Wanted. — Short notes of interest to the general botanist 

 are always in demand for this department. Our readers are 

 invited to make this the place of publication for their shorter 

 botanical items. The magazine is issued as soon as possible 

 after the 10th of February, May, August and November. 



Birds-eye Maple. — The cause of the peculiar arrange- 

 ment of the woody fibres in maple which give it the well- 

 known birds-eye appearance has never been adequately ex- 

 plained by scientists. A recent writer believes the "eyes" to 

 be due to the formation of adventitious roots on the stem 

 which do not continue to develop. They are supposed to arise 

 from abnormal medullary rays. It may be pointed out in pass- 

 ing, however, that the maples rarely produce adventitious 

 roots. 



Plants that Seldom Fruit. — In volume 13, No. 2, of 

 The American Botanist, mention is made of the ground- 

 nut {Apios tuherosa) and lily of the valley {Convallaria ma- 

 ■jalis) rarely fruiting. On the shore of Watchie Pond, in 

 Maine, in September, 1904, I came across the Apios tuherosa 

 with the vines heavily fruited. I gathered and planted some 

 of the small peas but got no plants from them. At the same 

 time Mr. Scoullar transplanted some of the tubers, giving 

 them the same soil, and similar exposure. Although these 

 vines have multiplied, grown finely, and bloomed profusely, 

 they have not borne fruit. I have watched them during their 

 blooming season, for the past three years and I have never 

 Seen the flowers visited by any insect. Can cultivation have 



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