894 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



13. " Somatic " hermaphrodites crossed with um'elated females, 

 184 ?, 133 ^. 



The author concludes that these hermaphrodites are modified males. 

 Somatic hermaphrodites may be externally indistinguishable from 

 genetic, but produce only male or female plants. The hermaphrodite 

 character can neither find expression in the females nor be trans- 

 mitted by their eggs to the male offspring. The eleven males found 

 (in 5467) proved to be normal. The author considers that " the sexes 

 represent alternatives which in different species may be attained in 

 v,arious ways through either quantitative or qualitative changes, addi- 

 tions, subtractions, substitutions, or transformations, and that in 

 some instances the action of the environment may prove effective in 

 determining which of these states shall find expression. Nearly all the 

 recent investigations indicate, however, that sex is at least pre- 

 dominantly dependent upon the genotypic nature of the individual." 



G. F. S. E. 



Spondianthus, On the Systematic Position of the Genus, 



By A. Engler {Not. Kdriig. Bot. Berlin, vol. v. No. 48, pp. 240-243; 

 Dec. 1911). — It was previously believed that this genus could not be 

 included among the Euphorbiaceae since it was thought to possess 

 resin passages protected by bast in the cortex. Engler now finds 

 that these " resin passages " are not really of this nature but are 

 laticiferous vessels. Moreover the pistil is surmounted, when ripe, 

 by six stigmas (not five as was formerly believed). This genus must, 

 therefore, be included among the Euphorbiaceae. — R. B. 



Stanhopea peruviana {Bot. Mag. t. 8417).— Peru. Family 

 Orchidaceae ; tribe Vandeae. Herb. Leaves one to each pseudo- 

 bulb, J 0-14 inches long, 6| inches broad; scape pendulous, many- 

 flowered, 10 inches long; flowers showy, golden-yellow spotted with 

 purple ; whole flowers 2^ inches long, 1^ inch broad. — G. H. 



Stranvaesia undulata {Bot. Mag. t. 8418).— China. Family 

 Rosaceae; tribe Pomeae. Shrub or tree, 30 feet high. Leaves l|-4 

 inches long; corymbs, leafy below; flowers about thirty, ^ inch across, 

 white; anthers purple; petals soon falling; fruit orange, ^ inch in 

 diameter. — G. H. 



Styrax Wilsonii {Bot. Mag. t. 8444). — China. Family Styraceae. 

 Shrub. Leaves elliptic-ovate ; flowers in axillary and terminal short 

 racemes ; corolla white, f inch across. — -G. H. 



Sweet Pea Disease, A Further Study of Some Gloeosporiums 

 and their Relation to a. By J. J. Taubenhaus {Phytopathology, 

 ii. pp. 153-160; Aug. 1912; 1 plate, 1 fig.). — The anthracnose of sweet 

 peas has already been shown to be due to Glomerella rufomaculans 

 (See JouENAL E.H.S. xxxviii. p. 179). Further experiments have | 

 been carried out which the author considers establish the identity of j 

 Gloeosporhim gallarum Ch. Eich., G. diospyri E. & E., G. officinale 



