882 



30URNAL OF THE ROYAL IIORTICTM/ITKAL SOCIETY. 



NOTES ON RECENT RESEARCH. 



Effect of Poison on Roots. 



Absorption as influenced by Cold, Poisons, &c. (Beth. Bot, 

 Cent. bd. xii. ht. 8, pp. 208 308).— Dr. P. Kosaroff has tested the effect 

 of poisons in hindering the absorption of water both with roots at 

 ordinary temperatures and also after they had been cooled down to 0° C, 

 or treated with small quantities of poisons. The result is to show that 

 with such cooled or slightly poisoned roots the difference in absorption 

 when strong poisons are applied is not nearly so great as with roots m 

 the ordinary healthy condition. When the water was at 0 , the absorp- 

 tion \\;is at the rate of ;>;> mm. and 34 mm. at intervals of twenty minutes. 

 Tin 1 application of 0*1 per cent, ohloroform solution reduced it to 81 mm.. 

 82 mm., and 82 mm. In the control experiment with water at 20° C, 

 the absorption, at first 15 mm., was brought down to L2 mm., 11 mm., 

 and 12 mm. by the same chloroform solution. The absorption of roots 

 already slightly poisoned is unchanged by the application of poisonous 

 solutions. Thus, in the tenth experiment, the absorption of roots 

 poisoned with 0'2 per cent, chloroform solution was 17 mm. and 18 mm. at 

 intervals of twenty-five minute3. After the application of I per cent. 



sublimate solution the absorption was 17 mm., IS mm., and 11 mm., 

 showing no marked difference in the rate of absorption. 



It is shown that the reaction of plants is thus similar to that of 

 animals under external environmental conditions. — G. F. S.-E. 



Anatomy of Anonace.e. 



Anonaceae, Anatomy of. By II. Beyer [Engl Bot. Jahrb. 

 vol, xxxi. 1902, pp. 510-555, with figures in text; 2 0/1902).— A 

 general account of the anatomy of the vegetative and floral organs, 

 especially of African species of this family. The author also gives a 

 short anatomical description of the leaves of all the African species 

 studied. — A* B. 11 



Embryolosy of Araliack.h. 



Araliaceae, Embryology of. By U Ducamp (Ann. Sc. Nat. Bot, 

 xv. 1{)02, pp. 811- 402 ; plates 8).— After a brief review of the literature, 

 the author describes the development of the ovule, embryo-sac, and embryo 

 of species of AraliacctB. Two ovules appear in each loculus, but only one 

 attains maturity. The origin and development of the parts of the ovule 

 are traced in detail and fully illustrated in the excellent plates. The 

 embryo-sac is derived from one of a series of two, three, or four sister- 

 cells or nuclei, generally from the lowest of the series. The occurrence of 

 two primordial cells may produce two series of sister-cells : this, the 

 author suggests, supports the homology of the ovule with a macrosporange, 

 the integument representing an indusium. The absorption of the 



