BOTANICAL GAZETTE. 2// 



total of 905 species and good varieties. These arc distributed through 

 105 orders and 455 genera. The largest order is that of the Graminecf. 

 being represented by 125 species. The next largest orders are the Ci3w/)^5/te 

 with 121 species and the Legnminosce with 81 species. The Orchidacae 

 have but 3 species and the Ferns number 7 representing as many genera. 

 The EricacecE have not a single representative. Three new species have 

 been discovered in this county, viz: Dalea Hallii, Gr., Vicia Revenhoni, 

 Watson, and Scutellaria brevifolia, Gr., to which I hope to add two more, 

 a Cuscuta and a Silphiutn. 



With the advance of civilization several species have been nearly 

 exterminated and to my knowledge three, at least, have enterely dis- 

 appeared. — JuLiEN Reverchon, Dullas, Dallas Co., Texas. 



Poisoning bv Rhus Toxicodendron. — As botanists are very apt to 

 meet with cases of poisoning by the so-called poison ivy or poison oak» 

 it is just as well for them to know a cure that is simple and effectual. In 

 the Medical jRccord oi ]m\y 12 is a note from Dr. Wm. E. Brands, of Hanover, 

 Ind. , in which he claims to have found such a remedy. He states that 

 the treatment for this trouble has been rational only since the discovery 

 that the poisoning agent was an acid. Very naturally, then, alkaline 

 substances should be used to neutralize the poison, and Dr. Brandt has 

 found that the hyposulphite of soda, is probably the best. He uses a 

 saturated solution, keeping the affected skin moist, and in severe cases giving 

 it internally at the same time. He has thus succeeded in checking the 

 worst cases in from 24 to 48 hours. 



Contributions to American Botany, IX, by Sereno Watson. — In the 

 last Gazette we noticed the first part of this contribution, being a revision 

 of North American Liliacece. The second part is devoted to the description 

 of about 50 new species, chiefly from the far west. The Ranunculus 

 alismcefolius of the Manual becomes a new species, and as it has been knock- 

 ing about for some time it is called R. ambigens. Tnree new Crucifers 

 are described, a Denfaria, a Draba and a Thelypodium. Two Silenes are 

 reported and both do honor to the Botanic Garden, one being S. Grayii 

 and the other S. Sargentit. Two Psoraleas are described, and one has so 

 nearly the oder of a skunk that it is called P. mephitica. Vicia also gains 

 two species, one from Texas and the other from Florida. One of the 

 most interesting things in the list, though, is the description of a new 

 Sullivantia, bearing the name ^S". Oregana It looks very much like S. 

 Ohionis, and we are very strongly of the impression that the latter is also 



