September 25, 1896.] 



SCIENCE. 



431 



differentiated gametes, while in Teichospora 

 only possible rudiments of antheridia are 

 present. The successive stages from the 

 formation of the oosphere to the maturation 

 of the ascospore reveal a process of develop- 

 ment somewhat different from any hereto- 

 fore suggested, but analogous to the devel- 

 opment in Splicer otJieca, described by Harper, 

 and also somewhat similar to that in the 

 Floridece. The paper contains also an ac- 

 count of the discovery of nuclei in this fam- 

 ily, their structure and behavior during 

 division. 



On the stem anatomy of the Onagraeece : By 



Francis Ramalby. 



As a result of the examination of speci- 

 mens of seven genera of the tribe 07iagrarice, 

 including thirteen species, the author found 

 no marked anatomical specific or generic 

 characters which could be used as a basis 

 for classification. 



Structures of the embryo-sac : By J. M 



Coulter. 



The paper shows that the current state- 

 ments concerning (1) egg apparatus, (2) 

 primary endosperm cell and (3) antipodal 

 cells should be modified as follows : 



(1) Egg ajyparatus: two or three usually 

 naked cells, the oosphere and one or two 

 synergids, together representing a single 

 archegonium, of which the synergids may 

 represent canal cells. 



(2) Primary endosperm cell : A cell formed 

 by the fusion of two vegetative cells (the 

 polar cells), which is stimulated normally 

 by the act of fertilization to continue the 

 vegetative development of the gametophyte, 

 just as the adjacent sporophyte structures 

 are stimulated to develop seed and fruit. 



Antipodal cells : A group of cells, variable 

 in number, evanescent or resistant ; repre- 

 senting the vegetative region of the gameto- 

 phyte not dependent for its development 

 upon fertilization. 



On Oratcegus coccinea and its Segregates : By 



N. L. Britton. 



The paper discussed the characters and 

 distribution of C. coccinea and two probable 

 varieties, C macracantha, C. rotundifolia and 

 G. mollis and was illustrated by specimens 

 of all the forms described. 



Notes on the genus Amelanchier : By !N". L. 



Britton. 



Specimens illustrating the five eastern 

 species, A. Canadensis, A. Botryapium, A. ro- 

 tundifolia, A. spicata and A. oligocarpa, were 

 exhibited and their inter-relationships dis- 

 cussed. 



Sovie Cyperacece new to North America, with 

 remarks on other species : By N. L. Brit- 

 ton. 

 Eecord was made of seven species of 



sedges hitherto unknown to occur within 



United States, and specimens illustrating 



them were shown. 



On the Cardamines of the C. hirsuta group : By 



N^. L. Britton. 



A discussion of the species C. hirsuta, C. 

 Pennsylvanica, C. flexuosa, C. parviflora and 

 C. arenicola, all of which were maintained 

 as distinct. The paper was illustrated by 

 specimens. 



On the formation and distribution of abnormal 

 resin ducts in Conifers : By Alex. P. An- 

 derson. The study shows that: 



(1) Annual rings of Pinus silvestris and 

 Picea excelsa containing frost rings have in 

 cross sections fewer vertical resin ducts per 

 sq. mm. than the normal rings. 



(2) Regulatory tissue in hyponastic 

 branches of Pinus silvestris has in cross sec- 

 tions fewer resin ducts per sq. mm. than 

 the opposite side of the branch. 



(3) In Abies pectinata, affected with JEcid- 

 ium elatinum, the fungus mycelium is never 

 found in the resin duct canals, nor in the 

 epithelial cells surrounding the canals. 

 Abnormal resin ducts are always found in 



