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Scientific Intelligence. 
face, and'^sometimes of the lower also, rows or hands of large thin- 
walled ce|ls, which our author names bulliform cells. These in 
their presence, absence, number, and arrangement, are uniform in 
each species, but often quite different in the same genus, so that 
they may be used for critical specific characters; and they are, 
moreover, connected invariably with the vernation of the leaf, and 
With the opening and closing (either by condu|)lication or convo¬ 
lution, according to the vernation of the species) which are so 
prompt in many grasses. That this movement takes place in virtue 
of the hygrometric expansion of these cells under moisture and their 
contraction in dryness, was made plain by the behavior of sections 
of the leaf under the microscope, the closed conduplicate leaf of 
Sesleria opening instantly upon the application of a drop of water, 
when these cells in a band on each side of the midrib, before flat¬ 
tened or collapsed, became turgid and prominent. The leaves of 
Leersia orvyzoides are described as rolling up instantly upon be¬ 
ing bruised or roughly handled, as if endowed with real irrita¬ 
bility. We trust some of our young botanists will look to this, next 
summer. 
The split sheath of the leaves is one of the diagnostic characters 
of the Graminece. Exceptions in Glyceria , &c., were familiar. M. 
Duval-Jouve states that about a fifth part of the species have entire 
sheaths. Also that various grasses bear two, three, and even four 
leaves on one node ! a. g. 
Botryopteris Forensis, an interesting fossil fern, which occurs 
l fructification preserved in a silicified state m the rich de- 
with fructification preserved 
posits of Auturi and Saint fitienne, France, has recently 
mtiy been 
investigated microscopically by B. Renault (Ann. Sci. Sat., 6 
ser., i, 1875 ). In one plate he has illustrated the anatomy of the 
stem ; in four others its fructification, and the anatomy, develop¬ 
ing fructification, <fcc., of a Trichomanes, a Helminthostachys , and 
a BotrychiUm , for comparison. He concludes that in this fossil 
genus we have a type intermediate between true Filices and the 
Ophioglosseee. . a. g. 
4 . Silicified fossil Fruits or Seeds , from the coal beds of St. 
lStienne, are discussed by Brongniart in a preceding volume of 
the Ann. Sci. Nat. (with figures), and classified by the form of 
their transverse section. They are thought to be gymnospermous. 
Among those with binary symmetry, Cardiocarpus in its affinity 
is thought to answer to Salisburia ; Bhcibdocarpus, a new genus, 
to Torreya ; Diplotesta and Sarcotaxus (new genera), to Gephalo- 
taxas y Taxospermum and Leptocaryon to Taxus. Those of radi¬ 
ate symmetry of three, six, or eight divisions or a circular section, 
of various kind s^in eluding* Trigonocarpus, are conjectured to be 
the fruit of SigiUaria, Calamodendron , and the like, which Brong¬ 
niart takes to be an extinct type of Gymnosperms. a. g. 
5. Respiration of Plants / some Researches by Maybe and 
W olkoff ra-paper in Ann. Sci. Nat:, in the volumeabove cited ; 
apparently translated.^from a prior publication inGeqnan, to 
which thejp&ds^ff!Tdirect Reference. That plants have a tmeses- 
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