86 BOTANICAL GAZETTE - [JULY 
from the hyphal wall. The of ing is finally completely closed, and at the center 
an excess of material is deposited, giving rise to a papilla-like structure described 
as a ‘canal’ by Licer. During this process the wall between the two game- 
tangia is resorbed. The line of contact between the two protoplasmic bodies 
remains distinct for some time, owing to the presence between them of the 
granular material mentioned above, but finally the masses fuse. Multiple 
nuclear fusions appear to occur at this stage. The nuclei which fail to fuse 
are smaller than the fusion nuclei, and soon disintegrate. No evidence of a 
uninucleate stage was observed. At this time numerous oil bodies, which are 
regarded as being of the same nature as the elaioplasts of higher plants, appear 
in the protoplasm. These bodies fuse until two or three large ones are formed. 
The large elaioplast-like bodies the author believes to be the “‘sphére embryo- 
naires” of LEGER.—H. HASSELBRING. 
Proceedings of the National Academy.—This new monthly publication 
began to appear with the January issue of 1915. In addition to the reports and 
announcements that belong to it naturally, as the official organ of publication 
of the National Academy, it will also serve as a medium for the prompt publi- 
cation of brief original papers by members of the Academy and other American 
investigators. The papers will be much shorter and less detailed than those 
published in the special journals, and the aim of the Proceedings is to secure 
sentative from each one of the special fields of science, the editor of the BoTANI- 
cat GazettE being the botanical representative on the editorial board of the 
Proceedings. 
he first two numbers contain the following botanical soe Phoraden- 
dron, by WiLtiaAM TRELEASE (Proc. Nat. Acad. 1:30-35. 1915); The mor- 
phology and relationships of Podomitrium malaccense, Sy Douctas H. 
CAMPBELL (ibid., 36, 37); and A phylogenetic study of cycads, by CHARLES 
J. CHAMBERLAIN (ibid. 86-90). In addition to these papers that are credited 
to the section of botany, certain papers in genetics, physiology, and chemistry 
come well within the scope of present botanical interest. For example, the 
paper by E. M. East, entitled An interpretation of self-sterility (ibid. 9 5-100), 
deals with an interesting problem of genetics among plants.—J. C. 
Evolution of the flower.—Horne” has contributed a very detailed study 
of the structures of the flower which he regards as indicators of phylogeny. 
The families specially studied are the Hamamelidaceae, Caprifoliaceae, and 
Cornaceae, but the principles involved have general application. He includes 
in his discussion also the possible applications of the various theories of evolu- 
27 Horne, A. S., A contribution to the study of the evolution of the flower, with 
special reference to the Hamamelidaceae, Caprifoliaceae, and Cornaceae. Trans. 
Linn. Soc. London II Bot. 8:239-309. pls. 28-30. figs. 13. 1914. 
