teresting in this respect. As a rule, when the cotyledons remain in the seed, the hypocotyl is undeveloped and the seed remains on or beneath the soil; moreover, the first few leaves are reduced to scales, and it is not until the stem has reached a fair height that spreading foliage-leaves are produced. In the horse-chestnut, however, the hypocotyl grows considerably, carrying up the seeds from which the fleshy cotyledons do not escape, while the first pair of leaves are digitately five-foliolate, though it is hard to say whether, as Sir John suggests, the growth of the hypocotyl is necessitated by the high development of the first leaves, or whether the high development results from the elevated position in the light and air.

Many other peculiarities in germination are figured or described. A sketch of Medicago orbicularis shows nine seedlings emerging from a single twisted indehiscent pod, and twelve to sixteen

Cal

seedlings from one fruit are not infrequent; the competition must be equally severe in Tetragonia, where the fruit also fails to burst, and the seedlings have severally to make their exit through thin places at its apex. In Hedysarum also the seeds remain in the segments of the fruit till germination, when the radicle pierces the lower valve, while the upper is raised by growth of the hypocotyl and cotyledons. In the Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa) and the nearly allied Lecythis Zabucajo, there is some doubt as to the nature of the fleshy undivided mass which fills the large seed; from a comparison with other genera its homology with the hypocotyl is inferred, the plumule being borne at one end and the radicle at the other; the germination is also peculiar in that the plumule and radicle emerge respectively from opposite ends of the seed. In Valerianeæ and Dipsaceæ, where the solitary seed never leaves the fruit, the latter is pinned to the soil during germination by growth of the radicle through the epigynous involucel; a further purchase is often procured by a swelling in the hypoScabiosa atropurpurea. Germina- cotyl (cf. fig. 1), which, however, in nation. x 3. Scabiosa caucasica, seems to have lost its function, as it also penetrates the membranous involucel. The peg which keeps the fruit beneath the soil in Scabiosa australis vividly recalls that described by M. Flahault in several Cucurbitaceæ, and figured by Darwin in the Movements of Plants (p. 102,

FIG. 1.

fig. 62). Dipsacus ferox has a very similar fruit, but no hypocotyledonary peg; and it was found that 98 to 100 per cent. of the seedlings carry up the fruit in germination (fig 2).

A subject full of interest is the growth of the cotyledons after emerging from the seed. Often they remain small and insignificant and soon perish; in other cases they may grow

con

siderably, as for instance in Crucifers like the radish or cabbage, but still retain more or less of their original shape, and show not the slightest relation to the form or appearance of the later leaves. In some Cucurbitaceae and a number of Cruciferæ, the cotyledons, though entire in the seed, become subsequently emarginate; this is apparently sometimes due to a group of water Dipsacus ferox. stomata at the apex, which causes there a retar- Germination. x3. dation of growth compared with that of the base and sides. This is the case in Sisymbrium officinale and also in Galium Aparine (fig. 3) and G. saccharatum.

FIG. 2.

A

B

FIG. 3.

Galium Aparine. A, young seedling. B, a few days older. x 2. Very rare are cases like Gunnera chilensis and Loasa, where the cotyledons, though totally different in form, possess in the one case the pubescence and ciliation, in the other the stinging hairs so characteristic of the leaves; the stellate scales of Eleagnus and Hippophaë appear directly above the cotyledons, and in Eleagnus angustifolia invade their petioles. In Sarraceniaceae the cotyledons

after germination increase greatly in length in proportion to their width, while the reverse obtains in some Crucifers; in the Crassulaces they persist for some time, attaining a considerable size, and are also succulent like the leaves. In some species of Elaocarpus (Tiliacea) the cotyledons grow considerably; thus, in E. oblongus they are about 6 cm. long and 2.5 cm. wide near the base, larger in fact than the leaf following; they are also very persistent, like the true leaves, which they resemble in appearance.

But the most interesting and peculiar case of subsequent growth is that which obtains in several genera of Onagrarieæ, especially Clarkia (fig. 4), Eucharidium, and some species of Enothera,

FIG. 4.

Clarkia integripetala. Seedling 17 days old. x 2. The original cotyledon is easily distinguished at the apex of the subsequent growth.

where an intercalary growth supervenes at the base of the original cotyledon, which thus becomes carried up on a structure many times larger than itself, and recalling in form and appearance the primary leaves. The original cotyledon remains almost unchanged at the apex of the new growth, from which it is sometimes separated by a constriction. Embelia Ribes affords an isolated instance among the Myrsineæ. In Streptocarpus, one of the two or sometimes three cotyledons becomes very large and much altered, and forms the first foliage leaf, and the single cotyledon of Cyclamen behaves in the same way, while the hypocotyl becomes the well-known, fleshy, persistent rootstock. In these quite

exceptional cases an aftergrowth brings out a relation not previously manifest between the seed-leaves and those which follow; frequently, however, there is a gradation from the cotyledon to the leaf shape ultimately assumed, as e.g., in species of Clematis, Ranunculus, Passiflora (fig. 5), especially where the latter is divided or compound; but sometimes there is an abrupt transition to the normal leaf, even where this is of a highly complex character, as seen in the figure of Acacia Burkittii, where the leaves immediately following the cotyledons are bipinnate; in other Acacias the first leaves are similarly compound, while the later are reduced to phyllodes.

FIG. 5.

Finally, we may call Passiflora cærulea. Seedling, one-third nat.size.

spectively in two of our species of Primula, the common Primrose (P. vulgaris) (fig. 6), and the Bardfield Oxlip (P. elatior) (fig. 7).

These few examples must suffice to give an idea of the scope of the book and the amount of information it includes. Though to some extent a book of reference, a look through its pages will prove of deep interest, while careful study will bring to light many relations hitherto unnoticed; the most hurried observer must fain admit that cotyledons and their ways are very wonderful, while the anxious

student will welcome, perhaps not a solution,-that, we fear, is still a great way off,--yet a solid contribution towards the means for solution of the problem involved in the form of the seed-leaves and its relation to those which follow.

ARTICLES IN JOURNALS.

A. B. RENdle.

Annals of Botany (Dec.).-C. A. Barber, 'Nematophycus Storriei,' sp. n. (2 plates).-B. M. Davis, Development of frond of Champia parvula from the Carpospore' (1 plate).--K. Goebel, The simplest form of Moss' (1 plate.)--T. Johnson, Stenogramme interrupta' (1 plate).--W. B. Hemsley, 'A drift-seed (Ipomaa tuberosa)' (1 plate). --L. Ewera, Cause of physiological action at a distance.'--P. Groom, Thorns of Randia dumetorum.'--Id., ' Monstrous flower of Nelumbium.'--Id., Embryo of Petrosavia.'-J. C. Willis, Distribution of seed in Claytonia.'

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Bot. Centralblatt. (Nos. 48-49). W. Scharf, Beiträge zur Anatomie der Hypoxideen' (No. 50).-F. Höck, Begleitpflanzen der Buche' (No. 51). A. Harsgirg, Neue biologische Mittheilungen.' (No. 52).-T. Loesener, Zur Mateangelegenheit.' Botanical Magazine (Tokio). - (Nov. 10). Millettia purpurea Yatabe, sp. n.

Bot. Notiser (häft. 6).-B. Jönsson, 'Inre blodning hos vaxten.' --R. Sernander, Ytterligare några ord om substratets hetydelse för lafvarne.'--N. C. Kindberg, Timmia arctica, sp. n.

Bot. Zeitung (Nov. 25, Dec. 18).-H. Rehsteiner, Zur Entwicklungsgeschichte der Frucht-körper einiger Gastromyceten.'

Gardeners' Chronicle (Dec. 10).—Costus unifolius N. E. Br., n. sp. (Dec. 17). Disa Stairsii Krànzlin, sp. n.- (Dec. 24). Asystasia varia N. E. Br., sp.n.

Irish Naturalist (Dec. 1).-G. E. Barrett-Hamilton & C. B. Moffatt, Characteristic Plants of Wexford.'

Journal de Botanique (Dec. 1).-N. Karksakoff, 'Quelques remarques sur le genre Myriotrichia.'--(Dec. 15). H. Hua, Polygonatum et Auliconema.'-Hue, Lichens de Canisy.'-(Dec. 15). De Lagerheim & N. Patouillard, Sirobasidium, nouveau genre d' Hyménomycètes hétérobasidiés.'

Journ. R. Microscopical Soc.-W. West, Alge of English Lake District' (2 plates).

Midland Naturalist (Dec.).--W. Mathews, County Botany of Worcester' (cont.).

6

Oesterr. Bot. Zeitschrift. (Dec.).-P. Ascherson, Zur Geschichte der Einwanderung von Galinsoga parviflora.'-E. v. Halàcsy Beiträge zur Flora der Balkanhalbinsel' (Ranunculus Thasius, sp. n.), (concl.). --A. v. Degen, Campanula lanata Friv.'-- L. Adamovic, Beiträge zur Flora von Südostserbien.'

BOOK-NOTES, NEWS, &c.

THE Botanical Gazette for November reprints from the Journal of American Folk-lore a long and interesting list of popular