La Morfologia vegetale

Abstract

A NEW text-book of vegetable morphology, characterised by freshness both in the mode of treatment and in the illustrations, is an acquisition to botanical literature, even though written in a language which is unfortunately not familiar to most English readers. Prof. Caruel starts with the primary classification of all vegetable structures into the thallus, which displays no external differentiation, and the cormus, consisting of a central stipes (caulome), to which are attached appendages (phyllomes) more or less differing from the stipes. Under the head of the thallus he then discusses propaguli (of Muscinese), conidia, sporidia (including zoospores), sporules (or spores, properly so-called), the pollen, and phytozoa (or spermatozoids). The general description of the cormus leads to an account of the various special forms which it assumes, viz., to the morphology of flowering plants and vascular cryptogams; and to the various modes of the reproduction of cormophytes by a process of impregnation, that is, the union of the contents of two dissimilar cells. Finally, Prof. Caruel discusses the various subjects connected with the genesis of species, and concludes with the system of classification of the vegetable kingdom, an outline of which we have already given to our readers (vol. xviii. p. 646). The author brings to his work a mind trained to great accuracy in the use of terms and in the perception of morphological homologies. Great advantage would ensue by the introduction into vegetable morphology in this country of a similar scientific terminology.

La Morfologia vegetale.

Esposta da T. Caruel. (Pisa, 1878.)

Enjoying our latest content?
Log in or create an account to continue

• Access the most recent journalism from Nature's award-winning team
• Explore the latest features & opinion covering groundbreaking research

Access through your institution

or

Sign in or create an account

Continue with Google

Continue with ORCiD