658 
SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 
(and with it the phosphates of iron and magnesia) are transported in 
wheat, both from the grain to the young shoot and from the different 
parts of the plant to the ear ; the agents of this migration are the sugars 
with the alkaline malates. Similar phenomena occur in all plants the 
seeds of which contain starch ; the sugars, and the salts of fixed organic 
acids, malates, citrates, &c., which aid in this transportation, may vary ; 
but the fact remains the same, and seems to have a general character in 
vegetable physiology. 
Influence of Oxygen on Alcoholic Fermentation.* — Herr N. v. 
Chudiakow draws an important distinction between the influence of 
oxygen on fermentation and on the multiplication of yeast-cells, and 
confirms Iwanowsky’s statement that it has no effect on the energy of 
the former process. Fermentation in pure dilute solution of sugar in 
the presence of air is not lasting. Oxygen in fact makes the process 
impossible. The better the nutritive solution the less is the unfavourable 
effect of the oxygen. For the multiplication of yeast-cells oxygen is 
necessary when the nutritive solution is pure, but is almost unnecessary 
when sugar-peptone solution and worts are employed. Apparent intra- 
molecular respiration occurs only when yeast contains bacteria, or when 
the yeast-cells still contain sugar. There is no intramolecular respira- 
tion in pure yeast, which in this respect resembles moulds. 
7. General. 
Tropical Epiphytes.f — Herr G-. Kars ten describes the various adap- 
tations of epiphytes growing in the Moluccas, due in the first place to 
excessive moisture, and in the second place to drought. 
In the former category a new liverwort is described, Dendrocercs 
inflatus sp. n., belonging to the Anthocerotefe, with a porous spongy 
thallus consisting of a single layer of cells, derived by segmentation 
from the apical cell. In Trichomanes peltatum and T. motleyi the vascular 
system is greatly reduced ; in the latter species it survives simply as 
hypodermal cover-cells which protect the leaf from the attacks of snails. 
The structure of these Hymenophyllacese indicates a degraded rather 
than a rudimentary origin. Teratophyllum aculeatum var. inerme (Filices) 
has dimorphic leaves, the erect ones serving the purpose of assimila- 
tion, while those which are adpressed to the substratum are water- 
receptacles. 
To the second class belongs Conchophyllum maximum sp. n. (Asclepi- 
adese), which has peltate leaves adhering closely to the substratum, and 
but very few stomates. The partially or entirely hollow stem of 
Polypodium imbricatum and P. sinuosum , densely covered with a coating 
of scales, fulfils the same purpose of preventing excessive transpiration. 
The author suggests that the wall of the cavities in the stems of Myrme- 
codium and EydnopJiytum affords a surface for the absorption of water 
in which is contained the soluble constituents of the excrements of the 
ants which inhabit the hollow stems. 
* Bied. Centralbl., xxiv. (1895) pp. 122-8. See Journ. Chem. Soc., 1895, Abstr. 
p. 282* Cf. this Journal, 1894, p. 594. 
t Ann. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg, xii. (1895) pp. 117-95 (7 pis.). 
