1902] CURRENT LITERATURE 313 
given by Whitney.” He describes especially the curves and charts of Karl 
_ Pearson based on the theory of probability. Very suggestive advances are 
_ being made in the manner in which masses of data may be handled and 
ome in simple form.— B. M. Davis. 
_ HABERLANDT reports® that he has confirmed the observations of Némce?® 
as to the existence of longitudinal fibrils in the protoplasm of plerome cells 
in Allium and Aspidium. He has identified these structures in living and in 
fixed tissues, but is not able to distinguish the sheath which Némec asserts to 
be present, He dissents, however, from the view that these are for the con- 
ae duction of stimuli, and suggests that they serve rather for pp of plastic 
. material. — C CR. B 
- IN A THIRD PAPER on the proteolytic enzyme of Nepenthes,” Vines gives 
_ @ abstract of the memoir of Clautriau* on digestion in the pitchers of 
these plants, and joins issue with him in various points. Vines holds “ that 
the three enzymes, nepenthin, bromelin, and papain have essentially the same 
Proteolytic action, which is tryptic,” bromelin being most active, and nepen- 
thin least, The latter also acts only in an acid medium; the others act best 
ha neutralone. Vines reiterates his former statement that all known ae . 
enzymes of plants are probably tryptic.—C. R. B. 
Tae ORIGIN of new species of plants has been recently treated from a 
%otanical standpoint by von Wettstein.* He presents an extensive review of 
: eh literature bearing on Neo-Darwinian and Neo-Lamarckian theories, 
~ oncludes with a brief summary of his conclusions, the important points” 
; — are as follows. High organization | results from the fixing of oe 
or see oe 
‘comes fibagh external factors, the plant having % 
's development by — It will be noted that this is aNeo- d 
attitude e.—B. M. D oe 
. ANOS has recently made some extensive experi sf 
shige ieee and the theory of probability. Univ. Chron Univ. 0 
+402, 
a. G., oe fibrillare Plasmastructuren. Ber. Deutsch : 
es 569-578. 29 J | 
ae Pay mad .. reizleitenden Strukturen bei den Pflanzen. Jena 
of Botany rs : 563-473. 1901. 
V4 digestion dans les urnes de Nepenthes. Mém. couro! couronnés, _ ps: ipa 
Vox W 
id . Der gegenwartige Stand unserer Kenntniss. 
_ © Yon Formen im Pflanzenreiche. Ber. Deutsch. Bot. Gesell. 
Transpiration of evergreen trees in winter. Jour. 
