NOTES AND ABSTEACTS. 



667 



essential to the transpiration current, and examines critically the views 

 of Dixon, Overton, and others, showing how their experiments can be 

 explained according to the above theory. — G. F. S. E. 



Saprophytes of Java, Contributions to our Knowledge of. 



By A. Ernst and 0. Bernard {Ann. Jard. Bot. Buit, ser. ii. vol. ix. 

 pt. ii. ; 1911). 



VII. A Systematic Description of Burmannia Candida and B. Cham- 

 pionii. By J. J. Smith. Pp. 79-83 ; with 2 plates. 



This paper contains a detailed account of the most important mor- 

 phological characters of these two species of Burmannia. 



B. Candida is widely distributed in the Indo-Malayan region, while 

 B. Cham'pionii has hitherto only been reported from Ceylon. It has 

 now been found in Java as well. 



VIII. The External and Internal Morphology of Burmannia Can- 

 dida and B. Championii. By A. Ernst and 0. Bernard. Pp. 84-97; 

 with two plates. 



The roots of B. Candida are swollen and fleshy, while those of 

 B. Championii, which spring from a fleshy rhizome, are thin. The 

 roots of both species are exceptionally well furnished with fungal in- 

 habitants (mycorrhiza). The epidermal cells are usually alone free from 

 fungi in B. candid'a. Nearly all the cells of the outer cortex, and many 

 of those of the inner region of the cortex contain fungi in this species. 

 In B. Cham'pionii the large epidermal cells and the middle layers of the 

 cortex are especially rich in fungi. 



The leaves of both species are scale-like and lie close against the 

 stem. The epidermal cells of the leaf are elongated in the direction of 

 the long axis of the leaf. In B. Championii the epidermal cells are all 

 alike, but in B. Candida pairs of cells occur, between the elongated cells, 

 which resemble stomata. These " stomata " are permanently open, 

 and, as the leaves contain no chlorophyll, they cannot carry on the 

 normal functions of stomata. They may possibly function as water- 

 pores, but this is unlikely, and they most probably are functionless 

 remnants of stomata which are in process of degeneration in conse- 

 quence of the saprophytic habits adopted by the plants. It may be 

 irecalled in this relation that Pirotta and Longo have also recorded the 

 existence of a modified stomatal apparatus in the chlorophyll- free para- 

 site Cynomorium coccineum. All saprophytes previously examined, 

 however, have been found to be entirely without any traces of stomatal 

 organs, with the single exception of the holosaprophyte Epipogon 

 aphyllum, on the rhizomes of which stomata -occur. — R. B. 



Saprophytes of Java, Contributions to the Knowledge of. 



By A. Ernst and G. Bernard. IX. Development of the Embryo-sac 

 and Embryo of Burmannia Candida and B. Championii {Ann. Jard. 

 Bot. Buit. ser. ii. vol. x. pt. ii. pp. 161-188; 1912; 5 plates).— The 

 somatic number of chromosomes is twelve, and the reduced number 

 six. In B. Candida the embryo-sac mother-cell divides once into two 



