264 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [MARCH 
Water relations of plants.—In order to make clear the complex relation- 
ships which determine the moisture content of the growing plant and more 
especially to emphasize the artificial character of the distinction usually made 
etween the organism and its environment, LivincsTon® has prepared an 
excellent schematic representation. It should prove a valuable aid to teachers 
.of ecology and plant physiology in presenting this difficult topic. The gene 
theory of physical causation is made to apply to all the organic phenomena 
involved.—Gro. D. FULLER 
Habitats of the red cedar.—Harper,*" in seeking for an explanation for 
the occurrence of Juniperus virginiana in very diverse habitats, finds one w 
he deems satisfactory in the sensitiveness of the tree to fire. Its prevalence 
upon limestone soils is noted and the conclusion is reached that “the cedar 
dreads fire more than it likes lime,” and that it is found chiefly in areas which 
are rarely visited by forest fires. No experimental data are offered in support 
of this conclusion.—Geo. D. FULLER. 
A new Jurassic fern.—THomas:? has described from the Jurassic of 
England a new species of the Stachypteris of PoMMEL (1847). In studying the 
affinities of the genus, he concludes that the structure of the sporangia and of 
the fertile spikes does not indicate any close affinities with the modern groups 
of ferns, but that it must belong to “‘a group of ferns intermediate in their 
characters between the Cyatheaceae and the Schizaeaceae.”—J. M. C. 
Embryogeny of R ] In continuing his studies of the embryo 
of Ranunculaceae, SovEGEs%3 has published a detailed account of the em- 
bryogeny of Adonis. The preceding parts have dealt with the Clematideae* 
and with Myosurus.35 In Myosurus the Aaa of events is very constant, 
while in Adonis it is very variable—J. M. C. 
3° Lrvincston, B. E., A schematic representation . - water relations of plants; 
a pedagogical suggestion. Plant World 15: 214~218. 1 
3t HARPER, R. M., The diverse gas of the eastern aa cedar and their inter- 
pretation. Rosrevs 12: 145-154. I 
3 Tuomas, H. HamsHaw, Sth Hallei, a new Jurassic fern. Proc. Cam- 
bridge Phil. Soc. 16:610-614. pl. 
33 SouEGES, R., Recherches sur Fas: des Renonculacées. Anémonées 
(genre Adonis). Bull. Soc. Bot. France 59: 474-482, 545-550. figs. 224-269. 1912. 
4 Bot Gaz. 512480. 1911. 
3s Bot. GAz. 543264. 1912. 
