312 
SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 
genus. Several other species are of interest, as might be expected from 
a tropical island with £uch a notable general flora and' with such a 
geographical position. A. G. 
Southbya nigrella (De Not.) Spruce in Britain. — W. E. Nicholson 
( Journ . of Bot., 1922, 60, 67-9). A description of this hepatic 
discovered for the first time in Britain by the author in November, 
1921, near Portland, Dorset. It occurs in the west of France, but its 
principal distribution is in the Mediterranean region. The genus 
Southbya was founded in 1849 by Spruce, and contains two species, 
S. tophacea and the present species. The distinguishing characters by 
which this latter, a calcicolous plant, may be separated from the 
silicicolous Alicularia scalaris are pointed out by the author. A. G. 
Ricciocarpus natans (L.) Corda, from Africa. — W. H. Pearson 
( Bryologist , 1921, 24, 69-70). This widely distributed species, though 
found in Europe, China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, United States, 
Mexico, Brazil, had never been recorded for Africa. The author has 
now examined specimens from the Belgian Congo and from Port Natal 
(Krause, 1840). Some notes are given about the characters of the 
fruit (which occurs in the form terrestris), and about the internal 
structure of the rhizoids. - A. G. 
Hepaticae of Bavaria. — Ignaz Familler ( Denkschr . Kgl. Bayr. 
Bot. Gesellsch. Regensburg, 1917, 13, 153-304, figs.). An account of 
the distribution of the hepatics of Bavaria, with a number of critical 
notes and figures, and with tables showing the distribution of the species 
in relation to : (1) the geological strata of the country ; (2) altitude ; 
(3) neighbouring countries. A. G. 
Epiphyllous Plants of Certain Regions in Jamaica. — Louis J. 
Pessin {Bull. Torrey Bot. Club, 1922, 49, 1-14, 1 pi.). A study of 
epiphyllous cryptogams (especially hepatics and algae) from two points 
of view: (1) their distribution in relation to climatic conditions ; (2) 
their relation (parasitic or otherwise) to the leaves that bear them. 
The material was studied and collected at altitudes ranging from 3000 
to 7400 feet. A table is given which displays in parallel columns the 
locality, supporting plant, and the epiphyllous algae, lichens, hepatics, 
and mosses. The epiphyllous position is attained by the plant : ( a ) by 
continued acropetal growth, or ( b ) by means of spores or gemmae, or ( c ) 
by transported fragments. Abundant epiphyllous growth is encouraged 
by great humidity, moderate temperature, and calm atmosphere. No 
apparent penetration of the leaf was found upon histological examina- 
tion of epiphyll-bearing leaves of Elaphoglossum latifolium, Clusia 
havetmdes, and Many if era indica. The rhizoids of epiphyllous hepatics 
are especially adapted for the epiphyllous habit by becoming thickened, 
by flattening out, and by being pressed into the cuticle of the leaf. It 
is conceivable that the shade produced by the epiphyll, the accumulation 
of the organic material, the possible excretion of acids and other sub- 
stances by its rhizoids may have some physiological effect on the 
supporting leaf. A careful study of the epiphyllous mode of life may 
