degree of interest is felt in reference to his conclusions. The report from 
which this statement is made is rather indefinite, but probably indicates 
the larger outlines with napnaels clearness. The family is thought to pre- 
sent three great divisions, Hydrocotyline, Saniculine, and Apioine. The 
first division is characterized by the absence of oil tubes and the formation of 
3 Flora 82 : 90-106, pi. 6. 1896. 
9 Jour. Linn. Soc. 32: 1-196. oe 
esas memureuy ae ‘1896, 
. dongistylis Engelm., S. simulans. 
