NOTES AND AB8TJUCTS. 



737 



NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



Abies balsamea: its Fertilisation and Embryogeny. By 



K. Miyake (Beih. Bot. Cent. xiv. pp. 134-144 ; with three plates).— Dr. K. 

 Miyake describes the cell division and embryology of this species. His 

 conclusions are as follows : Number of archegonia* varies from two to four. 

 Neck of the mature archegonium usually consists of three or four tiers of cells, 

 with four cells in each tier. Ventral canal cell is large and persists until the 

 time of fertilisation. Various monstrosities were found. At fertilisation, 

 two sperm nuclei, stalk cell, and tube nucleus are all discharged into the egg. 

 Large sperm nucleus moves directly towards egg nucleus and attaches 

 itself to it. Fertilised nucleus forms four free nuclei by successive 

 division, which move down to base of egg, and there divide simultaneously. 

 After the eight nuclei are completely formed, walls are laid down between 

 them. •The second sperm nucleus, tube nucleus, and stalk nucleus divide 

 or attempt to do so before they disintegrate. A possible " fertilisation of 

 one of the second segmentation nucleus (sic) by the second sperm nucleus 

 was found in one preparation." — G. F. S.-E. 



Abies, Galls on. By F. Muth {Nat. Zeit. Land-Forst. ii. pp. 43G- 

 439 ; 2 figs. ; 1904). — Galls on species of Abies are not uncommon, but 

 the cause is as yet not clear. Gall formation has been ascribed to fungi, 

 Nectria cinnabarina according to Behrens a species of Pestallozia 

 according to Hennings. The author found galls of Abies Fraseri in- 

 habited by a gall insect (Phylloxera sp.) which he figures : these were 

 found in very young galls in which no fungus mycelium occurred. The 

 fungi mentioned above are considered by Muth to follow at a later stage. 



W. G. 8. 



Abutilons. By Georges Bellair (Bev. Sort. pp. 436-8, Sept. 16, 

 1904 ; 3 woodcuts). — Description of several attractive varieties : A. 

 Thompsoni, A. vexillarium varicgatum, A. Selloivianum marmoratiim, 

 and A. Damuinii tessellation mottled with yellow ; A. venosum 1 Souvenir 

 de Bonn,' margined with white; and A. v. Satoitzi, more than half 

 white. Cultural directions. — C. T. D. 



Acacia podalyriaefolia (Die Gart. No. 14, p. 158, December 81, 

 1904 ; with figure). — One of the most elegant of the half-hardy species. 

 The plant is shrubby and has small coriaceous silvery leaves and yellow 

 flowers. If this species is grafted on A. dealbaia, the more vigorous and 

 hardiest of the genus, it grows quicker and stronger. On the Riviera it is 

 cultivated in large quantities, planted in sheltered positions out of doors, as 

 it flowers much earlier and longer than A. dealbata, and is consequently 

 a valuable plant, as the cut flowers keep well and it sells well in Covent 

 Garden Market. — G. R. 



Acer platanoides (Garten/lora, Heft 13, July 1, 1903, p. 337). — A 

 remarkable variety of the Norway Maple, Acer platanoides, is figured and 



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