NOTES AND NEWS. i8g 



This issue of The Plant World unfortunately goes to press too 

 early to permit us to include an account of the very successful meet- 

 ing- of the American Association for the Advancement of Science at 

 Boston. We have been promised abstracts of several interesting 

 papers delivered before the Botanical Section, and hope to publish 

 several in the next issue. 



Another instance of the eastward spread of western weeds maybe 

 seen in the case of Matricaria matricarioides. This is a close relative 

 of the common Mayweed, and was recently found growing abundantly 

 along a roadside at Fall River, Massachusetts. It is extremely com- 

 mon in the far Western states, but comparatively unknown in the East, 

 although it occurs in several places within the range of the Illustrated 

 Flora. 



In the Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club for July, Mr. John 

 H. Lovell writes of the fertilization of the Bunch berry ( Cornus Cana- 

 densis^ as follows : " Conspicuousness is gained by four parallel-veined 

 involucral bracts. Parts of the flowers in fours, petals valvate, and one, 

 or not rarely two, awned. As the flower-bud approaches maturity the 

 filaments grow rapidly, breaking apart the petals at the base and pro- 

 truding as four V-shaped arches. If at this stage the awl-shaped ap- 

 pendage is touched by the body of an insect or by a needle, the petals are 

 instantly reflexed, the elastic filaments straighten, and a minute shower 

 of pollen is projected upward. In fully matured flowers a faint snap 

 may be heard. Self-fertilization is prevented by the immaturity of 

 the stigma." 



"One of the several interesting and instructive lines of work re- 

 cently inaugurated by the Division of Botany of the U. S. Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture is the investigation of the various uses made of 

 native plants by different Indian tribes. Botanical specimens are 

 first secured by the investigator in charge of the work, and these 

 are then shown one by one to several of the older and more intel- 

 ligent natives, who are generally found to be much interested in ex- 

 plaining the details of the use made of each specimen. For a small 

 consideration they are also willing to part with samples of the crude 

 products or the manufactured articles. A large stock of information 

 is thus secured, and is supported by actual specimens. A large por- 

 tion promises to be of much economic value. All statements are veri- 

 fied by cross-questioning and by the securing of several authorities 

 for a single statement. Work on this line has thus far been ofificially 

 prosecuted only in Oregon by Mr. F. V. Coville, and in California by 

 Mr. V. K, Chesnut. The field for investigation is therefore still ex- 

 tensive. 



