166 THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



largest tree the redwood. The latter also has the thickest 

 hark — 18 inches or more in some cases. Which vine is the 

 largest will have to be left to somebody more familiar with 

 tropical botany than the writer. If anybody knows of larger 

 specimens than here mentioned, we would be glad to hear 

 from him. 



LoNicERA Tatarica SpEciosa. — One of the conimonest 

 species of honeysuckle in out-of-the-way places is Lonicera 

 tatarica. It seems to have been a favorite with the old set- 

 tlers and vies with the common lilac for a place in the old- 

 fashioned garden. In spring when covered with its rather 

 small, pale pink flowers, it is fairly attractive and is still often 

 planted in parks and large estates. The ordinary form, how- 

 ever, is so greatly inferior to other forms of the same species 

 that one wonders how the original ever gets planted nowadays. 

 The most attractive form has deep pink flowers nearly an inch 

 across and borne in great profusion. When in flower it does 

 not suffer in comparison with the red-bud, wild crab or any 

 other shrub of its genus. In the dealers' catalogues, the pink 

 form is called the variety grandiflora, graudi flora rubra, splen- 

 dens and pidcherrima. It is quite likely tliat each name may 

 stand for a slight difference in form, for the species is quite 

 variable. One should see the shrub in bloom to make sure 

 of getting the best. 



Aster Laevis. — Late in September in the Northern 

 States, the asters begin to command attention by reason of 

 their abundance, variety, and striking range of colors. One 

 who examines a field of these plants soon discovers that sev- 

 eral species commonly grow together though their color var- 

 iations often give the impression that there are more species 

 present than is the case. The New England aster is nearly 

 always accompanied by a clear rose-colored form much hand- 



