NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



8S3 



Oxydases and Nitrites. By K. Aso (Tokyo) (Beth. Bot. Cent. xv. 

 pp. 208-214). — The oxidising agencies in plant juices are not necessarily 

 organic peroxids, and these latter do not necessarily liberate iodine 

 from potassium iodide. This liberation of iodine is not parallel to the 

 guaiacum reaction and is not produced by oxydases. But traces of nitrites 

 found in the buds of Sagittaria bulbs liberated iodine from potassium 

 iodide. Unfortunately, certain benzene compounds prevent the reaction 

 of Griess upon nitrites. This appears to be the first time that nitrites 

 have been detected in plants. — G. F. S.-E. 



Oxydases in Plants. By T. Porodko (Beih. Bot. Gent. xvi. 

 pp. 1-10). — The author found that the guaiacum reaction for the 

 presence of oxydases fails in the absence of oxygen, and that the reaction 

 depends upon the oxidation of the guaiacum resin. The author also 

 finds that the guaiacum reaction occurs when there are no oxydases 

 present. The author tried to find out by direct experiment if oxydases, 

 and only oxydases, can oxidise the glucoses in vegetable extracts. From 

 five researches he concludes that oxydases scarcely play any part in 

 respiration. — G. F. S.-E. 



Paulownia imperialis. By 8. W. Fitzherbert (Garden, No. 1G97, 

 p. 370; 28/5/1904). — This handsome flowering tree is not often seen in 

 perfect bloom in this country, for, the buds being formed in the autumn, 

 winter frosts, and more especially those that occur in the spring when the 

 buds are swelling, have a disastrous effect on the subsequent flowering, 

 the buds being so injured that but few of them are able to expand, and, 

 instead of the long, upright racemes holding ten or a dozen large, lavender- 

 blue, Gloxinia-like blossoms, but one or two expand on each flower-spike, 

 this paucity of bloom detracting greatly from the effect of the tree. A 

 sheltered site absolutely protected from the north and east winds should 

 therefore be selected for planting the Paulownia, and in such a situation 

 the flowering has the greatest chance of being satisfactory, though even 

 in such an ideal spot a bitter winter will often leave its mark in a poor 

 display of blossom. — E. T. C. 



Patagonium campestre and P. glanduliferum. By A. B 



Rendle (Journ. Bot. 508, pp. 382-8, pi. 465b ; 11/1904).— Descriptions of 

 two new species, collected by Mr. Hesketh Prichard in Patagonia. The 

 first-named, from nitrate pampas, belongs to the section Dasycarjmm, 

 and is a spinescent gorse-like shrub with obovate-cuneate leaflets to the 

 paripinnate leaves and racemes of orange flowers, having their standard 

 petals striated with a purplish-brown in the centre. The second, from 

 high mountain slopes on the Burmeister Peninsula, is more herbaceous, 

 belonging to the section Ptilocarpum, resembling Adesmia conferta in 

 habit. — G. S. B. 



Patagonia, Plants Of. By A. B. Rendle (Journ. Bot. 503 

 pp. 321-334 ; and 504, pp. 367-378, with pi. 465; 11/1904 and 

 12/1904). — A detailed account of the plants collected in Patagonia by 

 Mr. Hesketh Prichard, and presented by him to the National Herbarium. 



G. 8. B. 



