2 8o THE PLANT WORLD 



Lindman considers the sterility of Carex Jasiocarpa in 

 the peat bogs of Scandinavia and Finland to be due to its un- 

 favorable environment. The lakes and swamps, where it 

 grows under natural conditions, pass gradually into bogs, 

 and here it remains as a relict, the xerophilous leaf structure 

 favoring its continued existence. 



According to Miicke the sweet flag. Acorns calamus, 

 was introduced into Europe in 1557. It was gathered from 

 a lake in Bithynia and sent to the botanist Matthiola in 

 Prague, and also found its way through Constantinople to 

 Vienna and thence over all Germany. 



Patulo concludes from recent studies that the 255 species 

 of the genus Plantago have their "centers of origin" in the 

 old world about the Mediterranean and northeastward, and 

 in the western hemisphere in California and Chili. 



Professor F. W. Oliver, in a report of progress of a 

 cooperative investigation of salt marsh vegetation in Brittany, 

 gives an interesting account of chromatic instability as ob- 

 served in Salicornia and Suaeda. In 1904 and 1905 masses 

 of Salicornia herbacca of a crimson color were observed, con- 

 trasting with the apple-green individuals in the neighborhood. 

 In 1906 the plants on the same ground were of mixed and 

 intermediate colors; but in 1907 there was again, though in 

 less marked degree, a differentiation of shades. The purple 

 and green Suaeda showed similar changes. Transference of 

 soil from one patch to another had no apparent influence on 

 change of color. 



Gius states that as the result of submersion in water 

 seedlings of Vicia sativa, Phahiris caiiariciisis and some other 

 species exhibit heliotropic curvature later and curve more 

 slowly than in the air. He concludes that the reaction is 

 hindered by reason of the influence of the surrounding 



