238 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [SEPTEMBER 
studied the behavior of plants in which lateral movement of water was made 
necessary by the ordinary method of incisions on opposite sides. Only the 
first set of experiments throws any new light on the question of the rise of sap.— 
WILLIAM CROCKER. 
Phylogeny of Filicales.—Bowerr's has begun the publication of a series of 
studies in the phylogeny of the Filicales, and the first paper presents the singular 
and poorly known genus Plagiogyria. It is grouped among the Polypodiaceae, 
and even merged with Lomaria, but the position is anomalous on account of the 
oblique annulus. Several species were secured, both oriental and occidental, and 
the results may be considered fairly representative for a genus of eleven species. 
The conclusions are that the genus is quite a distinct one, deserving to stand apart 
from Lomaria or any other genus; that it is relatively primitive, as shown by 
stelar structure, leaf traces, venation, etc.; that it has resemblances to the Simplices, 
but that its characters indicate that it is rightly placed among the Pterideae; and 
that its “mixed” sorus, without any “gradate” sequence of sporangia, combine 
with its primitive characters and its affinity to the Pterideae, shows that the Mixtae 
have probably come directly from the Simplices, rather than by any of the Gm 
datae.—J. M. C. 
Geotropism and split stems.—ScHTscHERBACK,"® working in PFEFFER'S 
laboratory, has carried on a series of experiments on the geotropic reactions of 
in the vertical position, but two equal halves grow with equal speed in that posi- 
tion. If the two halves are placed horizontally, with the split faces together and 
horizontal, the lower half is favored in its growth and the upper half greatly inhib- 
WItiiamM CRocKER. 
Relation of living cells to the rise of sap.—RorHARDT,”” in his voluminous 
*s Bowe, F. O., Studies in the phylogeny of the Filicales. I. Plagiogyria. A 
of Botany 24:423-450. pls. 32, 33. jigs. §. 1910. 
‘© SCHTSCHERBACK, JOHANN, Die geotropische Reaktion in gespaltenen Stengeln 
Beih. Bot. Centralbl. 25': 358-386. rgro. i 
*7 Rorwarpt, P. A., Ueber die Beteiligung lebender Zellen am Saftsteig® a 
Pflanzen von niedrigen Wuchs. Beih, Bot. Centralbl. 25:243-357- figs: 2 19! 
