548 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [December 



interesting results. All parts of Coprinus and other fungi exhibit distinct 

 polarity, so that when parts of stems or pilei are grafted in their normal position 

 on the corresponding parts of other individuals used as stocks, union readily 

 takes place by anastamosing of the hyphae. When the part used as the scion 

 is inserted in the reverse position, no union takes place. In partly resupinate 

 forms, like Polystictus, polarity was exhibited in the same sense, but portions 

 near the margins showed polarity to a less degree than the older parts. — H. 

 Hasselbring. 



Lagenostoma. — This paleozoic type of seed, the first to be connected 

 with Cycadofilicales, has been investigated further by Miss Prankerd 16 from 

 preparations of L. ovoides. The Lagenostoma type of seed has peculiarities that 

 are hard to relate to the structures of the more modern gymnosperm seeds, 

 and any additional knowledge of the facts is welcome. The structures revealed 

 by these new preparations are described in detail, and some interesting 

 "theoretical suggestions" are made. The seed investigated strengthens the 

 suggestion of Oliver and Scott that the outer fleshy layer of the cycadean 

 testa represents the cupule of Lagenostoma, the stony layer being developed 

 after fusion of the Lagenostoma integument with the cupule. The method of 

 pollination is discussed also, and the curious supposition that extraneous water 

 must be brought to the pollen chamber for the swimming sperms is continued. 

 The facts in reference to the peculiar " crevice-like" pollen chamber are 

 somewhat cleared up. It is shown that the contact of the "central cone" 

 with the outer layer of the nucellus is quite variable, so that apparent con- 

 tinuity might be developed in a variety of ways. The point of this is that a 

 preparation showing a space below and continuity aboves does not prove 

 necessarily that the pollen chamber is being formed from below upward. In 

 certain specimens this very appearance was observed and yet there were pollen 

 grains in the chamber. It is not even certain that the crevice -like chamber was 

 continuous around the central cone. The specialized apical portion of the 

 nucellus is called the "lagenostome," and the suggestion as to its morphology 

 is very interesting. Miss Prankerd sees in it a modified apical annulus, 

 which in the fossil Seftenbergia is a multiseriate structure, but which in living 

 forms has become simpler. If this be true, we have a fern connection for the 

 structure that seemed to be hopelessly advanced, namely the seed. — J. M. C. 



The foliar ray of dicotyledons. — Bailey 1 * has followed up his previous 

 work on the rays of certain groups by a more comprehensive study of the 

 dicotyledons, resulting in some important conclusions. The primitive angio- 



16 Prankerd, Theodora L., On the structure of the paleozoic seed Lagenostoma 

 ovoides Will. Jour. Linn. Soc. London 40:461-490. pis. 22-24. figs. 3. 191 2. 



J 7 Bailey, Irving W., The evolutionary history of the foliar ray in the wood 

 of the dicotyledons, and its phylogenetic significance. Ann. Botany 26:647-661. 

 pis. 62, 63. 1 91 2. 



