NOTES OX RECENT RESEARCH. 



701 



""from being the most distinct and usually also the most widely distributed," 

 may fairly be accepted as his type. In the case of names included in the 

 third group, after stating what is said in favour of other views, the authors 

 say, " We are of opinion that it is the better course to retain the names 

 when, although the descriptions are imperfect and of themselves inadequate, 

 there are reasonable grounds for inferring that they belong to certain 

 plants." — G. S. S. 



Anatomy of Lotus, &c. 



Lotese, Leaf and Seed Anatomy in (Beih. Bot. Cent. bd. xii. ht. 3, 

 pp. 425-482). — Herr Walter Schmidt has investigated anatomically ninety- 

 six species belonging to the genera Lotus, Anthyllis, Hosackia, and others 

 of the Lotus family. The leaf seems not to differ in any marked way from 

 the majority of the Leguminosce. It is remarkable for the absence of 

 external glands and mucilage-cells which are very common in other tribes 

 The frequent presence of idioblasts containing tannin and probably also 

 albuminoid substances is characteristic. Stomata are generally found on 

 both the upper and lower surface of the leaf. The seed consists of three 

 distinct parts : the seed-coat, a more or less developed endosperm, and the 

 embryo. The seed-coat consists of the following layers : first, prismatic 

 cells (Stabzellen) greatly thickened and with only about \ or ^ of the cell- 

 cavity remaining. They have a polygonal outline on the surface of the seed, 

 and at times show a " lightline," probably through unequal thickening of 

 the cell-wall and the different chemical nature of the different parts of the 

 wall. Next comes a layer of hourglass-shaped cells more or less com- 

 pressed and pretty strongly thickened. The innermost layer of the seed- 

 coat consists of several rows of thin-walled, strongly-compressed cells. 

 The endosperm consists of an outer portion covered by a cuticle and con- 

 sisting of four-sided cells (polygonal as seen from the surface) and 

 containing a little fat, a great quantity of proteal substances, and occa- 

 sional starch grains. Then follows the horny or mucilaginous layer of 

 endosperm, which swells greatly in water. The paper contains a tabular 

 vbw of the characteristics of sixteen seeds, and both genera and species 

 are treated in considerable detail. — G. F. S.-E. 



Rust on Willow. 



Melampsorae that attack Willows. By C. B. Plowright, M.D. 

 (Gard. Chron. No. 813, p. 55 ; July 26, 1902). — A synoptic table is given 

 of fourteen species belonging to this genus, which infests Willows. The 

 Uredinece or Rust fungi, the family to which this genus belongs, is re- 

 markable for the majority of its species being heteroecious. Out of the 

 fourteen species of the genus Melampsora which attack Willows, only 

 two are autcecious. The forms which appear on other hosts were formerly 

 classed in another genus (Cceoma). These alternate hosts belong to 

 various orders of plants, Larches, Orchids, Alliums, Ribes, Saxifrages, 

 and Euonymus. — G. S. S. 



Plant-Movement. 



Movements of Plants (Beih. Bot. Cent. bd. xii. ht. 2, pp. 248-278). 

 — Professor Dr. Anton Hansgirg gives many new instances of movements 



