VOL. 5] Recent Literature. 37 
the trail and can be distinctly seen from it. They are between 
the highest point and the iron stake which marks the meeting 
corners of Napa, Sonoma and Lake Counties.—Alice Eastwood. 
ARCTOSTAPHYLOS AS A HOST PLANT FOR PHORADENDRON. 
Recently a specimen of Phoradendron flavescens Nutt, var. 
growing on Arctostaphylos viscida Parry, was brought to the 
Herbarium of the California Academy of Sciences. It was col- 
lected in the foot-hills east of Marysville. As far as I am aware, 
this is the first record of mistletoe parasitic on manzanita, or 
indeed on any of the Zricacee. Apparently this Phoradendron 
takes the liberties accorded in a free country and grows on what- 
ever it pleases.— Alice Eastwood. 
Scorzonera Hispanica 1,. has become naturalized around Calis- 
toga and in Knight’s Valley. It can be found along the road- 
side, growing where the ground is wet. This has undoubtedly 
escaped from cultivation, as it is sometimes cultivated for its 
roots, which are eaten as those of 7vagopon or salsify. It is 
commonly called Viper’s Grass, and was formerly used in Spain 
for the cure of serpent’s bites. The foliage is glabrous and 
glaucous, the heads of flowers yellow, two inches in diameter, 
the buds are nodding on long curved peduncles. The plants 
seen were two feet or more in height.—Alce Eastwood. 
RECENT LITERATURE. 
Contributions to a knowledge of the Morphology and Ecology of 
the Cactacee@: 11. The Comparative Morphology of the Embryos 
and Seedlings. W. F. GANonc, Annals of Botany, XII. 423- 
474, Fl. xxv. 
This is an important contribution to the more exact and scien- 
tific study of the Cactacee. ‘The embryos and young plants of 
50 species have been studied, compared and figured. It is much 
to be regretted that the seeds were not figured on the same plate. 
