397 
A number of acorns have been found with two fertilized and 
developed ovules. The presence of the supernumerary seed is 
betrayed by the unsymmetrical shape of the acorn. The rightful 
occupant—if might makes right—is usually well developed, and 
pushes out its radicle earlier than does the intruder, which is cor- 
Tespondingly smaller and flattened and twisted out of shape. 
Occasionally, when the supernumerary seed is large, if its position 
is favorable it gets its radicle out of the ruptured apex first. At 
all events it makes a brave effort to reach soil and sunlight. A 
few acorns have been found in which the two plantlets had de- 
veloped into two well-formed seedlings. Acorns containing more 
than one seed have all been found under young trees. In no case 
have I found such under aged trees. 
BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY, PACIFIC UNIVERSITY. 
Explanation of Plate 247. 
Fic. 1.—«¢,” cotyledon ; « f,” foliar appendages; “p,” petiole; “ pl,” plumule ; 
“h,” hypocotyl. The dotted lines indicate the portion excised. 
Fic. 2.—The seédling after the wound had healed and the second root-tip had 
formed. R—original radicle; R,—the rootlet of the cut petiole. 
Fic. 2a.—A seed, the petiole of which was cut. After healing the separated 
Petiole (p) produced two rootlets. The plumule continued to develop as seen. 
Fic. 3.—Shows the end view of the seedling with three cotyledons, the petioles 
of which are shown in situ. The plumule (pl) projects through the smaller, paired 
Petioles p, and p.. 
Fic. 4.—The same with the husk removed, and the three cotyledons outspread. 
The cotyledons c, and c, belong to the petioles p, and p, (in Fig. 3) respectively. 
Fic. 4a.—Transverse section through the base of the plumule of Fig. 4. 
_ Fic. 5.—An acorn with the husk removed showing the supernumerary seed in 
Situ. Its hypocotyl (h) had grown, the radicle partially decayed and thrown off two 
new rootlets (a and b). 
Contribution to the Characeous Plants of Maine—t. 
By Fy Lu. FEARVEY. 
So far as we know but little attention has been given to the 
Plants of this order by collectors in Maine; the species named 
in Redfield & Rand’s Catalogue of the Plants of Mt. Desert being 
the Only record we know of regarding them. We have recently 
been considering the few species found in the Blake Herbarium of 
