ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETO. 767 



Fertilization of Euplirasia.*— Herr A. K. v. Marilaim discusses tlie 

 modes of fertilization in species of Euphrasia — E. rostkoviana, E. minima, 

 E. Odontites, E. lutea. In reference to the first of these species, the 

 flowers are protogynous ; in the first stage the style protrudes for some 

 distance beyond the anthers, and self-fertilization is impossible ; after 

 twenty-four hours an intercalary growth occurs in the corolla, by which 

 the tube is lengthened, the stamens pushed forward, and the style 

 straightened. In this second stage the stigma now lies on the anthers 

 of the anterior stamens, but cannot sink deeper because of the long hairs 

 binding the two anthers together. Meanwhile the anthers have opened, 

 but the pollen is not allowed to escape uutil an insect visitiac the 

 nectary shoves apart the obstructing anthers and dusts itself with pollen. 

 When the animal withdraws, it cannot touch the stigma, but takes its 

 load to a stigma in the first stage. In the next stage a growth again 

 takes place in the lower portion of the corolla, the stamens are aaain 

 shoved forward, the stigma lies above the two posterior anthers. These 

 are not felted together by hairs, they are pressed apart by tlie style, the 

 stigma passes into the pollen-fi.lled space between the anthers, and in 

 this stage self-fertilization may occur. 



The slightly different conditions in the other three species are then 

 described, and the author notes how the differences form not only specific 

 distinctions, but generic characters. Thus Euphrasia Odontites is nearer 

 to Bartsia than to the white-flowered species of Euphrasia ; while E. lutea 

 strikingly suggests Tozzia. In establishing the genera more emphasis 

 should be laid upon the reproductive than upon the floral organs. 



Adaptation of the Flowers of Eremurus altaicns to Cross-fertili- 

 zation.j — Herr U. Dammer describes the arrangements in this flower for 

 hindering self-pollination and promoting cross-fertilization. He con- 

 siders the chief agents in pollination to be Syrphus pyrastri and other 

 Syrphidae, and not, as H. Miiller states, night-flying moths. 



Germination of Monocotyledons.^ — Herr M. Lewin has studied the 

 development of the seedling in a large number of Monocotyledons 

 belonging to the orders Alismacete, Liliacege, Irideee, Commelynace^, 

 Scitaminese, Aroidete, Palmae, and Graminege. In Monocotyledons the 

 first leaves which develope have often special characters. One of the 

 species specially studied is Tamus communis. Almost at the commence- 

 ment of germination the tubercle begins to develope at the base of the 

 cotyledon, in the region corresponding to the tigellum ; from different 

 points of the small spherical tubercle thus formed grow adventitious 

 roots, which increase rapidly in number. Other interesting details are 

 given in the cases of other plants. 



Chemistry of Germination.§ — Dr. A. Menozzi publishes a pre- 

 liminary account of his chemical researches on the germination of 

 Phaseolus vulgaris. His object was to study the transformations of 

 nitrogenous and non-nitrogenous substances in germination. As far as 

 he could observe, the most abundant product was asparagin, then amido- 

 valerianic acid, then phenyl-amido-propionic acid. A substance like leucine 



* Verh. K. K. Zool.-Bot. Gesell., xxxviii. (1888) pp. 562-6 (1 pi.), 

 t Flora, Ixxi. (1888) pp. 185-8 (1 fig.). 



X ' Bidr. t. Kjeitbladeta anat. hos Monocotyledonerna,' Stockholm, 1SS7 See 

 Bull. Soc. Bot. France, xxxv. (1888), Eev. Bibl., p. 77. 

 § Arch. Ital. Biol., ix. (1888) pp. 235-42. 



