7° BOTANICAL GAZETTE [JANUARY 
megaspore mother cell; the appearance of an ordinary tetrad; the formation of 
a chalazal haustorium by the embryo sac, into which the three persistent and very - 
active antipodal cells pass; and the development of a massive supsensor from 
the filamentous proembryo. The anatomical details are fully presented, and 
are directed chiefly toward taxonomic distinctions. The ‘‘biological” topics 
deal with the influence of various conditions (especially mesophytic), the crystals 
of calcium oxalate, starch, tannins, and elaeagnin. The taxonomist will discover 
that the three genera are quite justifiable, and will receive no shock upon finding 
that the family belongs just where it is now located in the ENGLER sequence.— 
Cretaceous conifers.—The remarkable results obtained by HOLLiIck and 
JEFFREY from a study of the plant remains preserved in Cretaceous clays of 
Staten Island have now been published.t® Much of the material consisted of 
fragments of lignite, and this required the development of a special technic, which 
is described. Structural material of leafy twigs and cone scales was also secured. 
The recent and rapid organization of vascular anatomy as a scientific instrument 
is well exemplified in this memoir, not only in the identification of material, but 
still more in the interpretation of its significance. 
The descriptions of specimens include three genera of Abietineae, Pinus 
(3 spp., 2 new), Prepinus (1 sp.), and Pityoxylon (1 sp.); but most important is 
the surprising display of Araucarineae, 16 genera being included, 9 of which are 
described as new (Androvettia, Raritania, Eugeinitzia, Pseudogeinitzsia, Ano- 
maspis, Sphenaspis, Dactyolepis, Pityoidolepis, Brachyoxylon), the remaining 7 
genera being Widdringtonites, Thuites, Brachyphyllum, Geinitzia, Protodam- 
mara, Araucariopitys, and Araucarioxylon. 
The great interest of these results lies in their bearing on the relationship of 
araucarians to the other conifers. The remains investigated include many that 
have been referred heretofore, from the appearance of their leafy branches or of 
their cones, to Taxodineae, at and Podocarpineae. The conifers 
referred to these tribes are now shown, by the microscopic structure of their 
leafy twigs and cone scales, to be araucarians, and represent a special subtribe, 
for which the name Brachyphylloideae is proposed. They are characterized by 
a special type of wood, the Brachyoxylon type, which is said to ‘ally them with 
both the Araucarineae (in the narrower sense) and the Abietineae.” The authors 
believe that the araucarians of today have come from abietineous ancestors 
through Brachyphylloideae. The species of Pinus investigated are in general 
more archaic than any living species, and Prepinus shows structural features 
more primitive than in any other living or extinct conifer—J. M. C. 
r9 HOLLICK, ARTHUR, AND JEFFREY, EDWARD CHARLES, Studies of Cretaceous 
coniferous remains from Kreischerville, New York. Mem. N. Y. Bot. Garden 3:vilit — 
138. pls. 29. 1909 
