2IO BOTANICAL GAZETTE [march 



case of Sambucus (Gxtignard) and Indigofera (TreTjb) being exceptions. The 

 amount diminishes regularly with age in most cases, though there are not wanting 

 examples where the amount remains nearly constant until late in the life of the 

 leaf, when it suddenly disappears. Since distillation after maceration yields more 

 HCN than direct distillation, it is evident that a part at least, and as experiments 

 indicate most or all, of the HCN exists in the form of a glucoside which is split 

 up by an enzjine. No matter how quickly the killing and distillation is carried 

 on, the glucoside is hydrolyzed, so that the enzyme acts with "astonishing rapid- 

 ity." Some study was made of the enzymes concerned, but these must be worked 

 out later. That HCN is a reser\^e is shown by the fact that in plants put into 

 obscurity sufficient to preclude photosynthesis, HCN diminishes after the third 

 day; and when the same plants are brought out into the light again it increases. 

 Further, the maximum content of HCN occurs at midday. Light is influential 

 only because it provides for the making of glucose, which is necessar>^ to the for- 

 mation of the glucoside. 



In a second short paper Treub^^ disposes of the contention that the role of 

 HCN is that of protection against animals.— C. R. B. 



Taxonomic notes.— C. Warnstorf (Hedwigia 47:76-112. 1907), in a series 



asnum 



from the United States: 



o.missouricum (.Missoun), S. Bushh and S. alabamae (Alabama); 



(New Jersey) .—LERoYABRAMs(Torreya 7:217-219. fig. i. 1907) 

 new maple {A. hernardinum) from the San Bernardino Mountains 



:he 



236-241 



les of hypogaeous fungi (Secotiaceae) under 



MuRBECK (Lunds Univ. Arsskrift H. 2: no. 14. pp. 30. ph. 2. i^j) 



-^i^vaitvi UK veyicarms group ot Kumex, recognizing 3 forms under R. veskanus 

 L-; separating R. planivalvis, R. simpliciflortts (3 forms), R. vesceriknsis, and 

 R. cyprius as new species; and characterizing R. roseus L.— W. Trelease (Ana. 

 Rep. Mo. Bot. Garden 18:225-230. ph. 12-17. 1907) has described 2 new 

 species and 2 new varieties of Yucca; also {idem 231-256. ph. 18-34) has published 

 an account of Agave macroacantha and aUied Euagaves, disentangling an exten- 

 sive sjTionomy.— J. R. Drummoxd {idem 2S--tS- ph. 1-4) has published an 

 account of the hterature of Furcraea with a synopsis of the known species, recog- 

 nmng 10 as vaUd and 6 more as possibly vaHd but imperfectly known.— A. 

 Maubi^xc (BuU. Trim. Soc. Mycol. France 23 : 146-149. figs. 7. t<pi) ^ 

 desOTbed a new genus {Ceralopycnidium) of Spheropsidaceae from the Congo.— 

 A, A. Hellek (M'dhlenbergia 3:133-134- 190?) has reestablished Chlorofr<^ 

 Bebr with 4 species, heretofore referred to Cordvlanthus or Adenostegia. AB 



. "peaes belong to salt marshes near the Pacific coast or to saHne soil in the 

 mtenor.— J. M. C. 



'* Tretib, M.. Notice sur " I'effet protecteur " assigne a I'acide cyanhj-drique des 



