THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 65 



circle of scales closes over them, the beak on each ovary 

 elongates and raises the dainty sail. Presently, the scales are 

 all reflexed, the sails spread and the yellow head has become 

 an airy, white globe. The wind blows and carries the tiny 

 parachutes, each with a precious burden, to some spot, perhaps, 

 where the seed can develop into a new plant. We wonder at 

 the care of Nature in arranging details, when the small de- 

 pressions, seed scars in alternate rows, are noticed on the base 

 of the receptacle. — Miss Nell Mc Murray, Clearfield, Pa. 



Fragrant Wildflowers. — Additional species of fragrant 

 wildflowers which have come to light since the original list was 

 published are sand verbena (Abronia umbellata), Western 

 goldenrod (Solidago occidentals), large-flowered datura (Da- 

 tura meteolides), Brickellia (Brickellia Calif ornica), Smooth 

 sumach (Rhus glabra), yellow violet (Viola pedunculata) , 

 virgin's bower (Clematis ligusticifolia), yerba santa (Erio- 

 dictyon Calif ornica ) , nothoscordoum ( Notlwscordnni striatum ) , 

 Salvia farinosa, Centaur ca Americana and Primus subcordata. 

 In some lists Dodecatheon mcadia appears, but this species is 

 certainly not fragrant in some parts of its range. Is it really 

 fragrant or has some other species been mistaken for it ? 



Ill-Scented Flowers. — It is apparent that in the dis- 

 cussion of the odors of flowers "De gustibus non est disputavu- 

 dum." What one observer reports as an agreeable perfume, 

 another considers a vile odor. It is possible, however, that in 

 some cases we may be dealing with differences in definitions. 

 The only flowers that should be considered ill-scented, are those 

 in which the flower itself is disagreeably scented. There is a 

 long list of plants with ill-scented foliage which are often con- 

 fused with the ill-scented flowers. The plants that bear truly 

 ill-scented flowers appear to be rather rare. Our list at present 

 contains only the carrion flower (Smilax herbacea), black 

 snake-root (Cimicifuga racemosa), baneberry (Actaca alba), 

 red trillium (Trillium erectum), Skunk's cabbage (Symplo- 



