33 



described is probably less than seventy. Of these, two-thirds, as far 

 as known, do not occur outside the tropics, and most of them have 

 been described from one or two specimens collected by exploring ex- 

 peditions, or individual explorers. It is thus impossible to obtain 

 facts relative to their distribution. In the majority of cases, how- 

 ever, where any allusion is made to their odor, they are stated to be 

 extremely fetid, and it is usually recorded of such species, too, that 

 flies were observed eating their ill-smelling hymenium. In the cases 

 of one or two Javanese species we are told that they were found 

 growing on bamboo in the vicinity of the cottages of the natives. In 

 some of these tropical genera the forms are extremely elegant; and 

 especially is this the case in the genus Aseroe^ the receptacle of which 

 is divided into beautifully stellate, brilliantly colored rays. In most 

 of the species of this genus the loathsome sporiferous substance is 

 comparatively small in quantity, and in order to ensure of this being 

 dispersed by insect agency, it would seem that this lack of quantity 

 were compensated for by the bright conspicuous colors and the at- 

 tractive forms that the plants assume. I was once asked by a friend 

 who brought me the unexpanded volva of a Phallus as the supposed 

 cause of an intolerable stench which proceeded from beneath a porch 

 in front of his house, and which had caused his family great annoy- 

 ance : '' What good are these things ; and, having such a vile odor, 

 why do they remind us of it by so persistently thrusting themselves 

 beneath our very noses ? " The first question, in the present state of 

 our knowledge, would be difficult to answer. So far as we know, 

 these plants are of no practical use to man — being fit neither for food 

 nor medicine ; and, from an iesthetical standpoint, the species of the 

 temperate zones, at least, have little to recommend them to the sense 

 of sight, as most certainly they have nothing to commend them to 

 that of smell. 



The second question, I think has been sufficiently answered ; 

 although, in connection therewith, I may repeat what has often been 

 remarked before, that the fragrant odors or the vile smells possessed 

 by plants have been assumed by the latter with no reference what- 

 ever to man's delectation or annoyance, but, on the contrary, that 

 they may prove advantageous to the plants themselves. It was prob- 

 ably with a feeling (shared by so many) that all things have been 

 created for man's benefit alone, that led Bernardin de Saint-Pierre to 

 write : " Plants which exhale delicious perfumes are of low stature in 

 order that man may respire them." But Saint-Pierre, in his conceit, 

 overlooked the magnolias, the honey-locusts, and a host of other 

 trees which bear their fragrant blossoms way up out of man's reach. 



W. R. G^^i^- 

 28. The North-Jersey Botanical Club.— The regular monthly 



meeting of the North-Jersey Botanical Club, was held on Saturday, 

 March 13th, in the High School building at Montclair. Twenty-four 

 new members were elected. The following officers were chosen for 

 the ensuing year : President, Henry H. Rusby ; Vice-President, 

 Miss H. Adelaide Shibley; Secretary, Walter M. Wolfe; Treasu- 

 rer, George O- F. Taylor ; Curator, Charles M. Davis ; Executive 

 Committee, the President and Secretary ex-officio^ Chas. M, Davis, 

 Randall Spaulding and Miss Nellie F. Bradford. 



