103 
Along Le Chien’s Creek, northeast of Berkshire, Mass., 
Uvularia perfoliata was found with the terminal flower bud at 
least a quarter of an inch long, and all its eléments distinctly 
formed. Aralia quinquefolia 
showed the flower buds readily, 
especially when a. lens of low 
power was used. The individual 
buds were a fortieth of an iuch or 
less in diameter. 
The third set of observations OS 
were made in the latter part of \ 
September, between East Nassau, ) - 
Renssellaer County, and Chatham, Som 
Columbia Co., both in New York 
State. Thalictrum dioicum con- 
tained the panicle of minute flower 
buds in recognizable form. Epzg@a repens had scaly buds hidden 
among the moss but not covered by soil. On removing the scales, 
the small flower buds of the next season were readily discovered. 
Chimaphila umbellata also possesses a scaly bud which is not 
subterranean, but is found at the centre of the cluster of leaves 
terminating the little erect stalks rising directly from the ground. 
On removing these scales the minute flower buds can be readily 
discovered with a lens. Cypripedium acaule is another plant 
with which I had previously been unacquainted. On dissecting 
the subterranean scaly bud, I discovered two basal leaves and a 
large bract below the base of a flower bud, at least a quarter of 
an inch long. The two perfect anthers, on either side of a third 
sterile one with dilated tip, above the stigma, showed that the 
specimen was one of the Cypripediez, and the inflated, sac-like 
lip, already distinctly formed “suggested that it was a true Cypri-— 
pedium ; whereas the two basal leaves, and the scape-like charac- 
ter of the rest of flowering stem, identified the species as C. 
acaule. In this way, I think it would be readily possible for 
any one already familiar with the generai structure of flowering 
plants to identify many of the earlier perennial spring-flowering 
forms out of their season, by means of the flower buds destined 
Oo 
Diagram of Aralia quinguefolia. 
oe to blossom first the ensuing year. Streptopus roseus has subterra- 
_nean scaly buds which when dissected show the leaves of next year, 
