160 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [AUGUST | 
found in the herbarium of Wellesley College a — distributed with Evernia 
jurjacea (L.) Mann, collected by EDWARD PAL at San Diego, California, 
in December 1888. A duplicate of this ia ee been kindly sent me by 
Dr. L. W. Rp te, who also calls my attention to the fact that this plant was 
ASSE, Bryologist 13:61. 1910)—R. HEBER Howe, Jr., Thoreau Museum, 
oncord, Mass. 
Fertilization in Rafflesia—The remarkable and renowned Rafflesia has long 
attracted attention, but little has been known of its more minute details. An 
investigation’° of its embryo sac and fertilization shows that in spite of the para- 
sitic habit and grotesque appearance, the development of the embryo sac and the 
process of fertilization are quite normal. It was noted that young stages in the 
development of the ovule are found in nearly mature buds, and that the develop- 
ment of the sac takes place after the flower is open.— CHARLES J. CHAMBERLAIN. 
Microchemistry of chromosomes.?'—The title arouses interest, but from the 
paper we learn only that chromosomes may be dissolved in hot water, while the 
reticulum of the resting nucleus is little affected, and that therefore the importance 
of chromatin in heredity has been overestimated. That there are chemical changes 
as chromosomes are developed from a reticulum has been known for some time, 
but we now know the effect of hot water upon chromosomes and theories of hered- 
ity —CHARLEs J. CHAMBERLAIN. 
Absorption of salts by Bromeliaceae.—From his work with the Bromeliaceaé, 
Aso?? concludes that Ananas sativus, Pitcairnia imbricata, and Nidularia pur 
purea do not take up, or only in very small amounts, by means of the scales of 
the leaves, salts soluble in water. On the other band: Tillandsia usneoides, | 
after five days of submergence in a 0.3 per cent lithium nitrate solution, showed 
in different parts of the plant pie quantities of the salt.—R. ATLIN 
Rose. 
20 Ernst, A., und Scamp, Ep., Embryosack porctomve bei Raflesia Patma Bl.” 
Ber. Deutsch. Bot. Gesell. 27:176-186. pl. 8. 19 
21 NEMEc, B., Zur Mikrochemie der Seas Ber. Deutsch. Bot. Gese™ — 
dei: 1909. af 
, K., Kénnen Bromeliaceen durch die Schuppen der Blatter Salze 30" 
seit ‘Vink 100:447-449. IgI0. 
