THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. 89 



New Races of Plants. — It has been shown by Prof. G. 

 Klebo of Germany, that remarkable metamorphoses can be 

 produced in plants by artificial methods of cultivation. From 

 several remarkable results obtained by him from experiments 

 with Veronica chamoedrys and other plants he expresses the 

 opinion that new races can arise as a result of changes in 

 external conditions. — Gardening World. 



Edible Ferns. — Prominent amongst the grand display 

 of ferns at the exhibition of the Royal Botanic Society of 

 London on April 24th were specimens of the pithy cyathea 

 (C medullaris) a noble species from the Pacific Isles of a 

 comparatively hardy character. This greenhouse evergreen 

 tree-fern forms in its native country a common article of food 

 with the natives. The roots and the lower parts of the stem 

 are soft and pulpy and have a pleasant smell and taste, so that 

 the medulla of this fern, which abounds in a reddish glutinous 

 juice is nearly as good as sago. The silver tree fern (C deal- 

 bata) a beautiful species from New Zealand is said to be 

 eaten in the same way. Alsophila cxcelsa and A. australis are 

 two magnificent umbrageous trees belonging to an allied genus. 

 The middle of these trees from the root to the apex consists 

 of a white substance resembling a yam and which tastes like 

 turnip. — Garden ing World. 



The Defenses of the Cactus. — When we think of the 

 means by which plants protect themselves from their enemies, 

 the cactus at once comes to mind as a striking example. Al- 

 though the regions in which cacti grow are veritable deserts 

 for much of the year subjected to great heat and devoid of 

 rain-fall, the plants themselves are usually thick and succu- 

 lent, and would be toothsome morsels for the animals of the 

 desert but for the terrible armor of thorns and spines with 

 which nature has equipped them. ]\Ian is about the only ani- 



