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1915] CURRENT LITERATURE 87 
tion, and especially the light shed upon his problem by the work in plant 
genetics. Much stress is laid upon the varying characters of the ovule and its 
connections, beginning with the orthotropous ovule, as relatively primitive, 
and advancing through “‘anatropal advance and specialization,” which latter, 
by the way, is said to be accompanied by the transition from two integuments 
to one. It is interesting to note that in the author’s judgment “no phylo- 
genetic significance can be attached to a particular form of vascular system.” 
Applying his criteria, HORNE concludes that both Caprifoliaceae and Cornaceae 
are polyphyletic, and warns the authors of ‘‘systems”’ that “‘knowledge of the 
phylogeny of angiosperms can only be truly advanced by the detailed mor- 
phological and experimental investigation of many more families, and then, 
but not till then, can ENGLER’s system be replaced by a greater scheme, more 
nearly approximating to natural relationships.””—J. M. C 
Fossil plants from Kentucky.—Six genera of fossil plants from Kentucky 
are the subject of an intensive study by Scott and Jerrrey.* The exact level 
from which these plants come is somewhat in doubt, but the evidence favors 
the base of the Carboniferous, although the uppermost Devonian is not ex- 
cluded. The fossils belong to three groups. The first of these includes the 
stem of one of the Cycadofilicales known as Calamostachys with its petiole 
(Kalymma), another petiole of the related genus Calamopteris, and a petiole 
referred to the genus Periastron. All of these genera have previously been 
known only from the Culm of Germany, where they were found and nam 
by Uncrr, and it is of much interest to note that the same flora existed on this 
continent, although as far as is known the species were distinct. The second 
group comprises two new genera: Stereopteris, which is apparently the petiole 
of a fern, and Archaeopitys, which presents a new and interesting type of cor- 
daitean stem. Ina third group may be placed a cone of the usual Lepidostrobus 
type. The structure is fairly well preserved in most of these fossils, and is 
illustrated in the 13 quarto plates which accompany the paper.—M. 
CHRYSLER. 
Phylogeny of angiosperms.—In continuing their studies of this sub- 
ject, Srynorr and BatLey® have investigated the evidence to be obtained 
from leaves. They conclude, irom paleobotanical evidence, from the correla- 
tion between the palmate leaf and the multilacunar node, and from the fre- 
quency of this type of leaf in the relatively primitive groups, that the leaf of 
the primitive angiosperm was palmate in type and probably lobed. They 
% Scott, D. H., and Jerrrey, E. C., On fossil plants showing structure, from the 
base of the Sen Shale of Kentucky: Trans. Roy. Soc. London 20§:315-373- 
bls. 27-39. 
ad ae E. W., and Bartey, I. W., Investigations on the phylogeny of se 
angiosperms. 5. F oliar evidence as to the ‘ences and - climatic environmen 
of the angiosperms. Amer. Jour. Bot. 2:1-22. pls. 1-4. 1915. 
