that the end of the stalk must have moved through nearly 180 de- 
46 
the apex of the acorn radiate numerous light colored lines, similar 
to those described in the State Flora as marking the gland of ¢. 
uicifolia, but in our subject quite distinct ; we have before noticed © 
these marks in the Pin Oak fruit, but do not remember to have seen 
them mentioned in the books; nor does Torrey’s “light brown — 
well describe our acorns, which are decidedly blackish ; in shape / 
they are flattened globose. 
Towering over the surrounding brush were seen the dry cande- 
labrum like armsof Lilium superbum, L., each supporting its oblong 4 
pod. These arms form a considerable angle with the main stalk, 
and yet the pods are all vertical: this seems the more extraordi- : 
nary as the plant bears nodding flowers. Upon examining one of 
these branches, or, rather, long peduncles, we find that, about an 
inch below the pod, it has taken an upward turn, so as to give the | 
fruit its upright position; and, still lower down, are evident traces” 
of the bend of the flowering season in the opposite direction ; 80 | 
grees,in the interval between the opening of the flowers and maturing 
of the fruit. The pods are now open at the top, the cells being com- 
pletely separated for about one third of the way down, (septicidal,) 
and being, likewise, split down the back, (Joculicidal); but these 
latter openings, which alone penetrate the interior of the cells, are | 
guarded by a kind of lace work, sufficiently fine to prevent the 
seeds from escaping in that way, but affording free access to the 
wind. The effect of this splitting of the pod is to make the open ; 
at the top wider. Each of the three cells is filled with thin fla : 
seed, wedge shaped on the inner side, and rounded on the other, 
like the sector of a circle; the larger part of each consists of @ 
broad wing. Their color is pretty and peculiar, being very nearly 
that of gold lacquer. On trying to empty them out by inverting 
the pod, we found, that they choked up the outlet, and did ney 
readily escape that way; but when the pod was held erect, an 
sprung, as it might be by the wind, they flew out of the top freely: 
The tall stalks of this lily offer a prominent object for the winds 
of autumn to shake, and thus disperse the seed, the broad grated 
openings in the side and the light wings favoring. We counted 
about 250 seed in one pod. We did not think: to count the cap- 
sules on a plant, but there were prob ably 8 or 9, (Dr. Gray says there 
are sometimes 40 blossoms.) We have occasionally for yeaT$ 
taken this same walk, and yet do not observe any increase in 
quite limited number of lilies. Are we to suppose that the ground 
is full of young bulbs, ready to grow when their competitors leave 
them an opening; or that the great adaptation for dispersiol 
shows that the conditions of germination are far to seek? 
Many other objects, some of special interest, attracted us, but 
have no more space at present. 2 
We missed the cars on our return, and had to walk some three 
miles to the steamboat ; but my young friend did not seem to 
it wearisome, while listening to the story of the sturdy fellow 
yore who sought botanical treasures in the garden of the Hespet* 
es—some Staten Island with golden seeded lily pods, 
