150 THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



needed according to the severity of the case. If generally 

 effective, this would be a better remedy than other plant? ?iig- 

 gested as more easily secured. — Miss A. B. Stockton Sun 

 Jose, Calif. [The soapy substance in the bark mentioned n.ay 

 quite likely act to neutralize the poisonous nature of the ivy 

 {Rhus toxicodendron). Those disposed to try the remedy 

 should be careful to make the druggist understand just what 

 is wanted since the bark most frequently used for washing 

 delicate fabrics is better known as soapbark. Perus ian bark 

 is another name for the bark of the Cinchona tree from ^\•hich 

 quinine is obtained. — Ed.] 



The Day Flower. — The day flower {Commelina com- 

 munis) interests me because it has two kinds of petals and 

 two kinds of stamens. Glance at the blososm and it seems to 

 have two bright blue petals and a few yellow stamens which 

 are held above a closed heart-shaped spathe. This is all true 

 enough, but a closer look reveals more. There are three 

 small whitish sepals. One very small whitish petal held be- 

 low certainly does not seem to belong to the blue ones above. 

 Three of the filaments are long and white and stretch down 

 beyond that little white petal and at their tips are good plain 

 anthers. Three other filaments are threadlike and blue and 

 stand erect, and at their summits are useless showy organs, 

 each reminding one of a flower with four small yellow petals 

 and a brown dot at the heart. There is a pistil in the middle 

 with a long style that droops over with the useful stamens. 

 It is curious how the useless part stands up and demands at- 

 tention while the essential part hangs low and is decidedly in- 

 conspicuous. — Nell McMurray, Clearfield, Fa. [The Comme- 

 lina is said to perpetuate one of the botanical jokes of Lin- 

 naeus. There were three brothers Commelyn, so the story 

 runs, two of whom were botanists. The two showy petals 

 and one inconspicuous one suggested the Commelyns to Lin- 

 naeous, and hence the name. The Bauhinias, most of which 



