NOTES ON RECENT RESEARCH. 



683 



micellus by the growing embryo-sac is followed out. The nuclei of the 

 embryo-sac form two tetrads, which become arranged as usual ; the polar 

 nuclei fuse before fertilisation. The differentiation of sister-cells and the 

 embryo-sac resembles the Polypetahe, but the presence of one ovule 

 integument, the differentiation of an epithelial layer, and the absorption 

 of the nucellus recall similar characters in the (himopetalw. The develop- 

 ment of the tissues of the embryo from the fertilised ovum is described 

 and figured in detail, and summarised in a table. — W. G. S. 



The Bokagoid Cyme. 

 Boragoid Cyme, Morphology and Development of the : 



(1) Investigations on the Development of the Inflorescence and Flowers 

 and of the Adnate Axillary Buds of Symphytum officinale. By F. 

 Muth (Flora, xci. pp. 56-114, t. 9-ir, ; 1902). (2) The Development of 

 the Boragoid. By H. Goebel (vol. cit, pp. 237-208 ; 6 woodcuts).— Muth 

 finds in the Comfrey transitions between lateral branching and bifurcation 

 of the growing point ; on anatomical, comparative, and developmental 

 grounds the inflorescence must be regarded as a true sympodium, close to 

 the true scorpioid cyme. Mechanical effects (pressure) are concerned in the 

 adnations and displacements that characterise it. Such effects occur in 

 connection with the variations of the sequence of appearance of the 

 (properly) quincuncial sepals. Muth rejects Goebel's view that the actual 

 development of the Borage id is by a wide conical dorsiventral shoot 

 which gives off flowers and leaves alternately on its upper flanks in 

 acropetal succession behind the growing print. Goebel, in a criticism of 

 Muth, says that his description is accurate and supports it with fresh draw- 

 ings [which, to the abstractor, are hardly convincing either way]. But 

 Goebel explicitly declares, what he has long since admitted, " that he 

 recedes from the revolutionary position he took up in his famous work of 

 1880 on 4 The Branching of Dorsiventral Shoots,' that developmental 

 evidence is only one factor in morphological identification, and that the 

 Boragoid of many Solanacece, as well as of Boraginece, must be regarded 

 as a modified cicinnus, and he goes on to say that ccmparative studies 

 prove incontestably that the typical cicinnus and the Boragoid are links 

 of one chain. "If this be recognised, it seems to me of minor weight 

 whether one speaks of a Sympode growing in a monopodial fashion, or 

 of a Monopode." It is to be hoped that Goebel's explicit declaration will 

 help to revive the study of comparative phanerogamic morphology in 

 England.— M. II. 



Manner of Fungus Attack. 



Botrytis cinerea. By R. E. Smith {Hot. Gaz. xxxiii. No. 6, 

 p. 421). — The author first records the observations of Marshall Ward 

 and others that, in certain fungi, parasitism is brought about by the 

 secretion of a soluble substance by the mycelium which kills and dis- 

 integrates the host tissue at a considerable distance from the filaments, 

 thus affording them practically saprophytic nourishment. But, the author 

 observes, still much is to be explained. 



The usual conditions under which this organism may affect living 

 plants are : excessive moisture, stagnant air, high temperature, low 



