ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 
653 
Influence of Running and Dripping Water on the Form of 
Leaves.'* * * § — Herr J. R. Jungner states that the leaves of plants growing 
within reach of the water or the spray of waterfalls (in Norway) or in 
eddying currents, exhibit the general character of “ rain-leaves,” viz. a 
tendency to an elongation of the apex, a smooth edge, absence of hairs, 
and the formation of a cushion at the base of the lamina. Other 
peculiarities, such as the recurving of the margin and the crinkling of 
the leaf, are due to the low temperature of the water. Similar differences 
also occur between those leaves on the same individual which are, and 
those which are not, exposed to the influence of running or dripping 
water. 
Phyllotaxis.f — Prof. F. Dclpino enters into detail on various points 
of this subject, controverting some of the views of de Candolle and 
others. Coalescence (symphysis) of leaves, he regards as having two 
distinct origins, either a splitting of the lamina, or the concurrence of 
two cones of growth from pressure and the want of space for their 
separate growths. 
Parallel Venation of Leaves.^ — Sig. L. Gabelli points out that the 
term parallel venation is often used loosely and inaccurately in describing 
leaves. It should be confined to those cases, comparatively rare, in which 
the vascular bundles enter the leaf independently from the stem, and 
remain distinct throughout their whole course, whether mathematically 
parallel or not. This is the case with Plantago. But in the greater 
number of so-called parallel-veined leaves — as, for example, those of 
grasses — the vascular bundles do not enter the lamina of the leaf 
independently, but coalesce at its base. This is simply an instance of 
palmate venation modified by the ribbon-like form of the leaf, and cor- 
responds essentially to the palmate venation of the leaves of many 
palms, a group of plants to which the Gramineae are shown, by other 
morphological characters, to be more nearly allied than they are to the 
Cyperaceae. 
Form and Function of Stipules.§ — Pursuing his researches on this 
subject, Sir John Lubbock describes the structure of the stipules in a 
large number of genera belonging to a great variety of natural orders. 
The most frequent, though not the only, function of stipules is the pro- 
tection of the young leaves while in course of formation. Where stipules 
are wanting, there is generally some other arrangement for the protection 
of the bud. 
Underground Shoots. || — Herr A. Rimbach has made a series of 
observations to determine the mode in which underground shoots — 
bulbs, corms, and tubers — gradually sink to a greater depth in the soil. 
He finds that these underground organs possess the power of forming 
contractile roots, and that this is especially displayed when they are 
young ; it is the contraction of these roots that drags the organ deeper 
* Biblioth. Bot. (Luerssen and Frank), Heft 32, 1895, 40 pp. and 3 pis. Of. this 
Journal, ante , p. 449. 
f Malpigliia, ix. (1895) pp. 185-203 (1 fig.). Cf. this Journal, ante , p. 448. 
j Tom. cit., pp- 356-64. 
§ Journ. Linn. Soc. (Bot.), xxx. (1895) pp. 463-532 (7 figs.). Cf. this Journal, 
1891, p. 622. li Ber. Deutsch. Bot. Resell., xiii. (1895) pp. 141-55 (1 pi.). 
