ALBERT

Description: Summarizing, it appears that Eucommia has the greatest number of characters in common with the Urticales. This is shown by the similarity of the inflorescences as well as by the unisexual flowers and the dioecy. In both groups the pistil consists of 2 connate carpels and the ovary is usually 1-celled by abortion, while the stigmata are generally papillate. Further general points of relation with the Urticales are the originally spiral phyllotaxis, which becomes later on pseudo-distichous, simple vessel perforations, libriform with bordered pits, unicellular hairs and the occurrence of calciumcarbonate and silica as well as of latex elements. Yet, it seems difficult to indicate any particular family in the Urticales to which Eucommia should be most related. While the fruit recalls Ulmus and the latex elements Urtica and Cannabis, the spirally thickened vessel walls remind us of some Morus species. In addition, Eucommia is isolated by the facts that in the Urticales the perianth is never entirely wanting, that there is only one ovule in the cell of the ovary, that stipules are very frequent, that calciumoxalate is characteristic (it is wanting in Eucommia) and that the superficial suberization is subepidermal in the Urticales and epidermal in Eucommia. After the Urticales the Euphorbiaceae-Hippomaneae seem to be the nearest of kin, on account of a number of anatomical and morphological characters. However, the Euphorbiaceae usually possess a 3-celled ovary, a 2-celled one occasionally occurs in the Hippomaneae. Next follow the Hamamelidaceae which have, however, two fertile carpels but of which Distylium and Altingia show a reduction in the perianth and the latter moreover a similar leaf shape.

Description: The genus Sarcosperma was excluded from the Sapotaceae by the first-named writer in 1925, the group being considered as of family rank. In 1926 the same author published a concise and fragmentary revision of the monotypic order, in which two new Malaysian species were described. The continental species, however, were merely quoted from literature. To this a key was added. As since then more material has been collected, it seemed desirable to give a new revision of this small but interesting order. For this purpose materials have, at our request, kindly been sent on loan to the Rijksherbarium (L) ¹) from the following institutions: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew — K. Botanischer Garten und Botanisches Museum, Berlin — B. Musee d’Histoire Naturelle, Phanérogamie, Paris — P. Botanical Garden, New York — NY. U.S. National Museum, Division of Plants, Washington — W. Gray Herbarium and Arnold Arboretum, Harvard University, Cambridge (Mass.), U.S.A. — H. Botanical Institute, Coll. of Agriculture, Sun Yatsen University, Canton — Ca.

Description: The International Association of Wood Anatomists in the early years of its existence has undertaken to standardize the nomenclature used in describing woods. Later the classes of dimensions have been added thereinto.\nIn the same way it should be possible now to standardize one or two identification methods.\nUniversal schemes in the first place will fit for this purpose. In the introduction it is explained which requirements should be fulfilled in such schemes.\nThe advantages and drawbacks of an English and a Dutch identification method are compared mutually. It is suggested, that a procedure according to the Hollerith system will allow of a synthesis of both methods mentioned, thus combining advantages and eliminating their drawbacks. The restriction in the applicability of the Hollerith scheme is determined by the fact, that complicated devices are necessary the costs of which can only be justified, if they are constantly employed at full capacity. Thus the method can only be used in a central office. It will especially yield good results if a close international collaboration is established.\nA standardized codification and centralized multiplication and distribution of cards are indispensable requirements for realising this purpose. A short general survey is given of the Universal Decimal Classification and it is explained according to which principles wood species have been included in this scheme. The decimal codes of the U.D.C. can be used for indicating botanical and geographical data in the Hollerith identification. In this way, the great advantage is achieved, that a literature card index on wood species can be compiled with the same figure combinations. In doing so these figures get a wider field of application than when independant classifications are made for identification and documentation purposes.

Description: Summarizing, it appears that Eucommia has the greatest number of characters in common with the Urticales. This is shown by the similarity of the inflorescences as well as by the unisexual flowers and the dioecy. In both groups the pistil consists of 2 connate carpels and the ovary is usually 1-celled by abortion, while the stigmata are generally papillate. Further general points of relation with the Urticales are the originally spiral phyllotaxis, which becomes later on pseudo-distichous, simple vessel perforations, libriform with bordered pits, unicellular hairs and the occurrence of calciumcarbonate and silica as well as of latex elements.\nYet, it seems difficult to indicate any particular family in the Urticales to which Eucommia should be most related. While the fruit recalls Ulmus and the latex elements Urtica and Cannabis, the spirally thickened vessel walls remind us of some Morus species. In addition, Eucommia is isolated by the facts that in the Urticales the perianth is never entirely wanting, that there is only one ovule in the cell of the ovary, that stipules are very frequent, that calciumoxalate is characteristic (it is wanting in Eucommia) and that the superficial suberization is subepidermal in the Urticales and epidermal in Eucommia.\nAfter the Urticales the Euphorbiaceae-Hippomaneae seem to be the nearest of kin, on account of a number of anatomical and morphological characters. However, the Euphorbiaceae usually possess a 3-celled ovary, a 2-celled one occasionally occurs in the Hippomaneae. Next follow the Hamamelidaceae which have, however, two fertile carpels but of which Distylium and Altingia show a reduction in the perianth and the latter moreover a similar leaf shape.

Description: The present records are mainly based upon the collections by C. W. WANG in Yunnan, 1936. We are indebted to Dr E. D. MERRILL, Harvard University, Jamaica Plain, Mass., U.S.A., for putting these specimens to our disposal. Except for a few points, our views concerning the genus have not been essentially modified. The data mentioned are supplementary to those, published in our earlier paper: Revision of the Sarcospermataceae (Blumea 3, 1938, 183\xe2\x80\x94200).

Description: The genus Sarcosperma was excluded from the Sapotaceae by the first-named writer in 1925, the group being considered as of family rank. In 1926 the same author published a concise and fragmentary revision of the monotypic order, in which two new Malaysian species were described. The continental species, however, were merely quoted from literature. To this a key was added.\nAs since then more material has been collected, it seemed desirable to give a new revision of this small but interesting order. For this purpose materials have, at our request, kindly been sent on loan to the Rijksherbarium (L) \xc2\xb9) from the following institutions: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew \xe2\x80\x94 K. Botanischer Garten und Botanisches Museum, Berlin \xe2\x80\x94 B. Musee d\xe2\x80\x99Histoire Naturelle, Phan\xc3\xa9rogamie, Paris \xe2\x80\x94 P. Botanical Garden, New York \xe2\x80\x94 NY. U.S. National Museum, Division of Plants, Washington \xe2\x80\x94 W. Gray Herbarium and Arnold Arboretum, Harvard University, Cambridge (Mass.), U.S.A. \xe2\x80\x94 H. Botanical Institute, Coll. of Agriculture, Sun Yatsen University, Canton \xe2\x80\x94 Ca.

Description: 1. The literature gives various methods to compile a universal scheme for the classification and identification of wood species. To attain this object a new method is now given possessing various advantages over the methods that have been used so far. 2. The wood structure is subsequently described using decimal indices. Each of five sections of features are divided into four groups, and these again in subgroups, which have been worked out by means of indices. In the treatment of various features literature data are discussed.\nThe classification of wood species aims at obtaining a grouping which, as far as possible, links up with the botanical groupings according to natural systems. 3. On the grounds given in the introduction and the discussion, the classification has been applied to features which can be perceived both with the unaided eye and a hand lens. The desirability and the possibility of classifying microscopic features in a similar way are dealt with briefly. 4. On the classification scheme an identification method is based employing loose cards. In this way, the number of woods included can be extended at will. Drawbacks attaching to the loose-card methods, used so far, have been obviated. 5. It is suggested that the decimal indexing of features should be normalized internationally.\nThe authors should greatly appreciate to receive any remarks and suggestions that might improve and supplement the classification system described.\nAmsterdam/Delft, August 1944.