113 



spiny-pointed. Whether the teleological purpose is that indicated by 

 the poet's intuition is open to question.* Dr. Mellichamp writes : 



I send for examination several 

 specimens of a spineless holly {^llex 



which I first observed last 



and I would Uke to learn 



storm. 



opacd) f 

 year 



whether such a condition is not un- 

 usual. The tree, which was quite 

 vigorous, and about 20 feet high, was 

 growing in a SAvamp almost touching 

 a young gum tree, both of them hav- 

 ing been prostrated in the late severe 



The roots were both so 

 closely intermingled that it was dif- 

 ficult to distinguish them. I at first 

 supposed that no spiny leaves could 

 be found on the whole tree, but, 

 after more careful examination, I 

 found ixfew on the lower branches, 

 but none anywhere else. Two or 

 three fine specimens of Ilex Da/won 

 grew quite near, the surrounding 

 growth being TV^j-^^z, Gordo?tia, sweet- 

 gum, etc. Not far off I also ob- 

 served another holly,| much larger 

 than the former, and, on this, 

 at least half, or perhaps two-thirds, 

 of the leaves were spineless. This 

 had no fruit, and the leaves, as you 

 will observe from the specimens 

 sent, are very much smaller. Is this 

 a male.? I enclose leaves of An- 

 dromeda nitida (from the same swamp) which the spineless hollj^ 



J, H. Mellichaj 



leaves somewhat resemble, 



Bluffton, S. C, Sept. 8, i88i. 



J 



107. Abnormal Growth in Clover --The newspapers of Eastern 



Pennsylvania have had numerous complaints from farmers about the 

 general failure of clover blossoms. Some brought to my attention 

 had the teeth of the calyx developed to leaflets. The petals were 

 wholly aborted, and the stamens reduced to small, green, and partially 

 flattened filaments. The most singular change was in the style and 

 stigma, the former being a perfect petiole, with an articulation and 

 single leaflet in the place of a stigma. In a few instances there were 

 three leaflets, the pistil thus becoming a perfect clover leaf. If there 

 was any doubt about the accepted morphological views of the typical 



*Dr. Withering says in a foot-note: '' \t has been observed, I think by 

 Linnaeus, that the lower branches within reach of cattle bear thorny leaves, wliilst 

 the upper ones, which stand in need of no snch AciGnce^ are without them." 



t One of the specimens is shown in the accompanying cutr—Eps. 



J This, too, had been thrown down. 



