Pennsylvania for Sessions igoi-igoj. Ixxxiii 



Report. In this was emphasized the fact that a surplusage 

 of heat units was recorded throughout the year, that up to 

 April 6th an exceptionally warm period prevailed and thus 

 vegetation became abnormally advanced, plants being from 

 three weeks to a month ahead of their average blooming 

 period. This was followed by a rather cold, raw atmos- 

 pheric condition which checked vegetation. A long, dry, 

 hot period in May advanced in some cases, but dried up in 

 other cases, advancing vegetation. The remainder of the 

 season was mainly characterized by cool, often cloudy, damp 

 days. 



The warmer weather of September succeeding this caused 

 many spring flowering plants to open blossoms again, a list 

 of these being given. 



Dr. H. E. Wetherill spoke of his studies on the native, and 

 especially the medical flora of the Philippines, and pointed 

 out that several valuable native plants were used in the 

 native pharmacopoeia, which might in the future take high 

 rank from their medical qualities. 



December i8. Dr. Miller, President, in the chair. Miss 

 Martha Hollinshead spoke on "The Life History of Com- 

 melyna virginica." After noting that the species of the 

 genus were mostly tropical or sub-tropical, and that the 

 above-named species afforded food for quails, the speaker 

 went on to describe the mode of seed germination. About 

 ten to twelve days were needed for this, thereafter the stem 

 of the seedling lengthened and trailed along the ground, 

 developing roots from the nodes. Several plants could thus 

 be potentially formed by vegetative growth. The structure 

 of the stem was then described, and later that of the flower. 

 The mucilaginous change in the petals as these withered was 

 specially noted. 



Dr. H. S. Conard then spoke on "The Veining and Fruit- 

 ing of Ferns as an Aid to Classification." He illustrated 

 his observations with a set of lantern slide preparations of 

 the leaves bearing their sori, or showing evident venation. 



