ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 89 



depends not so much on the growth of their petiole as on the greater 

 or less development of the upper internodes of the floating stem. 



Glands on the Rhizome of Lathraea.* — Herr A. Schertfel has care- 

 fully examined the glands in the hollows of the scales on the rhizome 

 of Lathrsea squamaria, and has come to a conclusion adverse to the 

 function, ascribed to them by some, of assisting in the capture of 

 animals. The rod-like bodies found generally, but not invariably, 

 attached to the summit of these glands, are not, as some have supposed, 

 protoplasmic outgrowths from the gland ; the author believes, on the 

 other hand, that he has determined them to be bacteria, the exact 

 nature of which requires, however, further investigation. 



In the corresponding glands in Bartsia alpina, the author was quite 

 unable to find any similar structures; still less, therefore, than in the 

 case of Lathrsea can insectivorous habits be assigned to this plant. 



Adaptation of Anatomical Structure to Climatal Conditions.! — 

 Herr E. Giltay classifies under the following heads the contrivances 

 for preventing excessive transpiration, viz. : — (1) Eeduction of the 

 surface of the leaf (^Statice elongata. Aster Tripolium, Convolvulus Sol- 

 danella, Plantago maritima, Schoberia maritima, Halianthus peploides, 

 Salicornia herhacea) ; (2) Number, size, structure, and position of the 

 stomates ; they are depressed in Eryngium maritimum, Euphorhia Para- 

 lias, and in many maritime grasses ; (3) Eeduction of the inter- 

 cellular passages (Festuca rubra, Triticum acutum) ; (4) Cuticularizing 

 of the epiderm and its extension into the stomates and intercellular 

 passages {Eryngium maritimum, Halianthus peploides, Plantago maritima) ; 

 (5) Halophytic plants, with large quantities of salts in the cell-sap 

 [Salsola Kali). 



p. Pliysiolog'y.J 



(.1) Reproduction and G-ermination. 



Fertilization of Euplirasia.§ —Dr. M. Kronfeld refers to Kerner's 

 observations on the mode of fertilization of the various species of 

 Euphrasia, and points out that, although they are all distinctly protero- 

 gynous, yet, by secondary growth of various parts of the flower, the 

 anthers are eventually brought into immediate contact with the stigma, 

 which may lead to autogamy. 



Case of Germination of Ranunculus aquatilis.l — M. J, B. Schnetzler 

 has determined the presence of leucine, which is formed in considerable 

 quantity during the germination of the seeds of Banunculus aquatilis. 

 This amide had not before been noticed in the higher plants. 



(2) Nutrition and G-rowth, (including- Movements of Fluids). 



Resistance of plants to causes which alter the normal state of life.^' 

 — According to M. J. B. Schnetzler, the substratum of life, the proto- 



» MT. Bot. Inst. Graz, i. (1888) pp. 105-212 (1 pi.)- Cf. this Journal, 1887 

 p. 111. 



t Mederl. Kruidk. Archief, iv. (1887) pp. 413-40 (1 pL). See Bot. Centralbl 

 xxxvi. (1888) p. 42. 



J This subdivision contains (1) Reproduction and Germination; (2) Nutrition 

 and Growth (including Movements of Fluids) ; (3) Irritability ; and (4) Chemical 

 Changes (including Respiration and Fermentation). 



§ Biol. Centralbl., viii. (1888) pp. 518-9. 



II Bull. Soc. Vaud. Sci. Nat., xsiv. (1888) pp. 28-9. ^ T. c, pp. 23-7. 



