388 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [NOVEMBER 
NOTES-FOR STUDENTS: 
YaBE 7 gives his opinion that CoviLtr’s ericaceous genus Arcterica,* from 
Bering Island, is Pieris nana Makino, common on the higher peaks in Honshu 
and Hokkaido, Japan. The plant was originally described as Andromeda nana 
Maxim., of which genus Pieris is often regarded as a section.—J. M. C. 
Hotm ° has been investigating the inflorescence of Cyperus, chiefly with 
reference to the prophylla. It is claimed that by means of the “‘cladoprophyllon” 
the originally erect and congested rays of the umbel are brought to their more or 
less horizontal position. Also, the small bodies always observable at the base 
of the secondary branches of the inflorescence of grasses, more distinct in large 
panicles, are said to represent rudimentary prophylla identical with those char- 
acteristic of the Cyperaceae.—J. M. C 
Fuyit *° in a short preliminary announcement gives the results of his investiga- 
tions upon the droplet which exudes from the micropyle of gymnosperms at the 
time of pollination. The preliminary announcement deals with Taxus baccata. 
Chemical tests indicate that the droplet contains glucose and calcium. A kind 
of gum and perhaps also malic acid are present. SCHUMANN claimed that only 
one droplet is produced. The present investigation shows that droplets may be 
formed repeatedly, both in the laboratory and in the field. —CHARLES J. CHAMBER- 
LAIN. ; 
VERSCHAFFELT * finds that the minimum lethal strength of some toxic solu- 
tions for fleshy or succulent organs of potato, Aloe, Rheum, etc. can be determined 
with fair accuracy by noting the change in weight which occurs when the test 
abject is removed from the toxic solution and immersed in water. The basis of 
_ the method is that tissues which have succumbed to toxic exposure lose in weight 
by yielding osmotically held water, or at least do not gain in weight by water 
absorption as compared. with controls. The method has limitations, some © 
which are noted by the author—RayMonpD H. Ponp. 
HE EXPERIMENTS upon which Elfving based his theory of posit 
negative galvanotropism have been repeated by PLowan ** with results for 
the most part confirmatory. Two exceptions to be noted are, first, that an electric 
ive and 
7 YaBE, Y., On a new genus Arcterica. Bot. Mag. Tokyo 18: 127-128. 1904 
Abstract. 
8 See Bor. Gaz. 3'7: 298-302. 1904. of 
o Hom, THro., Studies in the Cyperaceae. XXII. The inflorescence 
Cyperus in North America. Am. Jour. Sci. IV. 18: 301-397- 1904. el 
to Fuji, K., Ueber di estaubungstropfen der Gymnospermen- bases 
Mitteilung. Ber. Deutsch. Bot. Gesells. 21: 211-217- 19°3- erent 
11 VERSCHAFFELT, E., Determination of the action of poisons on plants. i 
Akad. Wetens. Amsterdam 1904: 703-707. 
12 PLowMAN, A. B., Electrotropism of roots. Amer. Journ. Sci. IV. 
236. pls. Q-I0. 1904. 
18: 228- 
