SCIENTIFIC SUMMARY. 361 
caused by the death of M. Montague, and of the two competing candidates 
M. Trecul obtained 39 votes, and M. Chatin 14. 
The Aeriferous Boots of Aquatic Species of the Genus J ussicea. — A most 
valuable botanical contribution is that of M. Ch. Martins on the above 
subject. The genus referred to is one of the Onagracece, and includes about 
80 species ; some of which are terrestrial, others aerial, and others aquatic ; 
and are natives of Asia, Africa, America, and Australia. When the plants 
are carefully examined, it is seen that there are four kinds of roots, which 
spring from the submerged branches bearing the leaves and flowers. (1.) 
Filiform, non-ramified roots placed at the extremity of the branches ; (2) 
branched, or rather comb-shaped roots ; (3) comb-shaped roots whose axis is 
thicker, whitish, and spongy. These three first varieties are either floating 
or buried in the mud. (4.) Roots which differ entirely from the preceding 
ones ; these are simple, cyclindrical, or conical, soft and spongy, white or red 
coloured, always floating, placed vertically in the water, and containing a 
large quantity of air. There are other aeriferous roots, or, as M. Martins calls 
them, the swim-bladders of the plant ( vessies natatoires de la plante). These 
roots, when examined under the microscope, showed the following component 
parts : — (1.) A central vascular bundle, identical with that of the spongy 
root. (2.) A cellular tissue, formed of rows of prismatic cells placed in juxta- 
position in the centre, but separated at the circumference by intercellular 
lacunae filled with gas, and which become larger as one approaches the 
circumference. (3.) An epidermic layer, formed of several rows of elongated 
cells. The air contained in the bladder thus formed has been analyzed for 
M. Martins by M. Mortessier, who gives the subjoined as the results of 15 
different analyses : — 
Nitrogen . . . . 87 ‘0 
Oxygen . . . . 13’0 
100-0 
— Vide Comptes Rendus, March 26. 
The Testa of the Seeds of the Solancece. — Mr. Tuffen West’s investigations 
upon the structure of the seed in Solanaceous plants have led to some 
important results. It is a form of barred tissue, constituting a sup- 
port to the lateral walls of the cells ; in which portion of the cells the 
primitive membrane is found in mature seeds to have disappeared more or 
less completely. The inner walls are greatly thickened by horny and even 
crustaceous deposit ; in addition to their (usually) very sinuous outline, the 
edges of the inner walls are also elongated by undulation ; from these edges 
processes arise which form a fringe having the appearance of hairs. By 
examination of numerous examples, this structure proves to be a form of 
barred tissue, which, by various intermediate conditions, passes in S. Indicum 
and S. jasminoides into a reticulate tissue. The author is very desirous to 
procure seeds for microscopic examination, the results hitherto obtained 
promising to possess interest and value in proportion to the extent to which 
they are systematically carried out. 
