NOTES ON RECENT RESEARCH. 



L127 



that the so-called rhizophores and roots agree in anatomical structure. 

 Van Teighem observes that neither in regard to exogenous origin nor 

 absence of root-cap is Selacjinella exceptional. " Anatomically it will be 

 seen from the present paper that the aerial and subterranean parts of the 

 root exhibit practically identical features . . . there does not seem any 

 stronger reason for distinguishing the aerial part of the root by a special 

 name and ascribing to it stem-characteristics than there exists for differ- 

 entiating the aerial part of the root of a Pandanus or a Rhizophora from 

 that which is subterranean and sub-aquatic. The view held by some 

 authors that the aerial part of the root is of cauline value ... is not 

 supported by sufficient morphological, anatomical, or developmental 

 evidence." Fellows who cultivate the procumbent species of Selaginella 

 may readily observe the curious point that in some of them, particularly 

 in S. Kraussiana and S. Galeottei for instance, the " rhizophore " or 

 " aerial part of the root " clearly originates on the upper side of the stem 

 and always at a joint. — R. I. L. 



Reproductive Organs of Selaginella. 



Selaginella, Studies on the Gametophyte of. By D. II. Camp- 

 bell, Professor of Botany in the Stanford University, California, U.S.A. 

 {Ann. Bot. vol. xvi., No. 63, p. 419 ; with plate xix). — While the 

 gametophyte or prothallus of Ferns is well understood by most horticul 

 turists, little or nothing is known to them of the corresponding structures 

 of that most interesting and familar genus Selaginella ; indeed a knowledge 

 of it to botanists is only now, apparently, being brought correspondingly 

 up to date. There are, no doubt, important practical points to become 

 acquainted with, for we do not yet raise Selaginellas as we are accustomed 

 to raise Ferns. " Several years ago the writer undertook the study of the 

 development of the female gametophyte in Selaginella Kraussiana, and 

 the results were published in brief form.* Before their publication a 

 paper by Heinsen appeared, and since then four other contributions have 

 been made by Arnoldi, Bruchmann, Fitting, and Lyon. . . . The most 

 recent paper is by Miss Lyon. This is a somewhat extended study of 

 the development of two native species, S. apus and S. rupestris. The 

 most interesting point recorded by Miss Lyon is the retention of the 

 macrospor;; within the sporangium until after the fertilisation of the 

 archegonia." The earlier stages in the development of the male and 

 female gametophytes alone are dealt with in this paper, of the former 

 only, apparently, as concerns Miss Lyon's work, to which it otherwise; 

 largely refers. The author explains that the later stages of the game- 

 tophyte, the structure and development of the archegonium, have been 

 sufficiently described and figured by him before. The figures of the 

 plate all refer to the common Selaginella Kraussiana. — R. J. L. 



Composition of Starch. 



Starch Grains, The Structure of. By EL Kraemer (Bot. Ga 

 xxxiv., p. 341, No. 5 ; pi. xi. and text figs.). — The author gives a short 

 account of the previous views of the structure and chemical composition 



* Structure and Development of the Mosses and Ferns, 1895. pp. 485 504. 



