1912] CURRENT LITERATURE 263 
hybrids among the species of the genus. From this statement it “a evident that 
normal fertilization in certain species of Taraxacum might be expecte 
IkENo” has been investigating this situation, and has published ecesey 
some of his results. Two species of Taraxacum grow in Tokyo, T. platycarpum 
Dahlst..and 7. albidum Dahlst. During 1908 and 1909, TANAKA, after 
UNKIAR’s method, made castration experiments with the two species and 
found that T. albidum only formed seeds parthenogenetically. - In the spring 
of 1910, IkENO found growing in a field three different varieties a #s platycarpum 
which might perhaps be elementary species in the DE se ith 
these forms, he performed the following experiments. When ‘be heads were 
enveloped with sacs, no seeds were matured; which means that in this case 
there occurred neither self-fertilization, parthenogenesis, nor effective pollina- 
tion among the flowers in the same head. A similar experiment was tried 
with 7. albidum, and the heads with and without sacs produced seeds. Then 
he took another variety of Taraxacum and put sacs around the heads, which 
later withered entirely. Then he brushed the surface of the heads of the 
variety before applying sacs, in order to carry the pollen of one flower to another 
of the same head, and only 5 out of 80 flowers in a head matured perfect seeds; 
but when the pollen of another head was applied, the majority of the flowers 
matured seeds. From these experiments he concludes that in T. platycarpum 
there occur no cases of parthenogenesis, while in the other forms of Taraxacum 
cases of parthenogenesis and normal fertilization both occur.—S. YAMANOUCHI. 
Inflorescence and ovules of Gnetum.—Mrs. TuHopAy (SyYKEs)*’ has 
investigated the ovulate strobilus and ovules of Gnetum africanum, from 
material obtained by Pearson during the Percy Sladen Memorial Expedition 
in southwest Africa. The vascular situation presents some facts of unusual 
interest. In the nodes of the ovulate strobilus three tric rings of bundles 
occur, the middle one being oriented inversely in relation to the other two, and 
concentric bundles occurring frequently in the two outer rings. The vascular 
connections of a single ovulate “flower” in G. africanum are said to bear “ 
remarkably close resemblance to the method of supply to the axillary inflores- 
cence in Bennettites.”” A ring of bundles enters the base of the ovule, and 
finally breaks into three sets, which traverse the three “coverings” of the 
ovule, the innermost set traversing the inner integument to and sometimes 
beyond its separation from the nucellus. A well developed pollen chamber is 
present in the young ovule, and later the apex of the nucellus hatdens and 
forms a pointed cap. 
%* TkENO, S., Sind alle Arten der Gattung Taraxacum parthenogenetisch? Ber. 
Deutsch. Bot. Gesells. 28: 394-397. 191 
 THopay (SyKEs), Mary G., The female inflorescence and ovules of Gnetum 
africanum, with notes on Gnetum scandens. Ann. Botany 25:1101~-1135. pls. 86, 87. 
Sigs. 16. 1911 
