NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



499 



S. purpurea and 5. Medemii. The young twigs" have yellow bark, 

 and the new leaves show silky hairs. A new variety of S. Medemii 

 (lonzifrons) , with long, narrow leaves, has been found in Persia. 



5. E. W. 



Sansevieria aethiopiea (Bot. Mag. tab. 8487). — S. Africa. 

 Family Liliaceae, tribe Dracaeneae. Under-shrub, succulent. Leaves 

 13-30, 5-16 inches long. Inflorescence 16-30 inches long. Perianth 

 white, tube 1 inch long, lobes | inch long, revolute. — G. H. 



Saprophytes of Java, Contributions to our Knowledge of 



By A. Ernst and C. Bernard (Ann. Jard. Bot. Buit. ser. ii. vol. xi. 

 pt. ii. 1912). 



X. A systematic description of Burmannia coelestis Don. By J. J. 

 Smith. (Pp. 219-222 ; with 1 plate.) — A detailed description of the 

 systematic characters and habitat of this plant. This species is 

 usually described as an annual, but the author believes it to be 

 perennial. 



XI. External and internal morphology of Burmannia coelestis Don. 

 By A. Ernst and C. Bernard. (Pp. 223-233 ; 1 plate.) — This species 

 differs from those described by the authors in previous communica- 

 tions in being non-saprophytic, and in its tissues containing chloro- 

 phyll. Most of the morphological and anatomical features of 

 B. coelestis are such as might be anticipated from its manner of life. 

 It possesses a normal root system, although without root hairs. 

 The adventitious and lateral roots contain a fungus, especially in 

 the epidermal cells. The epidermis of the stem is furnished with 

 stomata ; its inner and outer cell-walls are thickened and its surface 

 is covered by a well-marked cuticle. The stomata have no subsidiary 

 cells. 



The structure of the leaf of B. coelestis is in accordance with its 

 function as an assimilatory organ, and in this respect differs 

 essentially from the greatly reduced scale leaves of the saprophytic 

 species. 



XII. Developmental history of embryo sac, embryo, and endosperm 

 of Burmannia coelestis Don. By A. Ernst and C. Bernard. (Pp. 234- 

 257 ; with 4 plates.) — The archesporial cell becomes, without previous 

 division, the embryo sac mother-cell, and this, as a rule, becomes 

 directly the embryo sac itself. This species therefore forms the 

 last link in the chain of reduction running through the family of 

 Burmanniaceae as regards the tetrad-division. 



The egg-cell and two synergidae are formed at one extremity 

 of the embryo sac and three antipodal cells, only slightly or not 

 at all differentiated from one another, occupy the other end of 

 the sac. 



In B. coelestis the embryo and endosperm develops without 

 previous fertilization, and in this respect resembles the apogamous 

 species of Alchemilla, Wikstroemia indica, &c. It is peculiar, 



