BOTANICAL GAZETTE. 2 ll 



out the account of one thing at a time, he eliminates the element of 

 doubt, as well as the too natural desire to compel the plant into some 

 corner where his preconception supposes it to belong. Morever, by this 

 plan, he actually studies the plant and bears away an idea of its struc- 

 ture and affinities, rather than a mere name. I have found the accom- 

 panying schedule for the genus Cypeiiis so useful in practice that I am 

 induced to communicate it for the benefit of other teachers of our sci- 

 ence. 



Schedule for Cyperus. 



The Boots. Note their character ;is indicative of the' duration of the 

 plant. 



The Rootstocks. Note if present and whether tuberous. 



The CiMms. Describe as to section, height, surface and color. Arc they 



slender or stout ? 

 The Leaves. Describe in ordinary terms of the leaf. 

 The Involucre. Of how many leaves is it formed ? Describe these and 

 state their length as well as the number and length of those of 

 The 1 iivolwels. 



The Spikes. Are they in simple or compound umbels? Are they flat or 

 terete? (Jive their general shape. Are they many or few-flow- 

 ered? Are they appressed,sprea<ling,or rellexed? State their color. 

 Is the axis winged or naked? 

 TMe Scales. Describe their shape, margin, and apex. Note if they are 

 empty. Are they keeled or not? Are they appressed or spreading? 

 Are they nerved or not? Are they deciduous or persistent? 

 The Stamens. Give their number. 

 The Styles. How many times are they cleft? 



Tlie Aehcnium. Is it lenticular or triangular? Describe its general 

 shape, and tell whether or not it is pointed. 

 The above is introduced by a general talk about the genus, with il- 

 lustrations and diagrams. It has been put to the test of laboratory prac- 

 tice and stands the ordeal well. W. W. Bailey, Brown f T nir\. Provi- 

 dence, K. I. 



Anthesis of Cyclamen. I have been much interested in watching in 

 my window garden the anthesis of this beautiful plant. At first it con- 

 sisted of nothing but a thick cluster of heart-shaped or almost reniform 

 radical leaves rising from a half buried corm, which, we are told, has 

 been developed even in the seed. Hidden among the leaves could be 

 found numerous nodding flower buds, giving but little promise of their 

 future beauty. For several weeks the plant seemed to be engaged in 

 storing energy, no surface change appearing. Suddenly the one-flower- 

 ed peduncles began to elongate and grew with wonderful rapidity, car- 

 rying the buds far above the leaf cluster, until a length of 8 or 10 inches 

 had been attained. In some cases all this growth was accomplished in 



