206 THE PLANT WOELD 



The fruit is a five-celled capsule aboiit six inches in length by one 

 in diameter. As soon as ripe the cells split open dorsally and disclose 

 the compressed brownish silky wool which envelopes the very small 

 seeds. These so-called "pods " are packed into bales and sold at a few 

 cents per pound. The wool is readily removed from the capsule, but it 

 is almost impossible to entirely free it from the seeds. The seed hairs 

 have a " crinkliness " which adds to their value as a stuffing material 

 and prevents wadding to a large extent. 



According to the article quoted from American Gardening in The 

 Plant World for June, '02, our corkwood must yield the honor of 

 being the world's lightest wood to Leitneria fioridana. However, in the 

 Bulletin of the Bot. Dept. of Trinidad, B. W. I., for January, '01, the 

 specific gravity of 0. lag opus is given as .120 — only about half as heavy 

 as the Leitneria ; Goodale credits Ochroma with .25 ; now which is right ? 



As an ornamental the " Goano " is a success. Its quick growth, 

 striking foliage and magnolia-like flowers combine to give it an attrac- 

 tive and interesting individuality. Indeed, we believe it will be famous 

 before many years have passed. O. W. Baerett. 



Mayaguez, Porto Rico. 



THE DISPUTED LONGEVITY OF CERTAIN PLANTS. 



Field work has been lacking in the case of several plants appearing 

 in our eastern botanies as to their lease of life. I note a few which I 

 have had the opportunity to study. 



Schedonnardus paniculatiis. — Britton and Brown say of the genus : 

 "An annual grass." It is a small-rooted, probably short-lived perennial 

 with us, starting quite early in the spring. No doubt it may be annual 

 in localities. 



Festuca octojlora. — Probably everywhere an annual, but with us a 

 "winter annual." Last fall it covered the ground in large patches 

 that remained bright green all winter, averaging about 2-3 inches high, 

 and very dense. It is already up, October 10, and ready for business. 



Hordeum juhatum. — This has commonly been called annual. Brit- 

 ton and Brown give no clue to the duration of the species, simply say- 

 ing of the genus, "common or perennial grasses." It is a good peren- 

 nial here, starting very early in spring, forming a dense tuft of 15-20 

 stems. It is fibrous-rooted and therefore probably short-lived. 



Linum rigidum. — Britton and Brown say "perennial (?)." Gray 

 says nothing. Wood, "Botanist and Florist," says nothing. With 

 us it is a winter annual, reaching a height of four inches in the fall, 

 without rosettes, and remaining perfectly green all winter, with its 

 narrowly linear, thickened leaves. Just below and above the surface 

 of the ground, the stem is studded with buds partly opened, showing 



