490 
of the Pacific coast (Malva dorealis) on account of the very 
marked degree with which it exemplified the turning of leaves 
toward the sun. At the time a note was made upon the observa- 
tions for all times of day and night: in one of the botanical jour- 
nals. : 
The common mallow of the Eastern, Middle and Western 
States (Walva rotundifolia) is no exception, and when growing in 
rich soil free from all other vegetation the heliotropism is striking 
enough. While at the Madison meeting of the A. A. A. S., the 
writer called, in private, the attention of several botanists to the 
phenomenon, and as it proved to be new to them, the following 
note is ventured, feeling quite sure that it will call out response 
from others who have long observed the same thing. 
In the morning the blades of the leaves, if the day is clear, 
will be placed with their upper surface at right angles to the rays 
of the sun, and, by slowly turning, this position is maintained 
throughout the day. : 
Prof. Tracy informs me that the heliotropism of the cotton 
plant is well known even among the growers of the crops, and 
this leads one to wonder if the members of the Malvaceze may 
not be quite generally influenced in the same way. It would be 
interesting to learn of the observations in this direction that have 
_ been made upon our native plants of the mallow family. 
Byron D. HALstTeD. 
RUTGERS COLLEGE, October 13, 1893. 
Note on Scabiosa australis —It may be of interest to note that 
on the 24th of last September I visited the station for Scadiosa 
australis mentioned in the January, 1893, BULLETIN, and found the 
plant abundant. It is evidently spreading southward. Specimens 
were noticed in the village of Whitney’s Point, two miles south of 
the original locality. WILLARD N. CLUTE. 
BINGHAMTON, N. Y., October 29, 1893. 
