362 SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 



seed of Eucalyptus globulus is carefully examined, tlie embryo is seen 

 to consist of two cotyledons and a radicle without plumule ; but the 

 radicle is found not to be of very simple structure. It is not perfectly 

 cylindrical, but its lower extremity is somewhat club-shaped. A 

 longitudinal section shows that its central portion is composed mainly 

 of the tigellum or hypocotyl, surrounded near its lower extremity by 

 a kind of collar through which the radicle projects. This collar is 

 composed entirely of parenchymatous tissue containing no fibro-vascular 

 bundle, and is completely covered wdth white hairs. As the seed 

 germinates it developes to a considerable size, but finally disappears, 

 leaving net a trace behind. The author believes that it is endowed 

 with a nutritive function. He has observed it in the embryo of 

 several genera of Myrtaceee, also in Onagrariese and Lythrarie®. 



Studies of Protoplasm.* — In a series of papers under this title, 

 J. Eeiuke proposes to classify the substances out of which proto- 

 plasm is composed under the three heads of " constant," " variable," 

 and " accessory." 



The author regards the first product of the assimilation of carbonic 

 acid as probably formic aldehyde, according to the equation CO3H2 — 

 20 = COH2. From this various polymeric substances are then pro- 

 duced, as, for example, grape-sugar, 6 CH2O = C6H12O6. The author 

 distilled leaves of the poplar, willow, and vine with water, and reduced 

 the distillate by Fehling's solution and solution of silver nitrate, by 

 which the presence of an aldehyde-like substance was determined. 

 The same result was obtained from roots of the willow, and with 

 leaves which had remained for eight days in the dark. 



Composition of the Protoplasm of .ffithalium septicum.f — In 

 continuation of previous investigations,^ J. Eeiuke and H. Rodewald 

 give fresh analyses of the protoplasm of JEthalium septicum. The 

 Plasmodium has, when fresh, an alka'ine reaction. A turbid yellowish 

 fluid, the enchylema, can be obtained by pressure ; it contains albu- 

 minoids, and can be coagulated at a temperature of 58-64° C. The 

 fresh Plasmodium contains 71 "6 per cent, of water ; the following is 

 an analysis of the ash : — 



Per cent. 



Carbonic acid 36-02 



Phosphoric acid 6 "49 



Sulphuric acid 0*42 



Chlorine 0-21 



Sesquioxide of iron 0-13 



Lime 54-34 



Oxide of magnesium 0"71 



Potassa 1 41 



Soda 018 



99-92 



Extraction of the air-dried substance by ether yields from 5 • 36 

 to 8" 13 per cent, of extract, which saponifies in alcoholic solution, and 



* Unters. aus dem hot. Lab. Gottin^en, 1881, pp. 74-184. 187-202. 

 t Ibid., pp. 1-75. See Bot. Centralbl., viii. (1881) p. 292. 

 X See this Journal, i. (1881) pp. 283, 918. 



