BOTANICAL GAZETTE. 147 



as much protected by being able to flower earlier in the year, as if 

 they had been located on the top of high hills or mountains? 



The power to endure cold and wet displayed by many members 

 of our vernal flora is very remarkable. Thus Ranunculus bulbosus 

 and R. acris, Stellaria media, &c, are frequntly found in flower all 

 through the winter, unless the season be extra cold. Many other 

 early bloomers among our common flowers are remarkable for their 

 durability, whilst the late flowering plants are generally noticeable 

 tor the short space during which they bloom. This indicates a hardi- 

 hood on the part of our vernal flora which cannot be explained except 

 by reference to the climatal experience of the species. Some of 

 them, as the groundsel and chickweed, may have exchanged an en- 

 tomophilous for an anemophilous habit, or have become self-tertil- 

 ised by the change. 



Again, it must have been observed that many of our early 

 flowering plants display a tendency towards a seasonable division 

 of labour. All of them either flower before they leaf, or show a 

 tendency to do so.as with coltsfoot ( Tussilagofarfara), the crocus (C. 

 vernus),the snow-drop (Galanthus nimlis),ke,. Even the violets {Viola 

 odorata and V. canina), the daflodil, primrose, cowslip, &c, al- 

 though they in part leaf when they flower, develop leaves much 

 more°abundantly after flowering than before, thus showing an in- 

 clination towards dividing the period of active live into two dis- 

 tinct stages— the productive and vegtative. Every one knows how 

 completely this has been effected by the meadow saffron {Colchicum 

 autumna(e). My impression is that this early flowering tendency is a 

 survival ot the' habit these plants had to blossom under more rigor- 

 ous climatal conditions; in short, that our vernal flora must have 

 the same origin assigned to it as an Alpine; that it has survived 

 through being able to bloom at an early perjod of the year at low 

 levels," instead of flowering at a later season higher up, above the sea- 

 level; protection and advantage being secured in both instances. — 

 Science Gossip. 



Fall-blooming: of Menyanthes trifoliata — One who has 



herborized for twenty years or so, is never astonished at the freaks of 

 autumnal blooming that flowers take. Every one has seen from time 

 to time stray specimens of Hepatica or of the various species of 

 Viola, while almost every year Bruuella, Achillea, and the common 

 dandelion, may linger into* November. Usually such second efforts 

 lack vigor, and often there are disturbances of the inflorescence. This 

 October has been truly remarkable for the number and variety of such 

 waifs, but if they were only the common loiterers I shculd not feel it 

 worth while to note them. But to-day I saw a sight which was to 

 me phenomenal— a swamp full of Menyanthes trifoliata in full 

 bloom on the 23d of October ! I donned my rubber boots and 

 waded into the water, as I have often done in May, gathering 



