1904] CURRENT LITERATURE 309 
SINCE PARTHENOGENESIS in flowering plants has been proven in only a few 
genera, it is interesting to note any accessory peculiarities. In parthenogenetic 
species of Alchemilla, MurBEcK’° finds that the number of chromosomes remains 
unchanged throughout the entire life history, not showing any reduced number 
in the gametophytic generation. ‘The behavior of the antipodal nuclei and syner- 
gids is also peculiar in Alchemilla, some or all of these five nuclei having the power 
of motion, so that they behave like polar nuclei. Consequently, it is not at all 
uncommon to find three or four nuclei at the middle of the sac where one expects 
tofind the two polar nuclei. In such cases the extra nuclei clearly belong to the 
antipodals or synergids, these regions lacking a corresponding number. Asso- 
ciated with parthenogenesis in Alchemilla is the phenomenon of polyembryony, 
the extra embryos coming from the synergids or from the cells of the nucellus.— 
CHARLES J. CHAMBERLAIN. 
Ta Cryton paranas, which may be compared to our prairies, are forming 
the subject of an important study by PARKIN and Prarson.?! In an earlier 
paper the junior author gave a general account of the patanas, which are grass- 
lands situated in a region that is otherwise forested. ‘The patanas are of two 
kinds: wet patanas, located above an altitude of 4500 feet, and dry patanas at a 
lower altitude. The present paper deals with the anatomical charactéristics of 
their Plants, and data have been collected from eighty species. As might be 
expected, the characters as a whole may be regarded as more or less xerophytic. 
The most important result is that the plants of the wet patanas are as xerophytic 
as those of the dry patanas; Tihlaan that os y; anah ps mpacter 
mesophyll. The authors appear to have been surprised at this feature of their 
results, which, however, seems quite in harmony with the well-known xerophytic 
Caracters of the plants of peat bogs and salt marshes.—H. C. Cowles. 
Witte*? gives the history of the generic name Gloionema, proposed in 1812 
ee and, having studied the types in AGARDH’s herbarium in Lund, 
ows that the specimens on which the genus was founded are eggs of some 
oes to the Tipulidae. The genus Gloionema, the systematic position of 
has been subject to much discussion, has comprised not only these “egg- 
*Pecimens,” but also some diatoms. Since Kiitzinc (1849) used the name as a 
— for certain diatoms, later writers have followed the example. 
ject in reviewing the history of this name has been to show the errors 
te On i nomenclature, which may result from an indiscriminate 
seed . 
hei Groene Ueber Anomalien in Baue des Nucellus und des Embryosackes 
38: no, senetischen Arten der Gattung Alchemilla. Lunds Universitets Arsskrift 
. » 2, Rp. oa p ba: 
21 
Linn Ay AN, J., and PEarson, H. H. W., The botany of the Ceylon patanas. Jour. 
i Soc, 35: 430-463. 1903. 
t from « eber die Gattung Gloionema Ag. Eine Nomenclaturstudie. 
1904, Festschrift zu P. Ascherson’s siebzigstem Geburtstage,” pp- 439-45° 
