NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



845 



Twining- Plants, Observations on Tropical. By F. Czapek 



(A71H. Jard. Bot. Buit. 3rd supp. 1st part, 1910, pp. 35-46; with 

 2 figs.). — This paper contains two sections, the first deahng with 

 the free coihng of the stem after the removal of its apex, and the 

 second with some interesting cases of anisophylly of twining shoots. 



The apex was removed from a number of shoots of Ventilago ; 

 after a few days these shoots had coiled themselves up into a number 

 of corkscrew-like coils, and those shoots which were not previously 

 vertically upright had now assumed that position. A number of other 

 plants with climbing habit were found to exhibit the same phenomenon 

 as Ventilago when the tips of the shoots were cut away. Attention is 

 called to the fact that not only does the stem produce a number of 

 coils after the operation, but that it also exhibits a very clearly 

 marked negative geotropic movement. 



In the second part of the paper it is pointed out that many climb- 

 ing plants with opposite and decussate leaves show a very marked 

 inequality in size between the two leaves of each pair. Moreover, 

 in many cases this inequality of size is only apparent during the 

 middle periods of development, whilst in earlier stages as well as in 

 older shoots the two leaves of each pair tend to become nearly or 

 quite equal in size. In certain cases (e.g. Hoy a carnosa) the smaller 

 leaf of the pair shrivels up and drops off, so that the shoots with an 

 unmistakable opposite and decussate arrangement of their leaves at 

 earlier stages appear to possess alternate leaves when mature. — R. B. 



Typhonodorum Lindleyanum (Bot. Mag. tab. 8307). — Nat. ord. 

 Araceae. Madagascar. Shrub; stem 3-10 feet high, 4-12 inches thick; 

 leaves long-petioled, blade l^-S^ feet long, cordate or sagittate ; spathe 

 suberect, 1^-2 feet long; tube green; blade 13-19 inches long, yellow; 

 spadix 10-16 inches long, orange-yellow. — G. H. 



Vegetables, Composition of. By J. Kochs {Gartenfiora, vol. Hx. 

 pt. xxi. pp. 457-464). — The question of the influence of manure on the 

 composition and nutritive value of vegetables require^ investigation. 



S. E. W. 



Vegetables, Forcing*. By M. Buttel {Jour. Soc. Nat. Hort. Ft. 

 ser. iv. vol. xi. p. 64; Jan. 1910). — The two methods of forcing— by 

 anaesthetizing the plant with ether or chloroform, and by plunging it 

 into hot water, are here compared, and the writer seems to consider 

 that the balance of advantage both for efficacy and economy lies with 

 the treatment by ether. — M. L. H. 



Velvet Bean of Florida and Related Plants. By 0. V. Piper 

 and S. M. Tracy {U.S.A. Dep. Agr., Bur. PI. Ind., Bull. 179, May 

 1910; plates). — The Florida velvet bean is grown as a fodder crop in 

 Florida, the stock being turned into the fields to fatten upon it in 

 November. It produces a large number of pods, but even in Florida 

 requires to be sown in February. Several species and varieties have 



