63 
of the pollen grains, those of the longer stamens being more than 
twice the diameter, or than eight times the mass, of the grains of the 
shorter stamens. Though minute these smaller grains seem as per- 
fect as the larger, and in fact, if I am not greatly mistaken, in tear- 
ing the stigmas I more frequently found pollen tubes issuing from 
the smaller than from the larger, Still, as I was working with a 
simple dissecting microscope, I may be wrong about their being 
perfect. Both sets of anthers certainly drop their pollen about the 
same time and in the same manner, there being nothing of an ap- 
pearance of immaturity in the lower. I do not know of another in- 
stance in which there is this difference of size in the pollen of the 
same flower, though, as Darwin has shown, in polymorphic plants 
there is a difference in the potency of the pollen; and where there 
are two kinds of flowers on the same plant, the pollen of those con- 
structed for self fertilization is possessed of “ preternatural instinct 
and activity.”* 
In one of the rolled up flowers there was the wing of an insect, 
seeming to show attraction for insects. 
Pontederia ripens but one seed, and the question forces itself on 
the attention, To what purpose this vast multitude of pollen grains, 
and of two sorts? I did not succeed in finding pollen tubes in the 
style, and perhaps with my instrument should not have been able 
to distinguish them, though they were manifestly issuing from 
some grains taken from the stigmas. The floral organs including 
the style are beset with hairs or glands of a peculiar appearance, 
and the question presented itself to my friend Mr. Merriam (in the 
case of Lobelia) whether some of the excess of pollen grains may 
not be used in some way to nourish the pistil, exclusive of the extra 
number which it is now known are often required for direct. fertili- 
zation through the stigma, or for attracting hungry insects. _ 
My supply of the two other genera of this Order, native with us, 
Heteranthera and Schollera was too limited and imperfect to yield 
satisfactory results. Heteranthera gets its name from the striking 
difference in its anthers, and I thought I noticed a difference in the 
pollen, but wait for better specimens. W. H. L.g 
§ 63. Coleanthus subtilis, Siedel, or Schméidtia utriculosa, Sternb., 
is a rare little grass of very local occurrence and peculiar distribu- 
tion. Stendel credits it only to Bohemia, but it has long been 
known in Norway. We have now received it at Cambridge from 
Mr. Joseph Howell, who collects it on Sauvier’s Island in the Oregon 
River! In attestation whereof I send a specimen _to the Torre 
Club, through its distinguished agrostological President, and as 
that it may go to the Torrey Herbarium : _ A. Gray, 
§ 64, Publications.—1. In Vatwre, Sept. 23, is a notice of a Report 
of the Neilgherry Loranthaceous parasites, in which Dr, Bidie, the 
author, is quoted as asserting that the Loranthacex ( Mistletoes) 
_“derive their nutriment not from the descending elaborated, but 
from the crude ascending sap of the host ; hence their need for 
green foliage containing chlorophy!l and possessing stomata.” _ 
* With reference to the mode of attachment between the parasite 
*Dr. Gray, as reported in proceedings of Conn, Valley Bot. Soc., Oct. 6th, 1875. 
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