grt} CURRENT LITERATURE 319 
Geotropism of hypocotyls and cotyledons.—ScuiitzE,* working in PFEF- 
FER’S laboratory, has published a paper on the geotropic behavior of hypo- 
cotyls and cotyledons. The work adds some facts to that of CopELAND®? on 
this subject. For hypocotyls, Phaseolus muliiflorus, P. vulgaris, Helianthus 
annuus, Cucurbita Pepo, Ricinus communis, Vicia Faba, and others were used; 
and for cotyledons, Phoenix dactylifera and Yucca angustifolia. Both the 
cotyledons and hypocotyls showed positive geotropic reaction after the removal 
of the root tips. Traumatropic response followed a one-sided injury of the 
root tip. The change. from positive to negative geotropism always begins 
at the base of the hypocotyl and travels upward. The zone of most rapid 
growth always accompanies this zone of change.—WILLIAM CROCKER. 
Ovule of Bruniaceae.—This is a family of 12 genera, endemic in South 
Saxifragaceae. So isolated does it seem, that SaxTon* has investigated the 
Structure of the ovule and embryo sac. He finds a single massive integument, 
and in Brunia an embryo sac completely replacing the nucellus and packed 
with starch, which almost completely disappears before fertilization; in 
Berzelia and Staavia a little of the basal nucellar tissue persists. The solitary 
megaspore mother cell and the tetrad present nothing unusual; and, so far 
as the ovular structures are concerned, there is nothing suggestive of relation- 
ship. Certainly there is no suggestion of an “ancient type,”’ especially since 
4 single massive integument is a feature of the Sympetalae.—J. M. C. 
Evaporation in Jamaica.—Observations made by Brown* on the grounds 
of the Cinchona Laboratory of the New York Botanical Garden in the Blue 
Mountains of Jamaica, extending over a period of 25 days in May and June 
TOTO, give an unexpectedly low rate of evaporation even in an open grassy 
Clearing (8. 2 cc. daily) ; while in a densely wooded ravine it was less than 1 cc. 
daily from the standard Livingston atmometer. The use of. the non-rain- 
absorbing atmometer is here reported for the first time, and its results show 
ing instrument is used—Gro. D. FULLER. 
Mistletoe —York® has made an anatomical and ecological study of the 
American mistletoe, confirming several well known facts, such as its dissemi- 
_ ™“Scuttze, Rup., Ueber das geotropische Verhalten des Hypokotyls und des 
Kotyledons. Jahrb. Wiss. Bot. 48:377-42 
»R 
. 4 gor. : 
* Saxton, W. T., The ovule of the Bruniaceae. Trans. Roy. Soc. S. Africa 
IgIo. : 
* Brown, Wm. H., Evaporation and plant habitats in Jamaica. Plant World 
13+ 268-272. 1910. 
* York, H. H., The anat my and some of the biological aspects of the “ Ameri- 
fan mistletoe,” Phoradendron flavescens (Pursh) Nutt. Bull. Univ. Texas 120. pis. 
T3. Igog, 
