BOTANICAL GAZETTE. 2O0 



Stamens ofHeteranthera reniformis.— Mr.FritzMueller writes toNa- 

 ture describing dimorphism exhibited by the stamens ofHeteranthera 

 reniformis and commenting on the probable benefit of such dimorphism. 

 He says; "In Heteranthera reniformis there is one long stamen (belong- 

 ing to the outer whorl) having pale bluish pollen, and two short stamens 

 (of the inner whorl) with bright yellow pollen. The stigma stands gen- 

 erally on a level with the anther of the long stamen. When the white 

 flower opens, the pistil and long stamen diverge, the pistil bending (al- 

 most without exception) to the rigid, and the stamen to the left; at the 

 withering of the flower, they again approach each other, so that the stig- 

 ma may be fertilized by the pollen of the long stamen. Visiting insects 

 are attracted yet more to the yellow anthers of the two short stamens 

 by their being placed close to a yellow spot, surrounded by a violet bor- 

 der, at the base of the upper petal. * * * * Fertilization is almost exclu- 

 sively effected by the pollen of the longer stamens, while the shorter 

 stamens serve only to attract pollen-gathering or pollen-eating insects. 

 * * * The dull color of the long stamens serves to make them less visible 

 to insects." 



A New Puff-Bail.— In a recent number. Grevillea, Dr. M. C. Cooke 

 prints the description of anew puff-ball, from Ohio, which is of exceed- 

 ing interest. It belongs to a long !■ genus, described bj Klotsehin 

 "Linnsea" some fifty years ago and a puzzle to mycologists ever since. 

 The following is the description: 

 Cycloderma Ohiensis, Cke. & Morg. 



Subglobosum, album, heve. Peridium glabrum, coriaceum, superne 

 umbonatum, inferne radicoso-fibrosum. Columella, subcylindrica, 

 sequalis, capillitioque radiante alba. Sporis minutissiinis, globosis 

 hyalinis. 



On the ground. Ohio, U. S. 



About an inch in diameter, or less, columella two-thirds the height 

 of the peridium, wholly white within. 



The double peridium is very distinct, especially as the individual 

 advances in age. The outer peridium is composed of rather coarse, ir- 

 regular, contorted fibres, closely interwoven. The capillitium is an ex- 

 ceedingly delicate membrane, much folded and plicate. The spores are 

 globose, hyaline, and very minute. 



Some Popular Botany.— A writer who affects the style of Thoreau, 

 gives us, in the March number of the Century Magazine, some curious 

 notes on the habits of evergreen and deciduous trees. He takes oc- 

 casion to say that "most persons are unreliable observers," a statement 

 somewhat lacking in originality, but which connot be gainsayed. "Peo- 

 ple live in the country all their lives without making one accurate ob- 

 servation about nature." (May I suggest in extenuation thaf'observations 

 about nature" at so much per page in a popular magazine pay better 



