168 BOTANICAL GAZETTE {AUGUST 
CaRANO has published the results of the investigation of the development 
of the embryo in Asteraceae,” Senecio vulgaris,’ and Poinsettia pulcherrima.*— 
«MAC, 
Water absorption by epiphytes——Lizskr,” studying certain epiphytes 
idendrum and Tillandsia) in their natural habitats about Rio de Janiero, 
concludes that the velamen of the former and the scales of the latter do not 
condense physiologically significant amounts of water from the air. The 
water n are supplied by rain, dew, and mist. The scales of Tillandsia 
seem important in trapping salts as dust from the air, which are later dissolved 
and absorbed.—WILLIAM CROCKER. 
Toxicity of lithium salts—FERKING* obtains some interesting results upon” 
the toxicity of lithium salts. He finds that lithium salts, like magnesium salts, 
are highly toxic only to calcium-requiring plants and not injurious to the lower 
algae (Chlorella and Scenedesmus) and fungi (Penicillium glaucum) that do 
not require calcium. While calcium salts can fully antagonize the injurious 
effects of magnesium salts, they only reduce the toxicity of lithium salts.— 
WILLIAM CROCKER. 
Morphology of Pittosporum.—BREMER* has investigated the ovule and 
embryo sac of two species of Pittosporum, and reports that in both cases the 
nucellus degenerates and has disappeared when the embryo sac is mature. In 
P. ramiflorum the third megaspore of the linear tetrad develops the embryo sac; 
and in P. timorense the tetrad is bilateral instead of linear.—J. M. C. 
** SovEcEs, Ricerche sull’embriogenesi delle Asteracee. Annali di Botanica ae 
251-301. pls. 11-16. 1915. 
7 CaRANO, E., Sull’embriologia di Senecio vulgaris L. Rend. Roy. Accad. Lincei 
* a4 eae Jigs. 10. 1915. 
ne di Poinsettia pulcherrima R.Grah. Annali di Botanica 
13: battle pl. 17. 1915. 
21 hr Se zur Sensis der a extrem atmos- 
steiveches Eeeheten. Jahrb. Wiss. Bot. 56:112-122. 1915. PFEFFER’s Festschrift. 
%” Ferxinc, H., Uber die Gite pes ietee ns Hd as Flora 108: 
449-453. 1915. 
# BreMER, G., Reliquiae Treubianae II. The development of the ovule and 
embryo sac of Pitlosporum ramifiorum Zoll. and Pittosporum timerense Blume. Ann 
Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg IT. 14:161-164. pls. 23-26. 1915. 
