22 THE PLANT WORLD. 



COLORATION OF LEAF FOR SEED DISTRIBUTION, 



By Byron D. Halsted. 



While upon a little scout in the woods my attention was called to 

 the striking })ink coloration in the lower half of each of the four 

 leaves composing the uppermost whorl upon the fruitful stems of 

 Medeola Vrrginiea L. It was noted that the attractive tint was closely 

 associated with the fruit production of the plants, and in no case where 

 the plant had failed to flower was there any pink develo})ment, and the 

 same was true in instances where o\d flower-stalks were still visible, 

 but fruit had failed to form. In short the plants that carried the best 

 clusters of berries were the ones that had the whorl at the base of the 

 umbel with the most showy leaves, they being of a bright })ink or pur- 

 ple for fully a third of the way from the base. 



These conspicuous "cups'' are well able to attract the eye of a 

 passing bird and in so doing the dark purple berries might be removed 

 and the seeds distributed. Our little "Indian cucumber root" seems 

 to furnish an interesting instance of truly foliar display for the pur- 

 pose of the dissemination of the plant ofi'spring. One can abnost 

 imagine that the bright tint of the ripening fruit cree])S down its stalk 

 and out into the bases of the neijjhborinff leaves. 



New Brunswick, N. J., Nov. 8th, 1899. 



^A^ILD AND GARDEN PAEONIES IN AMERICA. 



By K. C. Davis. 



THE Genus Paeonia is said to have been named in honor of a 

 physician, Paeon. The plants, commonly called Paeonies, are 

 robust and large-flowered perennial herbs becoming shrubby 

 only in case of P. Moutan. Although very familiar in gardens they 

 are natives of Europe and Asia, "only a single species, P. Proirnu, 

 being found in North America, on the Pacific coast. 



Roots thickened to form upright rootstocks; leaves large, alter- 

 nate, pinnately compound or dissected: sepals 5, persistent; petals 

 5-10, conspicuous, broad. Doubling may take place in any species by 

 the numerous stamens becoming petals. Carpels 2-5 on a fleshy disk; 

 follicles dehiscent, seeds large, fleshy. 



All Paeonies prefer a very rich deep soil with a little well rotted 



