ZOOLOaY AND BOTANY, MTOROSCOPy. ETC. 613 



Germination of Anemone apennina.* — M. E. de Janczewski points 

 out several singular features in the germination of this species, which 

 produces exceedingly few mature seeds. In the form of the achene and 

 other points it belongs to the section of the genus Sylvieee (J., ranun- 

 culoides, trifolia, nemorosa, &c.) At an early period the young seedling 

 consists of a primary root and of a green deeply bilobed leaf in direct 

 continuation of the root, without any hypocotyl or buds, or any appear- 

 ance of cotyledons. When about two months old, there appears on the 

 root, which has already branched, a small tubercle situated a little below 

 the junction of the root with the petiole, belonging evidently to the root 

 itself, and composed of parenchymatous tissue loaded with starch. On 

 the upper side of this tubercle is a bud, from which proceed the secondary 

 axes, i. e. all the remaining leaves and the flowers, the primary leaf soon 

 perishing. 



Germination of Oxalis rubella.f — Herr F. Hildebrand describes the 

 peculiar phenomena presented by the germination of this species and 

 others nearly allied to it. The base of the cotyledons lengthens into 

 a sheath inclosing a hollow space within which the base of the single 

 leaf grows downwards. This prolongation of the leaf-stalk becomes 

 compressed by its further growth into a corkscrew-like structure, bearing 

 the apical bud, within the sheath above described. About two or three 

 months after the commencement of germination, the root ceases to grow 

 in length, and swells out in its lower part into a fusiform swelling, 

 which serves as a receptacle for water. The upper part of the root is 

 forced down within the cotyledonary sheath by the continued growth 

 downwards of the base of the leaf-stalk until it reaches this water- 

 receptacle, where the first bulb is formed. 



Germination of the Bicuiba.| — Herr P. Miiller describes the process 

 of the germination of the seeds of Myristica BicuTiyba Sch., nearly related 

 to the nutmeg. The " ruminated endosperm " characteristic of these 

 plants he considers may be advantageous to the seedling in forcing the 

 growing cotyledons of the very small embryo to a large development of 

 surface by folding and wrinkling. 



Germination of the Tuber of the Jerusalem Artichoke.§ — Mr, J. E. 

 Green summarizes the results of his investigation into the germination 

 of the artichoke tuber (IlelianiJius tuherosus) as follows : — 



(1) The inulin stored in the tuber is made available for the use of 

 the plant by ferment-action. (2) This ferment is not diastase, but a 

 special body working on inulin. Tne inulin-ferment is not able to act 

 upon starch ; saliva, which is so energetic with the latter, has little or 

 no power to convert inulin. (3) Its action is to produce from inulin a 

 sugar and an intermediate or collateral product. (4) The latter differs 

 from inulin in its solubility in water and alcohol, its crystalline form, 

 and its power of dialysis. (5) The ferment does not exist as such prior 

 to the commencement of germination, but is present in the resting tuber 

 in the form of a zymogen. (6) Its activity is only manifested in a 

 neutral or very faintly acid medium, and it is destroyed by prolonged 

 contact with acids or alkalies. 



* Comptes Kendus. cvi. (1888) pp. 1544-6. 

 t Bot. Ztg., xlvi. (1888) pp. 193-201 (1 pL). 

 X Ber. Deutsch. Bot. Gesell., v. (1887) pp. 468-72 (1 pi.). 

 § Ann. of Bot., i, (1888) pp. 223-36. 

 1888. 2 u 



