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SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 
BOTANY. 
A. GENERAL, including the Anatomy and Physiology 
of the Phanerogamia. 
a. Anatomy. 
(1) Cell-structure and Protoplasm. 
Blepharoplasts and Centrosomes.* — Mr. H. J. Webber discusses 
the relationship of these bodies to one another. 
Blepharoplasts are special organs of the spermatic cells of Zamia , 
Salisburici, and some Filicinese and Equisetacese, which, in certain stages 
of their development, resemble centrosomes. Two are formed in each 
generative cell, arising de novo in the cytoplasm on opposite sides of the 
nucleus, and about midway between the nuclear membrane and the cell- 
wall. The division of the generative cell results in the formation of 
two antherozoids, one blepharoplast being located in each antherozoid 
cell. During this division the blepharoplasts burst, and the outer 
membrane becomes gradually distended into a narrow helicoid spiral 
band, from which the motile cilia of the antherozoid are developed. 
The blepharoplasts resemble typical centrosomes : — (1) in position, 
being located on opposite sides of the nucleus ; (2) in having the kino- 
plastic filaments focused upon them during the prophases of the division 
of the generative cell. They differ from typical centrosomes: — (1) in 
arising de novo in the cytoplasm ; (2) in growing to comparatively 
enormous size ; (3) in not forming the centre of an aster at the pole of 
the spindle during mitosis ; (4) in having a differentiated external mem- 
brane and contents ; (5) in bursting, and growing into a greatly extended 
cilia-bearing band, the formation of which is evidently their primary 
function ; (6) in their non-continuity from cell to cell. 
New Organs of the Plant-Cell.f — In the superficial layers of the 
cytoplasm of some Saprolegniaceae and Floridese, Mr. W. T. Swingle 
finds abundantly bodies to which he gives the name vibrioids. They are 
slender cylindrical sharply defined bodies, exhibiting rather slow bend- 
ing or undulatory motions in addition to movements which are probably 
due to the cytoplasm. When stained, they are sharply differentiated 
from the surrounding cytoplasm. They occur constantly in plants in 
all stages of development. 
Another new organ or organoid was found at one end of the nucleus 
of the oosphere of Albugo candidus. It was a nearly spherical body, but 
often a little flattened on the side towards the nucleus. It seems to be 
more or less granular in structure, apd appears before delimitation of the 
oosphere within the oogone, disappearing after fusion of the male and 
female nuclei. 
Cytology of the Growing Point.J — Dr. B. Nemec records certain 
cytological phenomena which he has observed in the growing point of 
* Bot. Gazette, xxv. (1898) pp. 109-10. Cf. this Journal, ante, p. 99. 
f Tom. cit., pp. 1 >0—1. 
% SB. K. Bohm. Gesell. Wiss., 1897, No. xxxiii. (26 pp. and 1 pi.). (Bohemian 
with German abstract.) 
