90 



m 



trees produce branches enough. The wind, weight of snow or 

 other forces frequently bring down the young branches. The trees 

 mostly grow in moist soil, frequently near streams. These branches 

 may take root in the soil where they 4^^P> ^^ ^^ carried down 

 stream by ihe current and lodge on the shore below. With this 

 view, the brittleness is a very effectual means of multiplying and 

 distributing the species. Analogous examples are not uncommon. 

 The fleshy buds in the axil of the leaves of the" tiger-lily separate 

 spontaneously and produce independent plants where they fall in 

 suitable places. Setnpervivum globiferum produces some slender 

 branches a foot or more in length, and these bear a couple of small 

 thick leaves at the end, within which are rudiments of other leaves. 

 These leafy tips spontaneously separate and produce new plants 

 where they strike soil. If my memory is not at fault, the slender 

 branch then dies, as is the case with the runner of a strawberry after 

 it produces a new plant at the end. Doubtless many similar exam- 

 ples are familiar to most botanists and horticulturists. 



Michigan Agricult. College, Lansing. W. J. Be al. 



Brittle Branches of Salices.— Jn the June number of the Bulletin 

 Mr. Thomas Meehan has opened a subject of considerable interest. 

 Several of the willows (especially old trees) beside Salix sericea have 

 branches brittle at the base, or rather which semi-articulate above 

 their true base. This I have noticed for years in S. sericea and in S, 

 Sabylonica, but supposed it was a case of true brittleness as set forth 

 in our manuals. 



E. C. Howe. 



Dicentra Canadensis 





laria for the April number of the Bulletin, I have had occasion 

 to examine the "tubers" (as they are called in our manuals) of D. 

 Canadensis, and have found that they, too, are simply very much en- 

 larged petiole-bases. There are also some very minute, abortive 

 leaves formed at the base of the fully developed leaves, but they do 

 not grow into small bulblets as in D. CucuUaria, and therefore this 

 species has no bulb-like rootstock ; but the large, round bulblets are 

 scattered singly on the more or less elongated, thin, scaly rhizoma. 

 On the top of each, the scar left when the upper portion of the leaf 



has withered away, is plainly visible. 

 Hoboken, May, 1882. 



J 



Multiplication of Spadices in Arisaema.— I have to report a mon- 

 strosity quite new m my experience. In my small' garden, I have 

 growmg a number of wild plants, among them Arisaema triphyllum 

 in quantity .^^ The " pulpit " of one of these is occupied by two 

 preachers." To speak after the manner of botanists, there are 

 within the spathe two spadices, confluent only in the lower flower-pro- 

 ducing part. The flowers are all pistillate and apparently normal. 

 Of the two "Jacks," one is taller than his clerical brother, while the 

 lesser one is deformed, that is, somewhat flattened below and dilated 

 above. He has a somewhat subdued look beside his more arrogant 



