1892.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 379 



seem abundant in this locality. Only a small species of bumble- 

 bee was observed at any time, and none visiting these clover flowers. 



Lathyrus maritimus. 



I have pointed out in previous contributions that when leaf- 

 growth is arrested to form bud-scales, sepals, or petals, the laminal 

 portion or blade usually becomes effete, and it is usually the stipular 

 portions or dilated bases of the leaves that are transformed to do 

 the protective work. In Lathyriis maritimus this is particularly 

 obvious, the large stipules being fully formed, and acting as pro- 

 tectors of the young buds, even before the rest of the leaf-blade is 

 developed. If no leaf-blade proper were produced at all, and the 

 axial growth arrested, these stipules would be reduced, and then 

 properly be termed bud scales. 



Many species of Lathyrus are on record as being self-fertilizers. 

 No note seems to have been made of L. maritimus. At Seal Harbor 

 every flower seemed fertile, indicating self-fertilization. Unless the 

 flowers are disturbed the stamens and pistil remain to the last wholly 

 enclosed by the keel. When, however, a visiting insect presses the 

 keel downward, the upj^er portion of the style projects considerably 

 beyond the aj^ex of the keel, but the stamens remain wholly included. 

 An insect in search of honey, covered with pollen beneath, might 

 then easily cross-fertilize the flowers, but as the anthers seem never 

 exposed in these flowers, so far as I could ascertain, there is no pollen 

 collected by the bee for transmission to another flower. A pecul- 

 iarity of this species seems to be that the vexillum presses down and 

 clasps the keel in the earlier stages of anthesis, preventing the 

 ingress of insects, and it is only in the later stages, after self-fertil- 

 ization has been fully accomplished, that the vexillum becomes 

 erect, and the entrance of insects permitted. This species will have 

 to be classed with those already admitted to be absolutely self- 

 fertile. 



LONICERA CCERULEA, 



It is many years since I handed to our good friend Professor Asa 

 Gray, some evidence, as I supposed, questioning the soundness of 

 the belief that leaf blade has its primary origin at the node from 

 which it seems to spring. The sententious reply I shall never for- 

 get, "nevertheless, I maintain that decurrence is decurrence." For 

 all the overshadowing eminence of this great and good man facts 

 continually come before me that seem inexplicable under the 



