1905] CURRENT LITERATURE 231 
ceae, Liliaceae, and Amaryllidaceae should be credited with the largest nuclei, 
for their nuclei are small when compared with those of the eggs of some gymno- 
sperms. 
o figures are given, but the references are very numerous and authority is 
cited for every statement.—C. J. CHAMBERLAIN. 
R REVIEWING several of the more important publications regarding the 
statolith theory, TrscHLER* states that adequate evidence to establish a correla- 
tion between movable starch grains and the perception of the gravitation stimulus 
is not available; and it is his opinion that such evidence cannot, with present 
methods, become available, for the simple reason that while the reaction ma 
optically observed the perception is hidden and a constancy of quantitative rela- 
tion between the two cannot be depended upon. For similar reasons, the author 
believes a demonstration of the statolith theory cannot come from the study of 
organs which are little or not at all reactive; hence we must regard his contribution 
as consisting of merely circumstantial evidence. The general trend of the paper 
is that in the various types of roots slightly or not at all geotropic, geotropism and 
starch migration are coincident and associated phenomena. He finds that in 
adventitious roots which are constantly ageotropic these starch grains are either 
not present in the cap or if present are irregularly distributed. In temporarily 
ageotropic roots the starch grains are either absent or if present are irregularly 
distributed during the ageotropic period. With incipient geotropism, however, 
the starch grains appear if previously absent, and commence to collect and func- 
tion as statoliths. When geotropic response is prevented by the application of 
stronger stimuli, the starch grains which would otherwise change position to 
function as statoliths do not do so. Some of the orchids having aerial roots 
slightly geotropic do not have starch grains, and the author calls in chloroplasts of 
the root-cap to act as statoliths —Raymonp H. Ponp. 
PALEOBOTANICAL NOTES.—STENZEL”? has just published a very elaborate and 
valuable monograph describing all the known forms of fossil palm-wood.— 
NATHORST?° briefly summarizes our knowledge of Antarctic fossil floras. A 
rather rich deposit of Jurassic age on Louis-Philippe Land yields numerous remains 
of Cladophlebis, besides representatives of Brachyphyllum, Elatides, Palissya, 
axites, Araucarites, Otozamites, Pterophyllum, Equisetum, Sagenopteris, 
Thinnfeldia, Scleropteris, and Stachypteris; all hati cteristic Jurassic forms, 
emphasizing the uniform cosmopolitan character of the Jurassic flora even in 
lat. 63° 30'S. Seymour Island in lat. 64°S. yields fragments of a dicotyledon, of 
Araucarites, and of a conifer resembling Sequoia. The Malouine Islands furni 
ER, G., Ueber das Vorkommen von statolithen bei wenig oder gar nicht 
grotropischen Wer Flora 94:1-68. figs. 3I. 1905. 
"9 STENZEL, K. G., Fossile Palmenhdélzer. Beitr. Palaeont. u. Geol. Oesterr. 
Ungarn. fol. pp. wa pls. 22. 1904. 
*° NatHorst, A. G., Compt. Rend. 138:1447-1450- 1904. 
