56 THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. 



These conidia are somewhat analogous to the spores of Dae- 

 dalea quercina. 



The genus Favolus has but one representative which is na- 

 tive to our woods; the Favolus Areolar ins, which occurs on 

 dead twigs, particularly hickory. The tubes are large at first, 

 hexagonal in form and radiate from the stem. The stem is 

 either lateral or absent though in most cases it is difficult to 

 judge whether or not the tubes radiate from the center of the 

 stem or from some other point. The cap is white, often with 

 tiny markings of black. The periphery is sometimes involute. 

 The plants are thin and pliant when fresh, but when fully ma- 

 tured they are hard and coriaceous. They never attain large 

 dimensions. Dry twigs seem to be the usual habitat. 



So ends the list. I have not mentioned one-half of the 

 species in this large group, which are common to our woods. 

 This branch of nature has been least developed of them all, and 

 although of late years, the compound microscope has done 

 much toward enlightening us in some points, the life-history of 

 the majority of species has still to be disclosed and the pros- 

 pects of new discoveries for those who persevere in this neg- 

 lected study, are great. 



SOME SPRING FLOWERS. 



BY WILLARD N. CLUTE. 



EARLY in the year, the season is always a little in advance 

 of the observer, no matter how keen his perceptions. 

 When spring has fairly begun everything develops so rapidly 

 that none can exactly keep pace with it. In time there comes a 

 9Soq; o; 9D^[d aAiS sjaAVog Suuds u9ija\ pou9d puqsip -q — \\n\ 

 of summer — but at present it is not the making of flowers we 

 are viewing but merely their unfolding. Nature has been pre- 

 paring for this longer than we imagine. Six months or more 

 ago the flowers were formed and the food for their nourish- 

 ment stored up in compact parcels underground so that there 



