ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 831 



force of the objection taken by Prohaska to his previous interpreta- 

 tion of the peculiar structures found in it by this observer. He now 

 considers that they are neither disorganized cells of the nucellus, 

 endosperm-nuclei, nor cell-nuclei ; and details observations made on 

 D. Blaijayana, Mezereum, and Laureola, which establish that they are 

 vacuoles tilled with a strongly refractive substance which is fixed by 

 alcohol, corresponding to similar structures found in the ovum-cells 

 of conifers. 



Morphology of the Receptacle.* — Sig. F. Baccarini infers, from 

 an examination of the course of the fibrovascular bundles, that in the 

 case of the inferior ovary of perigynous flowers, of which the Eoseae 

 may be taken as the type, the cup-shaped receptacle is an axial organ, 

 as is shown by the formation on its margin of the outer whorls of 

 floral organs. When, in an inferior ovary, the placontation is axile, 

 as in Pomaceae and Myrtaceaj, the whole structure is of a coaipound 

 character, consisting of two parts closely united to one another in 

 growth, the outer of which is the widened receptacle, while the inner 

 part is formed of the carpids, formed at the bottom of the axial cup. 

 In the Cactaceai the course of the fibrovascular bundles seems to show 

 that the carpids, like the other appendicular organs of the flower, are 

 inserted on the margin of the axial cup, but that the placentae are 

 formed in the hollow of this cup along the descending leaf-trace- 

 bundles. 



Spur of Cucurbitaceset— In many germinating Cucurbitacese a kind 

 of spur is formed on the tigellum which appears to have for its function 

 the freeing of the seedling from the testa of the seed. Sig. A. Baldini 

 has examined the structure of this organ, and finds that if its forma- 

 tion is prevented, the seeds germinate imperfectly and abnormally. 

 The spur itself varies in form, but is always seated at the spot where 

 the tigellum forms an angle with the root, on the side facing the sub- 

 stratum. In the course of its development it undergoes several 

 changes of position ; its apex finally bending and pressing against the 

 testa, so that the seedling is at length forced out from its confinement 

 within the latter. 



In addition to its mechanical function, the author ascribes to this 

 organ another connected with the life of the seedling. On the side 

 of the spur which faces the root, when it is pressed closely against 

 the testa, are a number of hairs altogether resembling in their nature 

 root-hairs, whicli appcjar to absorb nutriment from the inuer integu- 

 ment of the seed, and later from the soil ; so that it may be regarded 

 as an organ of nutrition. Morphologically ho regards the spur as 

 belonging to the tigellum rather than to the root. 



Anatomy of the Fruit of Ranunculaceae.t— Dr. E. Adlerz finds 

 in the fruit of Kanunculacca; two kinds of mechanical and supporting 



• Ann. II. Irt. Bot. Roma, i. (1884) pp. 66-85 (5 pis.). See Bofc. Centralbl.. 

 xxi. (1H85) p. 22'J. 



t A?in. K. Int. Bot. Roma, i. (1884) pp. 49-65. Sco Bot. Centralbl.. xxi. 

 (1885) p. 229. ' 



X AfJlerz, E., ' Bid. till fruktviiggcns anat. Lob Kanunculacoao,' 12 pp. (4 nla.) 

 Orc-hio, 1884. See Bot. Centralbl., xxi. (1885) p. 330. 



