I 



BOTANICAL GAZETTE.. 167 



was about one-half the len<rth of tlie tul)e of the coroUa. The sta- 

 mens were four, exserted, on slender filaments, erect and about equal- 

 ling the pistil. The corolla was twisted from the base to the border 

 to the extent of about one-fourth of the circumference — John Hus- 

 SEY, Purdue University, La Fayette, Ind. 



The Hairs of Lychnis Githago, Lam. — AVhile a])plyino; poison (a 

 solution of corrosive sublimate in alcohol) to some lierbariuni speci- 

 mens a few days ago, the long soft hairs of the Corn Cockle attracted 

 my attention, and thinking perhaps they would make an interesting 

 study under the microscope, I laid a few aside until 1 should have 

 leisure to prepare and mount them. Almost every one is familiar 

 with the general appearance of our common Lychnis, but perhaps few 

 have noticed particularly the delicate white hairs with which it is 

 clothed. Let me describe them, though what I wish to notice especi- 

 ally, concerns not so much the form of the hair as its movements. 

 The whole plant is covered with these silky, appressed hairs, varying 

 from 2 to 4 lines in length. At the base under the microscope is seen 

 a group of small cells from which the hair tapers to a fine point. It 

 is composed of from three to five cells, which become more attenuated 

 in proportion as they lie nearer the outer extremity, the longest being 

 about 8-liundredths of an inch. The whole hair seems to be some- 

 what flattened, occasioned probal)ly Ijy drying. When preparing 

 these hairs for mounting, 1 first placed them in a watch-glass con- 

 taining strong alcohol. In a few seconds the three commenced swim- 

 ming about, revolving, rising and falling, continuing the motion as 

 long as they remained in the alcohol. Upon being placed in turpen- 

 tine the movements ceased. 



The question naturally arises, what caused these movements? As 

 w^as remarked, the hairs of Lychnis are somewhat flattened, and when 

 dry are slightly twisted spirally. Upon examining them in the glass 

 of alcohol wi^th a small hand magnifier they were seen to be very 

 much twisted but no motion except the general one could be made 

 out. Taking them from the glass, and placing them upon a slide in a 

 drop of alcohol, under a power of GO diameters, the reason of the 

 swimming could readily be detected. The hairs were twisting and 

 untwisting with considerable rapidity, jerking out of the field and 

 bending upward as though alive. These movements continued for 

 some moments after the drop of liquid had evaporated. The reason 

 of these contortions can not so clearly be made out. It is probably 

 due to the unequal endosmotic action of the cell walls, inasmuch as 



