56 [Assembly 



contracted near the top and prolonged into a slender subulate point, 

 thus showing a tendency to approach, in form, the spadix of A. 

 Dracontium. 



Symplocarpus foetidus, Salish. 

 A specimen occurred near West Albany of which the spathe was 

 double, or rather there were two spathes one smaller, partly Avithin the 

 other and facing it. The smaller interior one contained the spadix. 



Orontium aquaticum, L. 

 Abundant at Spruce pond, Orange county. The spadix or club is 

 at first greenish, then bright yellow, finally green again. In the yellow 

 or flowering state it is erect and the scape for a short distance below 

 the spadix is a pure white. After flowering the spadix is thrust beneath 

 the surface of the water by the bending of the scape and both it and 

 the upper part of the scape gradually assume their final green color. 

 The flowers are protogynous and their odor is similar to that of chest- 

 nut blossoms. The plants sometimes grow among the sphagnum and 

 sedges of the low quaking shores, and then their leaves are erect. The 

 root is so deeply and firmly fixed in its place, that it is exceedingly 

 difficult to obtain an entire plant. 



Cypripedium candidum, Muhl. 

 In Bergen swamp the white lady slipper is associated with the larger 

 and smaller yellow lady slippers. This is its only New York locality 

 known to me, and it grieves me to know that it is here sometimes col- 

 lected unsparingly merely for hand bouquets. By such treatment it is 

 in danger of extermination. Such a rare and beautiful plant should 

 be gathered sparingly and preserved in its native locality as long as 

 possible. 



Trillium grandiflorum, Salish. 

 The variety variegaium has again been collected in the Jamesville 

 locality where it presented the same characteristics as last yeor, Mrs. 

 Goodriph writes that no specimen with sessile leaves had variegated 

 petals. The petioled leaves and petals striped with green are thus far 

 constantly associated. Of some plants transferred to her garden all 

 reproduced the petioled leaves, and the single one which blossomed had 

 its petals marked with green. One plant occurred in which the flower 

 was borne on one stem and the leaves on another, both rising from 

 the same rootstock. Miss Overacker found a monstrosity in which the 

 flower had nine petals and twelve stamens; also another in which all 

 the parts of the flower were in fours, even the ovary being four-celled. 

 Eev. Mr. Beauchamp also found near Baldwinsville a specimen whose 

 flower had six long sepals and eighteen shorter petals. Under proper 

 cultivation this plant would probably produce double flowers and 

 numerous varieties very readily. 



Carex sterilis, Willd. 

 The typical form in which tlic spikes are often all or nearly all 

 staminate is abundant in Bergen swamp. In the eastern part of the 

 State the plants almost uniformly bear pistillate spikes, and an abun- 



