1914] CURRENT LITERATURE 255 
The value of these contributions is unfortunately impaired by the small 
size and diagrammatic character of the illustrations —L. W. SHARP. 
Morphology of Tetraclinis.—SaxTon* has investigated Tetraclinis articu- 
lata, the “gum sandarach”’ tree of Morocco and Algeria. He has given an 
land connection to Australia. This would make Widdringtonia the most 
Primitive of the Callitris forms.—J. M. C. 
_The absorption of water by aerial organs.—It is now pretty generally 
believed that the absorption of water by the aerial organs of vascular plants 
's rarely a thing of consequence outside of the Bromeliaceae, although it has 
n known for a long time that flaccid leaves immersed in water recover their 
turgescence. Experiments made by various investigators have shown that the 
cell Sap of Salicornia and other salt marsh plants has an osmotic pressure con- 
; siderably above that of sea water. Hence the question arose with Miss HaLKET 
as to the Possibility of such plants absorbing water when immersed at high tide. 
It was found that the aerial organs of Salicornia plants can absorb water from 
4 3 Per cent solution of sodium chloride, and a larger amount from distilled 
water.** As might be expected, the amount absorbed is greatly increased if 
the plants are allowed to transpire freely before immersion, without being able 
to absorb water through the roots. Experiments made on non-halophytic 
ti ts under similar conditions resulted in a loss of water rather than in absorp- 
on, hence it is concluded that the absorption noted in the salt marsh plants 
ea 
ny Saxton, W. T., Contributions to the life-history of Tetraclinis articulata Masters, 
a. notes on the phylogeny of the Cupressoideae and Calltroideae. Ann. 
¥ 27:577-605. figs. 9. pls. 44-46. 1913. 
cal. orate ANN C., Some experiments on absorption by the aerial parts of certain 
plants. New Phytol. 10:121-139. r91t. 
