Scientific Intelligence . 
•ows or baty&s of large thin- 
bulliform cells. These in 
rrangem/nt, are uniform in 
they may be used for critical specific chapters; and they are, 
moreover, Connected invariably with the vernation of the leaf, and 
with the opening and closing (either by/jonduplication or convo¬ 
lution, according to the vernation of/he species) which are so 
prompt in many grasses. That this movement takes place in virtue 
of the hygrometrih expansion of these/cells under moisture and their 
contraction in dryness, was made pljlin by the behavior of sections 
of the leaf under the microscope, me closed conduplicate leaf of 
Sesleria opening instantly upon the application of a drop of water, 
when these cells in a bapd on each side of the midrib, before flat¬ 
tened or collapsed, becarh^ turgid and prominent. The leaves of 
Leersia orvyzoides are described as rolling up instantly upon be¬ 
ing bruised or roughly hanifled, as if endowed with real irrita¬ 
bility. We trust some of ouj/young botanists will look to this, next 
summer. / \ 
The split sheath of the Jeaves\is one of the diagnostic characters 
of the Graminew. Exceptions mGlyceria, &c„ were familiar. M. 
Duval- Jouve states that /bout a fifth part of the species have entire 
sheaths. Also that various grasse/bear two, three, and even four 
leaves on one node! / \ a. g. 
3. Rotryopteris Fofensis, an * ' p 1,1 
with fructification /reserved 
posits of Autun md Saint Etienne, trance, has recently been 
investigated microscopically by B. Renault (Ann. Sci. Nat., 6 
ser., i, 18V5). Iiyone plate he has illustrated the anatomy of the 
stem; in four others its fructification, and, the anatomy, develop¬ 
ing fructificati^h, &c., of a Trichomanes , a Helminthostachys, and 
a RotrychiumJior comparison. He concludes that in this fossil 
genus we have a type intermediate betweeii\true Filices and the 
Ophiogloqsed. Y a. g. 
4. SilicifiM fossil Fruits or Seeds , from the coal beds of St. 
Etienne, 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 beWymnospermous. 
Among/those with binary symmetry, Cardiocarpus in its affinity 
is thought to answer to Salisburia ; Rhabdocarphs , a new genus, 
to Tcfreya; Diplotesta and Sarcotaxns (new genem), to (Jephalo- 
taxui Taxospermum and leptocaryon to Taxus. {Those of radi¬ 
ate Symmetry of three, six, or eight divisions or a circular section, 
of ,various kinds, including Trigonocarpus , are conjectured to be 
the fruit of Sigillaria , Calamodendron , and the like, w/ich Brong- 
mart takes to be an extinct type of Gymnosperms. \ a. g. 
/ 5. Respiration of Plants• some Researches by Mayer and 
/Wolkofe : a paper in Ann. Sci. Nat, in the volume aboVe cited; 
/apparently translated from a prior publication in German, to 
J which there is no direct reference. That plants have a true res- 
