NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



879 



the ferments of the Yeast plant and the common Mushroom. In both 

 cases a peptolysing enzyme is found to be present, and also a peptonising 

 enzyme capable of digesting fibrin. At the conclusion of the work the 

 author endeavours to discover if both these processes are effected by one 

 and the same protease. It is probable there are two enzymes present : one 

 exclusively peptolytie, readily soluble in water ; the other peptonising, 

 less soluble in water, but readily soluble in 2 per cent. NaCl solution. 



A. D. C. 



Prostanthera denticulata. By W. B. H. (Bot. Mag. t. 7934).— 

 Native of Eastern Australia. Nat. ord. Labiate? ; tribe Prost anther ece. 

 This is a much- branched hispid shrub, a few feet high, with stiff, linear- 

 lanceolate leaves and purple flowers. — G. H. 



Psilotum, On a Prothallus provisionally referred to. By 



William H. Lang (Ann. Bot. xviii. Oct. 1904, pp. 571-577 ; 1 plate).— A 

 description of a prothallus found by the writer in the Malay Peninsula. 

 On account of its growing in close proximity to some Psilotum plants it 

 has been provisionally referred to that genus. 



The general morphological and anatomical features are very similar to 

 those of the prothallia of some Lycopodiums ; no trace of assimilating 

 lobes was present. — A. D. C. 



Psilotum, On the Occurrence of Secondary Xylem in. By 



L. A. Boodle (Ann. Bot. xviii. July 1904, pp. 505-516 ; 1 plate, 7 text 

 figs.). — Besides the ordinary solid mass of xylem in the underground 

 parts of Psilotum, the author describes tracheides which he regards as 

 secondary. These are within the ring of sieve tubes, but outside the 

 ordinary xylem. The secondary tracheides are scalariform or irregularly 

 pitted. 



The new facts discovered strengthen the view of the affinity of the 

 Psilotaceaz with the Sphenopliyllacece. — A. D. C. ' 



Psilotum triquetrum, The Anatomy of. By Sibille 0. Ford 

 (Ann. Bot. xviii. October 1904, pp. 589-603 ; 1 plate). — An examination 

 of the anatomy of this plant showed it to be monostelic throughout. A 

 protostele is found at the base of the aerial stem, and this is often succeeded 

 by a medullated stage. The phloem is poorly developed. The authoress 

 regards Psilotum as a reduced form, which may have retained some 

 primitive characters ; on anatomical grounds it appears to be closely 

 related with the Sphenophy Hales. — A. D. G. 



Pteris aquilina (Die Gart. No. 48, p. 573, August 27, 1904).— This 

 common British Fern is also found almost everywhere in the temperate 

 region. In Japan the young shoots are collected and used as a vegetable. 

 In the autumn, when the plant has died down, starch is extracted from 

 the rhizomes, and is mixed with flour for baking. This starch is also 

 used for paper-making and for waterproof clothing. — G. B. 



Pteroglossaspis ecristata. By R A. Rolfe (Grck. Bev. vol. xii. 

 p. 136). — Some interesting points are here contained, on this little-known 

 genus, both as to habitat and confusion of its identity among botanists. 



H. J. C, 



