THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. 43 



back of fern leaves or in the cone-like spikes of the horse-tail 

 or Club-moss. These spores seem to be essential to the con- 

 tinuation of the species, so essential, in fact that chey appear in 

 the lower orders of plant life long before true leaves of any- 

 kind were evolved. Thus carpels and stamens may be the 

 homologues of leaves, but they have apparently never been de- 

 rived from these structures. When and why petals and sepals 

 arose and whether they were derived directly from leaves or 

 in a roundabout way from stamens and carpels is quite another 

 question. Both views have their adherents, and it is quite 

 possible that in some plants these organs have been derived 

 from leaves and in others from stamens. 



Fungus Coloring. — Recent mention has been made in 

 these pages of the various colors due to fungus growths with- 

 in wood. One color which has probably been noticed by many 

 is due to the green cup fungus, (Chlorosplenium Aeruginos- 

 um). Most commonly seen in the old branches of oak on the 

 ground, the partly decayed wood assumes a beautiful verdigris 

 green. The fungus grows mostly in the spring, but may be 

 seen most any time of the year. The mycelium or root of 

 the fungus, penetrates in microscopic threads, the cells of the 

 wood, producing the color. The wood so colored either by 

 natural methods or by artificial infection, (Minn. Bot. Survey 

 V. 5, p, 267) has been used to some extent in making veneers 

 employed in the manufacture of Tunbridge ware. The color- 

 ing matter can also be extracted from the wood and used for 

 other purposes. The fruit cups of the fungus are not common, 

 but may be found occasionally, not larger than small peas, 

 shaped like an ordinary toadstool, and of the same beautiful 

 green color as the infected host on which it grows. — Stafford 

 C. Edzvards, New Brighton, N. Y. 



Variations in the Toad-Flax. — In examining 

 the Linaria vulgaris Mill, with a class in botany, I 

 found the following remarkable and interesting varia- 



