552 
SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 
Conducting System of the Stem of Osmunda.* — Herr P. Zenetti 
describes in detail the structure of the fibrovascular system in the stem 
of Osmunda regalis , and of its passage into the leaf-stalk. It consists of 
a central cylinder with a central pith, which puts out radiating branches, 
by which the xylem is broken up into a number of sections of various 
form. These rays do not proceed beyond the xylem-ring. The sieve- 
portion and the succeeding layers surround, in the form of continuous 
concentric zones, the ring formed by the detached portions of xylem. 
In the angles of the central cylinder are the horse-shoe-shaped xylem- 
bundles which give otf their outer bows to the leaf-bundle. This latter 
is concentric (not collateral, as described by de Bary and Schwendener). 
The phloem-elements are inserted both above and below the insertion of 
the xylem-elemeuts, and completely envelope them. 
The structure of the vascular system of Osmunda corresponds to 
nothing else that is now found among either mature Phanerogams or 
Vascular Cryptogams. It represents an archaic form, such as is still 
general in young seedlings, from which all the higher types are derived 
through several lines of descent, and closely resembles that of fossil 
Osmundacese and Lepidodendreae. 
Mycorhiza of Botrychium.f — Herr A. Y. Grevillius has examined 
the root-system of twelve species of Botrychium , belonging to all the 
different types, and has found it in all cases infested with mycorhiza- 
hyphae. These do not make their appearance in the youngest portion of 
the system, but only in the older parts, and especially where there are 
large accumulations of starch. In B. virginianum root-shoots were 
observed similar to those previously described in OpMoglossum vulgatum. 
Muscineee. 
New Genera of Musci. — Under the name Diaphanodon thuidioides 
g. et sp. n., MM. F. Benauld and J. Cardot J describe a new moss from 
ihe Himalayas. The following is the diagnosis of the genus : — Habitus 
thuidioideus. Folia papillosa, costata, caulina et ramea heteromorpha ; 
vaginula glabra ; calyptra cucullata, nuda ; capsula breviter exserta, 
globosa, exannulata; peristomium duplex; exostomii dentes 16 , pallidi, 
pellucidi, laeves v. sublaeves, intus tenere trabeculati ; endostomium e 
16 ciliis tenerrimis cum dentibus alternantibus compositum. 
A new genus of Archidiacese, Ephemeridium , is described by M. N. C. 
Kindberg,§ with the following characters : — Calyptra covering at least 
.one-third of the capsule, bell-shaped, torn, papillose ; leaves papillose- 
.thorny on both sides, and on the vein on the under side ; spores warty. 
Opening of the Capsule of Calymperes.|] — According to Herr P. 
Dusen the calyptra does not become detached from the capsule in this 
genus of mosses, the opercule being firmly fixed by it. When the 
weather is dry, the capsule contracts when ripe, causing the opercule to 
become detached and the calyptra to split longitudinally. In moist 
weather the opercule prevents the escape of the spores. 
* Bot. Ztg., liii. (1895) l te Abt., pp. 53-78 (1 pi. and 3 figs.). 
t Flora, lxxx. (1895) pp. 445-53. 
X Rev. Bryol., xxii. (1895) pp. 33-4. § Tom. cit., p. 23. 
Bot. Notiser, 1895. p. 41 (1 fig.). See Hedwigia, xxxiv. (i895) Rep., p. 95. 
