ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 
313 
non-reducing sugar which may he included among the saccharoses, and 
which is, in its turn, transformed into a glucose which can be directly 
assimilated. 
Fermentation produced by Moulds.* — Herr 0. Emmerling states 
that by the action of Mucor racemosus on 100 grm. of sugar-cane in a 
Solution containing 2 grm. potassium phosphate, 1 grm. magnesium 
sulphate, and 5 grm. potassium nitrate, in 1500 grm. of water, large 
quantities of C0 2 are produced, together with about 1 * 46 per cent, of 
ethylic alcohol. 
Influence of Temperature and Nutriment on the Respiration of 
Fungi.f — As the results of a series of experiments on mould-fungi 
(Sterigmatocystis nigra ), M. G. Gerber has demonstrated that the special 
CO 
value of the proportion observed in the case of ripe fruits which aro 
not acid, and of those which have lost their acidity in the process of 
ripening (less than unity), is due to the absence of a vegetable acid. 
The same is the case with acid fruits at a low temperature. The special 
property of malic acid — that of being consumed at a low temperature in 
the presence of sugar — is probably the reason why apples ripen at a 
lower temperature than oranges or grapes. 
y. General. 
New Classification of Flowering Plants.^ — M. P. van Tieghem 
proposes a fresh classification of Phanerogams, dependent on the struc- 
ture of the seed. The first division is into the Seminate or Perovulate, 
and the Inseminate. The first of these, comprising the vast majority of 
flowering plants, furnished with true seeds, is again divided, according 
as the seed has one or two integuments, into the Bitegminatae and tho 
Unitegminatee. 
In the Inseminatae the fruit does not contain any distinct seed which 
can be separated or which completely detaches itself at maturity. In 
order to germinate, the fruit must be sown entire. The embryo is 
formed only at a comparatively late period. These are again divided into 
5 groups, the lowest being the Inovulatae already described, which are 
entirely destitute of true ovules. The remaining 4 groups, the Trans- 
ovulate, are furnished with transitory ovules. The lowest of these 
4 groups is the Jnnucellate ; the other 3 being designated, according 
to the number of coats of the temporary ovules, the Integminate, Uni- 
tegminate, and Bitegminate. 
In the Unitegminate or Icacininee are comprised 10 orders — the 
Leptaulaceas, Iodaceae, Phytocrenaceas, Sarcostigmataceae, Icacinaceae, 
Pleurisanthaceie, Emmotaceae, Strombosiaceae, Ximeniaceae, and Tetra- 
stylidiaceae ; the first 7 comprising the Icacinales in which the carpels 
are hi-ovulate, the remaining 3 the Ximeniales with uniovulate carpels. 
The total number of genera is 52. They are all dichlamydeous, with 
anatropous ovules; the fruit is always a drupe, with endosperm and 
usually an oily embryo. 
* Bcr. Deutscli. Chem. Gesell., xxx. (1897) pp. 454-5. See Journ. Chem. Soc., 
1897, Abstr., p. 223. t Comptes Rendus, exxiv. (1897) pp. 162-4. 
+ Comptes Rendus, exxiv. (1897) pp. 590-5, 839-44, 871-6, 919-26. Bull. Soc. 
Bot, France, xliv. (1897) pp. 99-139. Cf. this Journal, ante, p. 216. 
