THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. . ^5 



Lepidophyta. Club mosses, 660 species. 

 Cycadophyta. Sago palms, 90 species. 

 Strobilophyta. Conifers, etc., 400 species. 

 Anthophyta. Flowering Plants, 125,000 species. 



Although botanists may not agree as regards the indications 

 of genetic relationships, there is more unanimity in respect to 

 what are not to be considered indications of such relationships. 

 Among these Prof. Schaffner enumerates origin of sexuality, 

 differentiation of gametes, passage from a unicellular to a 

 filamentous condition differentiation of filament into base and 

 apex, loss of chlorophyll with development of parasitism and 

 saprophytism, development of unisexual gametophytes, loss of 

 sexuality, origin of heterospory. development of complex 

 forms, development of woody stems, development of the an- 

 nual habit, development of epigyny, development of cyclic 

 flowers, coalescence of perianth or other organs, decrease in 

 the number of floral parts, development of zygomorphy, in- 

 crease or decrease in the number of ovules, the presence of 

 opposite or alternate leaves, development of geophily, develop- 

 ment of various kinds of fruits, extra floral nectaries, etc. 

 —IV. N. C. 



THE FRUIT OF THE LEGUMINOSAE. 



By Willard N. Clute. 



THAT "the fruit of the Leguminosae is a pod" is an axiom 

 well conned by students of systematic botany, 

 but the definition of a pod is a matter of some 

 difficulty. Any extended study of the fruit of this 

 great family of plants is likely to disclose such a 

 great variety of pods that the longer one studies the 

 more difficult does he find it to make a definition that will fit 

 them all. While still in the flower, he can say with some cer- 

 tainty that the pistil is monocarpellary, that is, it consists of a 



