166 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [AUGUST 
entering less readily than the nitrate or the chloride. It is of great interest 
that a considerable sojourn in a hypotonic solution lowered the permeability 
of the cell to the salt and apparently to the water. Firrrnc says that this is 
not a toxic effect. The method shows no evidence that the salts of metals of 
alkaline earths (Mg, Ca, Ba, and Sr) enter the cells, so equilibrium between 
the inside and outside need not be reached even in a solution of an essential 
salt. One wonders whether the permeability in a plasmolytic concentration 
throws much light on permeability in natural conditions WILLIAM CROCKER. 
Morphology of Peranema.—DaAvie” has investigated the development 
of the sorus, sporangium, and gametophyte of this Indian fern. The study 
was suggested by the possible intermediate character of the genus between 
Cyatheaceae and Polypodiaceae. The receptacle is of the Gradatae type, 
but the mature sorus is a mixed one. The sporangium also in its early seg- 
mentation sometimes follows the type of one family, and sometimes that of the 
other family. In comparing the features of the genus, the conclusion is reached 
that an intermediate series consisting of Woodsia, Diacalpe, and Peranema is 
probable, Woodsia coming nearest Cyatheaceae, and Peranema nearest Poly- 
podiaceae. The mature sorus of Peranema is thought to be most related to 
that of Nephrodium, and a phyletic line is pens from the Cyatheaceae to the 
Aspidieae group of the Polypodiaceae.—J. M 
Two new terms.—TRELEASE” has proposed two new botanical terms to 
be applied to hitherto nameless morphological conditions. He points out that 
the old grouping of plants into thallophytes and cormophytes fails to include 
such plants as mosses, which are not cormophytes because, although ‘stem- 
like,” they do not develop root and shoot. He proposes, therefore, a grouping 
of plants into 3 categories: thallophytes, “‘cormophytasters” (or pseudo- 
hytes. The second t 
unique in having 3 beniecatil’ sporophyte, gametophyte, and xeniophyte.— 
1 LG 
Seed germination in Megarrhiza—Hi11 has investigated the peculiar 
seed germination of several species of this genus, which is also known as Marah. 
The petioles of the cotyledons are “fused together” to form a tube, which 
79 Davie, R. C., The development of the sorus and sporangium and the prothallus 
of Peranema cycathoides D. Don. Ann. Botany 30:t1o1—-r11o0. pl. 3. figs. 2. 1916. 
2° TRELEASE, WILLIAM, Two new terms, cormophytaster and oe axio- 
matically fundamental in botany. Proc. Amer. Phil. Soc. 55: 237-242. 19 
2 Hitt, A. W., Studies in seed germination. ip we Marah ‘atiaidals. 
Cucurbitaceae. Ann. Botany 30:215-222. pl. 5. figs. 
