ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 
137 
Anatomy of the Zingiberacese.* — Herr W. Futtercr has investi- 
gated the anatomy and development of the stem, leaf, leaf-slieath, and 
root, in many species of Zingiberaceae. The following are some of the 
more important general results. Where the leaf possesses a hypodermal 
tissue, the epiderm consists of small cells ; but where the hypoderm is 
wanting, which is uncommon, the epidermal cells are considerably larger, 
and assume the form of hypodermal cells. There is almost always a 
clear differentiation between palisade-cells and spongy parenchyme ; 
rarely does one pass into the other. In the interior of the stem there is, 
in almost all the species, an inner sheath, composed of from one to six 
layers of small cells, usually running in a regular circle parallel to 
the periphery of the stem. The structure of the rhizome resembles 
that of the aerial stem, but is simpler. The crystals of calcium oxalate 
belong to the monoclinic system ; they are never in the form of raphides. 
Nearly all the species examined possess in the mesophyll of the leaf 
cells filled with a volatile oil. The hypoderm is especially charac- 
terised by the presence of tannin. The growing-point of the stem is 
the result of the activity of a meristematic layer. 
Structure of Dipterocarpaceae.f — Prof. Sir D. Brandis describes in 
detail the structure and geographical distribution of this arborescent 
order, of which the most marked characteristics are the vascular bundles 
in the cortex and the resin-passages. The latter contain a volatile oil 
w T hich hardens in the air into a resin. 
Structure of Umbelliferae.J — From the anatomical structure Prof. 
O. Drude classifies the genera of Umbelliferae in three groups, — the 
Hydrocotylineae, Saniculineee, and Apioineae. In the first section there 
are no oil-passages ; the fruit has a woody endocarp covered with cells 
that contain crystals. In the second section there is no woody endocarj), 
and the oil-passages are generally wanting. The Apioineae, in which oil- 
passages are always present, are again divided into a number of families. 
Anatomy of 0nagrace8e.§ — From a study of the anatomy of the 
stem of several genera of Onagraceae, Mr. F. Bamaley draws the con- 
clusion that no anatomical characters can be used to distinguish the 
species, or even the genera. Bicollateral vascular bundles were found 
in all the species examined. Intraxylar phloem-islands occur in the 
stems of all the robust species. Baphides of calcium oxalate are also 
present ; generally in the cortex or pith, often in the peri cycle and phloem. 
Anatomy of Betulace9e.|| — From their anatomical structure M. A. M. 
Boubier divides the Betulaceae into two groups, the Betuleae and Corylese ; 
the former comprising Betula and Alnus, the latter Corylus and Carpinus . 
The fibrovascular system of the leaf is open in Betula , closed, at least 
at the base of the lamina, in the other genera. Various other anatomical 
characters of the stem and leaf are given, by which the genera can be 
distinguished. 
* Bot. Centralbl., Ixviii. (1896) pp. 241-8, 273-9, 346-56, 393-400, 417-31 ; lxix. 
(1897) pp. 3-10, 35-46 (1 pi.). 
t SB. Niederrkein. Gesell. Bonn, 1896, pp. 4-42. 
t SB. 68 Vers. Deutscher Naturf. u. Aerzte. See Bot. Centralbl., Ixviii. (1896) 
p. 211. § Minnesota Bot. Studies, 1896, pp. 674-90 (3 pis.). 
|| Malpighia, x. (1896) pp. 349-436 (24 figs.) (French). 
