91 



to oblong. This latter form'has only been observed xnfrcc spores, 

 which appear, however, to be true sporidia. J. B. Ellts. 



Newfield, N. J., May 26, 



Since found also on old grape petioles and twigs of last year's 



growth. 



J. B. E. 



67. Adventitious Leaves in Rhus. — A malformation occasion- 

 ally makes its appearance in Rhus glabra^ L., in the vicinity of New 

 York, and may perhaps be common to this species wherever it grows. 

 The deformity consists in the entire (rarely partial) substitution of a 

 dense mass of narrow, simple crispate leaves for the inflorescence. 

 This condition is accompanied by a change in the form of the upper- 

 most leaves ; these being sometimes simple, with laciniate margins, 

 and sometimes pinnate, with deeply-cleft leaflets, and partially- 

 winged petioles. Occasionally this deformity is not observed in a 

 given locality for several years, and then again it makes its appear- 

 ance and is quite common. This year it has been observed near 



lenafly, N. J. 

 of New York. 



the vicinity 



68. New American DesmidS.— The figures in the accompan}^- 

 ing plate (Plate V.) illustrate the new %y^tCA^% oi Desmidiaceae ^^' 

 scribed by me in the April number.of the Bulletin, pp. 45-47 : 

 A. Euastrum Donnellii ; B. E. formosum ; C. Arthrodesvius fra- 

 gilts ; D. D. Staiirastrum subarcuatum, front and end view ; E. E. 

 S. comptum. front and end view ; F. S.pusillum, front and end view ; 

 G. G. G. S. fasciculotdes, front and end view, and variety ; H. H. S, 

 pulchrum, front and end view; I. I. S. macrocerum.iront^nA end 

 view; K. K. S. tricornutum, front and end view; \a.\., S.Nova- 

 Caesareae, front and end view ; jNI. Micrasterias Kitchellii, front 



Francis Wolle, 



view. 



69. Nectar, its Nature, Occurrence, and Uses, by William 



Trejtlease, Itlu 



Insects, by J. Henry Comstock, Entomologist to the United States 

 Department of Agriculture. In a preliminary note Mr. Trealease 

 says : " Since nectar is found in several parts of the cotton plant, 

 and presents some peculiar phenomena there, it has been thought 

 best that I should treat briefly in this place of its occurrence and 

 economic value ; hence the present essay. My plan has been to 

 indicate what I understood by the word nectar ; to describe some of 

 the more instructive instances of its occurrence, in an order depend- 

 ing entirely upon the nectariferous organs ; to arrange them accord- 

 ing to the purpose which the nectar serves in each case ; to discuss 

 some of the cases more at length and, finally, to briefly mention the 

 habits of some nectar-loving animals when in quest of this beverage. 

 Though limited time and prolonged ill-health have prevented me 

 from making this essay what I wished it to be, I trust that it may 

 not be found wanting in what it professes to be— an oiidine pf the 

 uses of nectar as we now understand them." After a discussion of 

 the various definitions of nectar, the author gives the following : 



