ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 253 



Cause of violent Torsion.* — From observation of an extreme case of 

 violent torsion (Zwangsdrehung) in the case of Galium Mollugo, Herr H. 

 Klebabn has come to the conclusion that the cause is to be found in an 

 alteration in the growing points, which shows itself in a change from 

 the decussate arrangement of the leaves to a 2/5 phyllotaxis, and in a 

 coalescence of the bases of the successive leaves, resulting in a union of 

 the vascular bundle of each leaf with that of the next. 



(4) Clieniical Changes (including- Respiration and Fermentation). 



Products of the Decomposition of Albuminoids in the absence of 

 free oxygen.j — In continuation of previous researches, \ Herr W. 

 Palladin gives the following as the most important results of a fresh 

 series of observations. 



When albuminoids decompose in the absence of free oxygen, nitro- 

 genous substances are formed in different proportions to what occurs in 

 the open air. Asparagin is, under these circumstances, formed in very 

 small quantities, while the principal products are tyrosin and leucin. 

 Asparagin is formed during the first day when there is no free oxygen 

 present, but disappears on the death of the plant, passing over into 

 ammonium succinate. In wheat, when albuminoids decompose in the 

 presence of atmospheric oxygen, asparagin is almost the only nitrogenous 

 product. The formation of a large quantity of asparagin as the result 

 of the decomposition of albuminoids in plants, can only take place when 

 atmospheric oxygen is being assimilated, and is therefore, a consequence 

 of the oxidation of the albuminoids, not of their dissociation. 



Panic Fermentation. § — Prof. G. Arcangeli maintains, in opposition 

 to the assertion of Chiaudard, that alcohol is one of the products of the 

 fermentation of bread. This can be proved, both by the slight alcoholic 

 odour and by the production of iodoform on the addition, with proper 

 precautions, of potassium carbonate and iodine to the distilled liquid. 

 This alcoholic fermentation is due, he believes, not to the bacilli which 

 may always be found in the paste, but to the presence of small quantities 

 of Saccharomyces minor. These microbes assist also in the transforma- 

 tion which does take place of a j)ortion of the albuminoids of the gluten 

 into soluble albuminoids, and then into peptones. 



y. G-eneral. 



New MyrmecopMlous Plant. || — Herr C. Mez points out an instance 

 of myrmecophily in Pleurothyrium, a South American genus of Lauracefe. 

 The habitation of the ants is in hollows excavated in the pith of tho 

 woody portion of the branches. 



Scent of Flowers.^ — Prof. A. Kerner v. Marilaun discusses the 

 various odours of flowers, which may be either for the purpose of at- 

 tracting or of keeping off insects. The mutual adaj)tations of the scented 

 flower and of the olfactory faculty of animals are described at length. 



* Ber. Deutscli. Bot. GeselL, vi. (1888) pp. 346-53 (1 pL). 

 t Ibid., pp. 296-304. % See this Journal, 1887, p. 437. 



§ Atti Soc. Tosc. Sci. Nat., ix (1888; pp. 140-211. Cf. this Journal, 1888, p. 633. 

 II Verliandl. Bot. Ver. Prov. Brandenburg, xsix. (1888) p. xxiv. 

 t SB. K.K. Zool.-Bot. Gesell., xxxviii. (1888) p. 87. 



