BULLETIN 



OF THE 



TORREY BOTANICAL CLUB. 



Vol. VII-] New York, March, 1880. [No. 3. 



23. Proceedings of the Torrey Club.— The regular monthly 



meeting of the Club was held at the *' Herbarium," Columbia College, 

 March 9, the President, Dr. J, S. Newberry, in the Chair. There 

 were present 18 members and 2 visitors. 



Mr. Britton exhibited several specimens of the fruit of the Choc- 

 olate tree ( Theobroma Cacao), consisting of pods of about the form and 

 size of a thick cucumber, each containing several rows of large beans 

 or seeds, which after being dried, roasted, and ground constitute the 

 cocoa of commerce. 



Mr. Leggett exhibited a number of the seeds of the edible pine 

 yPinics ediilis), commonly known as "pine nuts," one of the main 

 articles of food of the Indians inhabiting the regions in which they 

 grow. The seeds are about the size of small kidney beans, and have 

 a rich oily kernel contained in a thin shell. In favorable seasons 

 these are gathered by the Indians in larae quantities and sold to the 

 people of New Mexico, Arizona, and the border settlements of Mexico. 

 Dr. Newberry made some interesting remarks on this and other 

 species of pines which bear edible fruit, and spoke at some length on 

 the subject of some of the more peculiar conifers observed by him 

 during his explorations in the West. 



Mr. Le Roy called the attention of the members to a specimen of 

 Aspidium acrostichoides in which the frond was very deeply bifurcated. 



Dr. Newberry exhibited a Japanese botanical work, which, judging 

 from the very beautifully executed plates, was devoted entirely to the 

 order Compositae. 



Miss E. G. Knight read a short list of plants which she had ob- 

 served in flower this season. According to her observations, made in 

 Central Park, Acer rubrtim and A, dasycarpum were in full flower on 

 Feb. 14th; two willows (species ?) zxidCorylus Afnericana, Feb. 27th; 

 Symplocarpus foetidus, March ist; Fopuius grandidentaia,M3.XQ\i ^i\\\ 



Ulmus Americana^ Cydonia Japoiicay and Forsythia viridissima^ 

 March 6th. 



Mr, Bicknell, from observations made at Riverdale on the Hud- 

 son, made the following additions to the above list : Almismcaita and 

 A, sernilatam flower Feb, 29th; Draba verna, March ist; and Tar- 

 axacum Dens-Ieonis, March 4 th. Mr. Bicknell also stated that the 

 Symplocarpus was observed by him in flower at Riverdale on the 29th 

 of February, and was then being visited by large numbers of bees. 

 According to records kept by members of the Club as to the flower- 

 ing of the foregoing plants in past years, the present season is just 35 

 days in advance of any that have preceeded it. 



Miss Jane T. Meigs, and Mr. B. B. Chamberlin, both of New York 

 City, were elected active members. One new name was proposed 

 for membership. 



Mr. Braman read a communication from Mr- Frank Tweedy, con- 



