Feb. 1, 1SG6.] 



SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



37 



almost pear-shaped, more or less elongated. The 

 hilum is often double in the same grain, and there 

 are faint indications of concentric markings on the 

 surface. 



Fig. 43. Lily. Fig. 44. Orchis bifolia. 



Orchis {Orchis bifolia fy 0. latifolia). — The starch 

 grains of Orchis corms are more or less ovoid, with 

 a hilum in the largest part of the granule. Those 

 of 0. bifolia have often two conical projections, one 

 at each extremity of the same axis. Those of 0. 

 latifolia have the hilum often double. 



Fig. 45. Orchis latifolia. 



Fig. 46. Colombo. 



Colombo (Menispermum palmatum). — There are 

 two noticeable distinctions iu the granules of Co- 

 lombo root, the protuberances on the sides and the 

 position of the hilum in the largest portion of the 

 granule. They are of considerable size and very 

 irregular, as will be observed by our figure. 



These may be accepted as types of starch granules. 

 Many others might have been enumerated and 

 figured, but the above will serve to indicate that the 

 subject is one which affords variety and interest. 

 Polarized light is a great instrument in the Lands o 

 those who study starch granules, and we heartily 

 recommend the student to examine some of these 

 common objects for himself. 



J. Brown. 



The Cucumber. — Mr. Aiton mentions the cu- 

 cumber as being first cultivated here in the year 

 1573, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. This appears 

 to be an error, as cucumbers were very common in 

 tliis country in the reign of Edward III. ; but being 

 unattended to during the wars of York and Lan- 

 caster, they soon after became entirely unknown, until 

 the reign of Henry VIII., when they were again in- 

 troduced into this kingdom. — Goagh's "British 

 Topography." 



FOSSIL PLANTS OF THE CARBONIFEROUS 

 LIMESTONE. 



EOR the following picture of the vegetation of 

 the carboniferous bines tone we are indebted to 

 Figuier's " World before the Deluge," and for the 

 illustrations to the publishers* of theEnglish trans- 

 lation. 



The vegetation which covered the numerous 

 islands of the carboniferous sea consisted of ferns, 

 of Equisctacero (horse-tails), of Lycopodiacece, and 

 dicotyledonous Gymnosperms. The Annularia and 



Fig. 47. Fecopteris lonchitiea (enlarged.) 



Sigillaria belong to families completely extinct of 

 the last-named class. 



The Annularia were small herbaceous plants 

 which floated on the surface of fresh-water lakes and 

 ponds; their leaves were verticillate — that is, 

 arranged in a great number of whorls, at each 

 articulation of the stem with the branches. The 

 Sigillaria were, on the contrary, great trees consist- 

 ing of a simple trunk, surmounted with a bunch or 

 panicle of slender leaves, drooping at the extremity, 

 the bark often channelled and preserving impressions 

 or markings of the old leaves, which, from their 

 resemblance to a seal {si g ilium), gave origin to 

 their name. 



The Stigma ria, according to many paleontologists, 

 were Cryptogam ia, of subterranean fructification. 

 We only know the long roots which carry the repro- 

 ductive organs, which, in some cases, are as much 

 as sixteen feet long. This was suspected by 



* London : Chapman & Hall, 193, Piccadilly. 



