BOTANICAL GAZETTE 339 



one might have expected, at the insertion of the petiole on the axil, nor at the 

 junction of the blade with the petiole ; the withered upper half of the petiole 

 separated from the persistent indurated under part in a diagonal plane, so that 

 "this indurated part was stoutest at its insertion on the axis, and ran out into a 

 sharp point, while the deciduous part of the petiole was thickest at its connec- 

 tion with the blade and fell off with it, leaving a spine which persists as long 

 as the stem does and which from its axil produces the short spurs with their 

 fasciculated leaves mentioned above. The formation of these different axes and 

 their leaves resembles that of Larix, but the morphology of the spines is, as 

 far as I know, quite unique. — G. Engelmann. 



Heliantlius Maximiliani.— The occurrence of Helianthus Maximiliani, 

 Sehrad., far north of the range assigned it in the books, is worthy of note. 

 Two years ago it was reported from Northwestern Iowa (cf. Contr. to Fl. of 

 Iowa, V, in Davenport Acad. Sci , June, 1882, and Cratty, in Bot. Gaz. VII. 

 85), previous to which time it had not be n noted north of Lawrence, Kansas. 

 Last August it was recognized by the writer in Minneapolis and, according to 

 Mr. Warren Upham. the Assistant State (ieologist of Minnesota, extends north- 

 ward into the Red River Valley, where it is particularly luxuriant. Its eastern 

 limit in Iowa is some distance west of the middle of the State, not reaching 

 Des Moines, Ames or Mason City. This extended range of a large and showy 

 sunflower originally thought to be exclusively southern, naturally excites some 

 suspicion of the identification ; but it is vouched for by no less an authority 

 than Dr. Gray, who has seen Minnesota specimens.— J. C. A. 



Nectar Glands on Leaves,— Noticing Prof. W. W. Bailey's inquiry as to 

 the function of the nectar secreting glands at the bases of the leaves of Cassia 

 Chamcucrista, to which the ants pay so much attention, I transcribe the following 

 from " Flowers and Their Unbidden Guests:" A. Kerner, English translation, 

 pages 138-9. " * what they would have sought, and moreover would 



have found, in the flower, is already offered them here in rich abundance. The 

 creeping insects are not fastidious. Nectar in one place is the same to them as 

 nectar in another. They are content with that which is first offered, and so do 

 not trouble themselves to climb farther up to the flowers. In Impatiens trfcornis 

 the stipules are so frequented by Myrmica kevinodis, Nyl., that I have often seen 

 three of these ants upon a single stipule ; and yet, though I have examined hun- 

 dreds of plants of this species, and though its nectariferous flowers nave no 

 other protection whatsoever to keep out these little creatures, I have never seen 

 a single ant inside a blossom. They would, indeed, be very unwelcome guests, 

 inasmuch as they could reach the nectariferous spur without coming in 

 contact with the pollen ; or, at a later stage of flowering, with the stigma. 

 They would thus consume the nectar without profit ; and not only so, but by 

 diminishing the attraction would limit and hinder the visits of those insects, 

 which, being larger and. coming on the wing, would, in entering the flower, 

 necessarily come into due and successive contact with the pollen and the stigma. 

 As with Impatiens tricornis, so is it with other plants where nectar is secreted on 

 he leaves. Though these leaf formations may present no mechanical hin- 



