THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 23 



\\ ildenow, who named the genus, founded it upon an imper- 

 fectly developed specimen. Helonias is from the Greek for 

 swamp in allusion to the places where some species of this 

 genus grow. Xcrophyllmu. is from the same language and 

 means "dry leaf." The name Narthecuiui is said to be an 

 anagram of Anthcricu ui from the Greek Antherikos, a word 

 said to have been the original name of the asphodel. The genus 

 is also known as Abama, signifying "without step," being re- 

 puted to cause lameness in cattle. 



Slow Ripening. — There are all sorts of variations in the 

 length of time different plants rec|uire to ripen their seeds. 

 This ranges from a few weeks in some of the early flowers to 

 those deliberate species that ripen their fruits just ahead of the 

 autumn frosts, to say nothing of such examples as are presen- 

 ted by some of the oaks, which take two years to finish the job. 

 Among oddities in this line must be mentioned the maiden- 

 hair fern tree {Ginkgo biloba) which to all appearances ripens 

 its fruit in autumn, though the union of the contents of ovule 

 and pollen have not taken place. The fruit falls to the earth 

 and lies there while sperm and egg unite and a new embryo 

 develops. Several species of conifers are known wliich retain 

 iheir ripe seeds in the cones for ten years or more, but the 

 credit for the greatest deliberation undoubtedly goes to that 

 species of palm known as the double cocoanut or Seychelles 

 Islands palm (Lodoicea seychellarum) which is reported to 

 ref[uire nearly a dozen years to mature its fruit. The seeds of 

 this palm are probably the largest in the world and often reach 

 a weight of thirty pounds. There is some reason, therefore, 

 for the length of time it takes to ripen. 



