382 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [MAY 
STEMS OF CALAMITES with attached roots are rare, but several specimens 
have been described by MAsten,35 whose account clears up several doubtful 
points. The roots in question are mainly adventitious and spring from the 
nodes of the aerial as well as the subterranean stems. These roots may be dis- 
tinguished from branches among other ways by their point of origin, which how- 
ever is different from that of the roots of Equisetum. The writer finds no evi- 
dence for connecting the roots with the infranodal organs described by WILLIAM- 
son.—M. A. CHRYSLER 
GuIGNARD?° has presented further interesting details in connection with 
double fertilization in the Malvaceae, using Althaea rosea and Hibiscus Trionum. 
Each large and very characteristic pollen grain puts out several pollen tubes, 
which advance through the tissues of the style and the nucellus in a peculiar way. 
In Hibiscus, when the embryo sac is reached, the tube branches irregularly. 
The formation of the generative nucleus and male cells, and the occurrence of 
starch are described in detail—J. M. C 
Miss SARGANT and Miss ROBERTSONS7 call attention to the fact that the 
furrows on the dorsal face of the scutellum in Zea Mais should be regarded as 
glands which increase the extent of secreting surface. These glands are situated 
in contact with the floury part of the endosperm, and so secure a rapid transfer 
of food to the seedling while it as yet has no assimilating organs. An interesting 
observation is the presence of amphivasal strands and of transfusion tissue in 
the scutellum.—M. A. CHRYSLER. 
DRABBLE’s studies on the roots of palms** show that the polystelic condition 
found in Areca is not exceptional, but that it commonly occurs in the proxi ximal 
region of secondary roots. These separate steles usually fuse in the distal region 
of the root to form a single cylinder; certain vascular strands, however, may 
remain unfused and constitute the well-known medullary strands. The mono- 
stelic central cylinder of palm roots has thus by no means a simple origin.— 
M. A. CHRYSLER. 
WALLER finds3 that practically no sea plants give blaze currents following 
an induction shock, while practically no land plants fail to do so. Resist- 
ance of young tissues is very high, and is lowered much by one shock, which 
35 MASLEN, - ee The relation of root to stem in Calamites. Ann. Botany 
19:61-74. pls. I-2. 1905. 
- 36 Guienarp, L., La double fécondation chez les Malvacées. Jour. Botanique 
18: 296-308. figs. 16. 1904 
37 SARGANT, E., and RoBERTSON, A., The anatomy of the scutellum in Zea 
Ann. Botany 19:115-124. pl. 5. 1905. 
_ 8 DRapsie, Eric, On the anatomy of the roots of palms. Trans. Linn. Soc. 
London. II. Bot. 6: 427-490. pls. 48-51. 1904. 
39 WALLER, A. D., On the blaze currents of vegetable tissues. Jour- fot 
Bot. 37:32-50. 1904. 
Mais 
