66 THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



on each petal, at the throat, are of the same colors so that 

 while single flowers seem white, a bank of the blossoms gives 

 a tint of very pale lavender. It is thus a valuable addition 

 to the list of garden plants. 



The suggestion that this may be an albino form of Phlox 

 pilosa is negatived by four important facts : its size is different, 

 its season of bloom is later, its range is restricted and true al- 

 binos of pilosa occur that are quite different from our plant. 



Whether this may be a color sport from Phlox pilosa 

 originated by mutation and able to persist in its special habitat 

 through some characteristic that the species does not possess, 

 it is impossible to say at present. We purpose making fur- 

 ther investigations in regard to this by sowing the seeds and 

 noting the behavior of the resulting plants. This data, which 

 is certain to be of much interest must be left until the pro- 

 gress of the seasons make its publication possible. 



SOME INTERESTING APRIL FLOWERS. 



By Dr. W. W. Bailey. 



IV yj ANY prominent April flowers have this year been driven 

 *-^ *- into May. Thus the dainty innocents or Quaker-ladies 

 have, in the past few days, after sending forth a few 

 skirmishers, at length occupied the fields with their entire 

 force. Usually these charming plants can be looked for here- 

 abouts by April 12th. 



Small and modest as these plants are, they belong to a 

 large and important family, of wide distribution. They are 

 of the madders, wherein not only are there many showy herbs, 

 "tiny flecks of flowers," like the galiums or bed-straws, but 

 shrubs like button-ball, Ccphalanthus, and the Mexican Boii- 

 vardia seen in hot-houses. The family yields to commerce, 

 besides its title plant, madder, (Ritbia) coffee and cinchona, 

 two of the most valuable of all vegetable productions, one af- 



