Botany and Zoology. 253 



3. Zur Kenntniss der fixen Lichtlage der Laubblatter ; by G. 

 Keabbe (Pringsheim's Jahrb., xx, 2, p. 211). — The experiments 

 were confined principally to the leaves of Phaseolus and lead to 

 the following general conclusion which is somewhat at variance 

 with those recently announced by Vachting. The position of the 

 leaf with respect to light cannot be explained on the basis of a 

 simple combination of heliotropism, epinasty, etc. ; it is the result 

 of a special heliotropic property of leaves. g. l. g. 



4. Flora, oder Allgemeine botanische Zeitung. — This well- 

 known journal, now in its 72d year, changes its place of publica- 

 tion. Hereafter it is to be edited at Marburg by Prof. K. Goebel. 

 The number for March 1 begins the new volume. It contains (1) 

 an interesting paper, by the editor, on the young forms of j^lants, 

 (2) a criticism by Prof. Pfeffer on the researches by Loew and 

 Bokorny, (3) notes on Hypoxis decumbens by Luclwig, (4) the 

 genus Crenacantha (certain algae placed by Hausirg near Drapar- 

 naldia), (5) (6) papers by J. Muller on Sandwich Island and Ar- 

 gentine Lichenes, (7) Widmer, notes on the red primroses of the 

 Alps, (8) Loesener, some new plants from Brazil, and, finally, two 

 reviews. 



The second number, May 15, has (1) Schenck, on the aerial 

 roots of Avicennia tomentosa and Laguncularia racemosa, (2) on 

 the liquefaction of gelatine by moulds, Hansen, (3) the sandflora 

 of Mainz, by Jannicke, (4) Weisse, on the mechanical theory of 

 leaf arrangement in axillary buds, (5) short notes giving infor- 

 mation relative to a botanical journey of Bornmuller in Asia 

 Minor, (6) Lichenologic notes by Muller, and, lastly, four reviews, 

 one of them being an appreciative notice of the Botanical Gazette. 



The foregoing list serves to indicate the wide range covered by 

 the journal under its new editor. It should receive hearty en- 

 couragement. G. L. G. 



5. The utilization by plants of free atmospheric nitrogen. — 

 At the close of a very interesting article in the Berichte der 

 Deutschen Botan. Gesellsch. for June 25th, Prof. Frank, after- 

 having reviewed certain points in dispute between Helbriegel and 

 himself, says : "All plants use as nitrogenous food at least in 

 their young state, and up to a certain degree of development, 

 compounds of nitrogen, especially nitrates, which they take from 

 the soil; under a favorable condition of development they can also 

 assimilate free nitrogen from the air. The gain from the latter 

 depends in amount on the energy and duration of this assimila- 

 tion ; for instance, in the Leguniinosse it is especially marked. 

 * * * * Just as we attribute the carbon of humus and of peaty 

 soil to the carbonic acid of the air, we must attribute the nitrogen 

 of arable land to the nitrogen of the. air, both of these having 

 been acquired through the intervention of the vegetable world." 



G. L. G. 



6. MonographicB Phanerogarum Prodromi nunc contimiatio, 

 nunc revisio Editoribxis et pro parte auctoribus Alphonso et 

 Casimie De Candolle, Vol. Sextum. Andropogonew, auctore 



