67 



profusion of fruit buds, even more than usual, owing no doubt to the 

 depth to which the soil had become saturated by the unusually heavy 

 rains of winter. We have, therefore, the phenomena of two crops of 

 figs on the same tree, an early and a later, developed at the same 

 time. I may remark that this is not a habit of the fig, as it is of 

 some of the berries in temperate climates, which develop a series of 

 buds and mature a succession of fruits through a considerable period 



of time. 



May 



George E. Post, M.D. 



49. Aphyllon uniflorum, T. & G. — My own observations dur- 

 ing a number of years, and those of several members of the Club during 

 the present season, seem to prove that, in our district, this parasitic 

 plant grows on the roots of Solidago, only. It might not be out of 

 place to request botanists of other sections to have an eye on the 

 plant, in order to settle this question. 



A close examination of the points of attachment shows that the 

 suction-organs of Aphyllon (very small protuberances along the 

 roots, or what corresponds to roots) consist entirely of parenchym- 

 atic tissue; its cells are large and roundish, only those cells that pen- 

 etrate into the tissue of the foster plant are considerably elongated. 



Comandra umbellata, Nutt, I found on blueberries ; but as I 

 ascertained this in a few instances only, I will not draw any conclusions. 

 I just mention this plant to state that its suction organs differ widely 

 from those of Aphyllon, by having well developed fibro-vascular 

 bundles, the first ducts of which originate quite close to the Up of 

 the organ. This difference, of course, will find its explanation in 

 the different mode of assimilation that goes on in the two plants 

 the one being a true parasite, while the other hasgreen foliage. 



J^ 



J 



50. Sassafras officinale, Nees.— I noticed an unusually large 

 sassafras tree standing on a farm near Newton, L. I., its circumfer- 



ence about \\ or 2 feet from the ground is 8 feet 6 inches. Two 

 inches or so ought, perhaps, to be deducted, for several stems of Am- 

 pelopsis and Rhus climb up the trunk, which is well-formed and 

 of nearly uniform thickness up to the lowest branches, at least 8 

 feet above the ground. The tree, in reference to height, presents the 

 appearance of a large-sized stately oak; and, when covered all over 

 with its shining yellow blossoms as it first caught my eye, is well 

 worth seeing. 





J 



51. Teratolpgical Notes.— Prolification of the inflorescence in 

 various species of Plantago seems to be of common occurrence in 

 Europe and curious forms of it are occasionally noted in English peri- 

 odicals. Dr. Masters, in his Vegetable Teratology, figures some of these 

 and states that each species of this genus seems to have its own perverse 

 mode of growth. Changes of this nature in our native and mtro- 

 duced species of plantains may be common, but accounts of them 

 do not often find their way into print. A friend has specimens of 

 P. Rugelii from Bloomfield. N. J., in which the upper part of the 



