February 15, 1907] 



SCIENCE 



267 



earlier cell fusions. In Ceratiomyxa, the 

 conditions appear essentially similar. 



Although the numerous nuclei in the 

 Plasmodium do . not apparently maintain 

 the paired relation seen in the rusts, at 

 least until just before spore formation, yet 

 notwithstanding this fact, the Plasmodium 

 may be regarded as similar to the bi- 

 nucleate condition in the rusts, and there- 

 fore as a sporophyte stage. The 4-nucleate 

 spores, together with the several genera- 

 tions of swarm-spores and myxamcBbse, 

 would, according to this view, constitute 

 the gametophyte development. 



Localization of Plants in the Finger Lake 

 Region and the Adjacent Ontario Low- 

 lands of Central New York: W. W. 

 EowLEE, Cornell University. 

 The author gives a description of the 

 physiographic features of central New 

 York, pointing out that Onondaga, Oneida 

 and numerous small lakes on the Ontario 

 lowlands are strikingly different from those 

 of the lakes of the Finger Lake Region 

 proper. 



The subject discussed- in the paper deals 

 principally with localized or rare plants 

 in these two regions. A list of species is 

 taken up and discussed under the three 

 headings: (a) plants of recent introduc- 

 tion, (&) plants requiring peculiar condi- 

 tions, (c) plants with no apparent cause 

 for limited range. The paper is devoted 

 particularly to plants of the last category, 

 and it is pointed out that one and the same 

 species is scarcely ever localized in both 

 regions. Either a localized species of the 

 uplands does not occur in the lowlands, and 

 vice versa; or a species localized in the 

 highlands will be relatively abundant in 

 the lowlands, and vice versa. Again it is 

 noted that the localized species of the high- 

 land region occur with few exceptions in 

 wooded uplands, while those of the low- 

 lands are confined mainly to the lakes and 

 watercourses and their immediate vicinity. 



The author concludes that in the Ontario 

 lowland region the waterways have di- 

 rectly or indirectly been responsible for 

 the introduction of the localized species, 

 and the fact that almost all of them are at 

 their extreme northern range indicates that 

 they are an element of the south Atlantic 

 coast flora at its extreme limit of endur- 

 ance. 



Agrostological Field Notes for 1906: A. S. 

 Hitchcock, U. S. Department of Agri- 

 culture. 



Outlines of two field trips: (1) Southern 

 States, March-April, (2) Rocky Moun- 

 tains, July-August. Methods of study of 

 grasses in the field. Kind of notes neces- 

 sary to take in studying the variation of 

 a species. Results as applied' especially 

 in the genera Panicum and Poa. 



By visiting type localities many doubt- 

 ful species of Panicum of the southern 

 states were satisfactorily worked out. 



Classification of the Panicece: Mrs. Agnes 

 Chase, United States Department of 

 Agriculture. (Read by title.) 



The S'lih-aerial Absorption of Water; a 

 Function of the Ligide and Stipulaceous 

 Tissue of the Grasses: F. L. Stewaet, 

 Murrysville, Pa. 



This paper gives the results of experi- 

 ments exte\-ding over a series of years; 

 disclosing the existence of an adjustment 

 of the external to the internal structure, 

 of the grasses whereby the moisture of the 

 atmosphere by a system of condensation, 

 conduction, temporary storage and absorp- 

 tion enters into the circulation of those 

 plants, contributing to their nutrition and 

 thus supplementing the supply derived 

 from the roots. 



'G' Trees: S. M. Tracy, Biloxi, Miss. 



Describing a peculiar form of Pinus 

 Tceda L. which occurs frequently in south- 

 ern Mississippi, though very rare in other 



