2o8 BOTANICAL GAZETTE. 



Solanum Fendleri.- This, one of the new Mexican tuberous species, 

 was given to me many years ago by J)r. < !. ( !. Parry. I found the tubers 

 quite hardy here in Philadelphia, which of course the common potato is 

 not. Jt came up among the hardy'border flowers several years in suc- 

 cession, and finally disappeared, probably through ground mice. Some 

 of the roots developed to the size of Black Walnuts before I lost them. 

 It was on this experience only that I thought Mr. Lemmon's discoveries 

 may be of advantage. L have notsoen his plants, nor do I know what 

 species he discovered in Arizona. — T. Meehan. 



Sensitive Stigmas of Martynia. — In Martynia proboscidea the 

 stigmas, when touched, close quickly, probably within ten seconds (I re- 

 gret not having timed them), but if there is no pollen between the lobes 

 these soon reopen, and this may be repeated several times during the 

 life of the flower; but it' there is pollen between the lobes they //< ever re- 

 open. It a bee enters one of these dowers, without having previously 

 visited another, he closes the stigma without introducing pollen and it 

 soon reopens. Bu1 if he has previously visited another dower and is 

 covered with pollen, he introduces some of it lie! ween the lobes of the 

 stigma, which then never reopens. This may have been observed be- 

 fore, but at all events I think it will be worthy of note as a, remarkable 

 adaptation for cross-fertilization.—rEDGAE 11. Harger, Oxford, Ct 



The. Arizona Potato.- I have been quite interested in Mr. Lemmon's 

 discovery last July of Solanum tuberosum in the Hua< huca Mountains, 

 Arizona, in dower, and later in fruit. 



Turning to my herbarium I find 1 have r 'corded on the label to my 

 specimen, "Solarium tuberosum, L„ var. boreale, Gray. Syn. Fl. p. 227. 

 Mt. Graham, Arizona. Alt. 9250 feet." The specimens were taken in 

 August 1874 and were, beyond doubt indigenous. They were in dower 

 but some had tubers about three-fourths of an inch in diameter. 



This variety dray recognizes as his old Solanum Fendh //.and states 

 distinctly that it is not specifically distinct from the potato plant. 



There can be no question that henceforth we must regard the potato 

 as an indigenous plant, in the mountains of our Southwest. J.T. Roth- 

 rock. 



Dr. Torrey. I was emploj ed by J>r. Torrey, during the last year of 

 his life, in some small botanical details of his herbarium, and then I had 

 an opportunity of noting his marvelous skill m mechanical resources- 

 It impressed me the more, perhaps, as nature has not endowed me in 

 this way. During my sojourn at Columbia College, 1 saw the dear old 

 man in the most intimate way, and loved him as did all his associates 

 Often returning to my room late at night, I have found the Doctor hard 

 at work in the herbarium, all the windows shut down in the August 

 heat, and he himself in his shirt sleeves. He preferred to suffer rather 

 have his plants disarranged by the wind. Pointing to tin' well-loaded 

 shelves of his 'priceless herbarium, heonce said to me with his quaint 

 child-like manner, "That represents a deal oi back-ache." I have since 

 learned to appreciate the remark. \V. W. BAILEY. 



