THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. 77 



fern, (Dryopteris Braunii). We were not fortunate enough 

 to find either the wall rue spleen wort (Asplenium Ruta- 

 muraria) or the purple stemmed cliff brake (Pellaca atro pur- 

 purea) although both are reported from the mountain, proba- 

 bly from the cliffs of the eastern side. 



The late afternoon found us on our homeward route by 

 another road which led down Green River, a small clear stream 

 draining the western slopes. This stream enters the Battenkill 

 which here breaks through the Taconic range. Along this 

 fine valley we pursued our way and night found us at home 

 well laden with the botanical spoils of Mt. Equinox. 



Shusan, N. Y. 



POD AND BERRY. 



BY DR. W. W. BAILEY. 



IT goes without saying that the fruit of a plant is often as 

 beautiful as its flower. The dandelion, beloved of poets, 

 the pet of children, is surely the glory of the spring, when its 

 golden disks light up the meadow and the way-side with stars 

 of the first magnitude. But when Nature, in a happy mo- 

 ment conceived the so-called clock, she exceeded even her 

 usual standards of beauty. The evanescence of this ephemereal 

 globe of down appeals in some subtle way to our affections. 

 It seems a fairy creation, too light and delicate to exist on 

 earth. Every thing about it is so fragile, so perfect, that we 

 are surprised when a mere puff of wind destroys the integrity 

 of the creation and wafts its tiny parachute on its aerial 

 voyage. 



As the season advances, fruit becomes more and more 

 evident in the scene. Berries are now every where a promi- 

 nent feature in the landscape. Along the highways the wild 

 cherries hang their jeweled clusters, or the barberry presents 

 it's coral beads. In the woods we notice the ivory white 

 bane-berries or white cohosh, far more lovely than the ante- 



