296 BOTANICAL GAZETTE. 



Some Rhode Island Notes. — I have long been interested in local names 

 of plants. Here are some Rhode Island names. Here, in Warwich, the Celtis 

 occidentalin has the name of "Mining berry." Hypericum Sarothra is called 

 " Louseweed," because the seed-pods crack between the fingers in a rather sug- 

 gestive manner. In South Kingston I am told that the country people have 

 corrupted Rhododendron into '"Witch-of-Endor," showing what sound will do 

 for philology. 



I find ants visiting the cup-shaped glands at the buses of the leaves of Cas- 

 sia Chamcecrista, which are nectar-secreting. Is there any reciprocal benefit? 



W. W. Bailey. 



Mitella diphylla. — The flowers of Mitella diphylla are almost at right an- 

 gles to the scape, and are arranged on the § plan. But the fruiting specimens 

 have a cup-shaped pod, which is always perfectly erect, bearing in its open cav- 

 ity the seeds. In order to assume this erect position, since all the scapes are 

 more or less slanting, the fleshy pedicels must take a one-sided arrangement, 

 and on horizontal scapes this twisting of the pedicels places the pods again at 

 right angles to the scaj>e. — Aug. F. Foerste, Dayton, 0. 



Botanists and Botanizing- at Minneapolis.— The meeting of the A. A. 

 A. S. proved, as had been hoped it would, the largest and most interesting in 

 the history of the Association in respect to the number and standing of the bot- 

 anists in attendance, and the number and importance of the botanical papers 

 presented. In truth, botany, for the first time took the lead in the biological 

 section. If the reason be sought for this awakening of a long neglected interest 

 it is found without difficulty. The botanical journals have had much to say 

 during the last year about the richness of the flora in Minneapolis and vicin- 

 ity. The knowledge of this fact was scarcely due to the kindling zeal of local 

 collectors, for Minnesota possesses but a few workers, and these exchange or 

 distribute little material, but is directly traceable to the Summer School of 

 Science, founded by the University in 1881, and which has increased in interest 

 and attendance each season since. 



A distinctive feature of the botany given at this school has been the study 

 of plants irrespective of the value of their elassificatory characters, the illus- 

 trative examples being selected from all grades of vegetation, from the sim- 

 plest unicellular seaweed to the most highly differentiated composite. The 

 laboratory is the all-important adjunct of such a course, and in this instance 

 the supply of material for it came entirely from the fields as it could be found 

 by the instructor, or was brought in by the pupils. This scouring of highways 

 and byways for all manner of vegetable growths led to a recognizance of the 

 abundant occurrence of interesting plants, a discovery that attracted attention 

 in other parts of the country, and resulted in a widespread desire to see and 

 profit by it. The liberal policy of the College of Agriculture, in considering 

 and following up with an investigation the reported poisoning of cattle by 

 drinking lake scums directed special attention to the flora of the lakes. 

 Couple these facts with the conviction, that had almost become general, that 

 one would be likely to meet a large number of his fellow laborers at Minneap- 



