36 BOTANICAL GAZETTE. 



litica and L. cardin(di><. A careful comparison shows the following peculiarities: 

 Leaves and calyx nearly as hairy as tliose of L. Ki/jihilitica; hr'dcta intermediate; the 

 flowers have tlie slender tube and the aspect of L. enrdinalis, but broader at the mouth 

 and with more conspicuous folds in the throat, nearly as large as in L. syphilitica. It 

 has also the I'etlexcd calyx sinuses of the latter species, but they are very short. The 

 color is remarkable, and led to the discover}^ of the plant, being a deep reddish or crim- 

 son-purple; different from any plant I can now call to mind. It grew in the midst of a 

 patcii of L si/philiticn. in low, moist woods ; no plants of L. curdinalis nearer tlian two 

 hundred yards, at which distance tliere were several There were but two plants ot the 

 hybrid. — J. Schneck, Mt. Cannel, III. 



I have received ana examined a specimen of this interesting plant, and I have no 

 doubt that it is rightly considered to be a hybrid between Lobelia syiihilitica and L. car- 

 diiiidis. I never saw the like of it before. — \sa Gray. 



Mistletoe Parasitic on Itself. — The Mistletoe (Plwradeiidronflavesreiift) abounds 

 in Florida, where it may be found on nearly every kind of tree. We know of one 

 plant of it growing on a low P mints Chicasa, only eight feet from the ground; but it 

 attains its greatest development on the lofty branches of old oaks, where a single jjlant 

 frequently attains the size of a hogshead. Having a tine oak which had become over- 

 run by tins parasite to an extent wliicli endangered the life of the tree, we recently had 

 the mistletoe cut ott. It would have required a hay-rack to carry it away at one load, 

 for it equalled in amount the natural foliage of the tree. The fertile and sterile plants 

 were about equal in number, size and color, but all were more flavescent than those 

 growing on less burdened trees. AVe were not before aware that any plant ever grew 

 on another of its own species, but here we found two instances of this phenomenon. 

 In one case a stamiuate plant grew on a stamiuate, and in the other a pistillate on a 

 stamiuate. In both cases the dou1)le parasiti-sm was ])roved by the fact that the second- 

 ary plants sjn-ung from internodes, and in the last the proof was rendered doubly strong 

 by the dia^cious character of the plant. 



It would be interesting to know how the mistletoe compares in northern and south- 

 ern latitudes as to germination and maturing of fruit. In Florida both arc about sim- 

 ultaneous, but in the Northern Slates it would seem that an interval of several months 

 must intervene. If so, there must be a much greater waste of seed, and probably the 

 seed finds secure lodgment and germinates mainly on rough-barked trees. The distri- 

 bution of the mistletoe must be eftected mainly through the agenc}' of birds, and yet it 

 seems almost impossible that so soft a berry can pass tlu'ough the digestive system with- 

 out losing its vitality At any rate tlie special adaptation of the fruit is for ready adhe- 

 sion to external objects. Even to planed boards it adheres with almost the tenacity of 

 glue. In this lattitude the berries of the mistletoe are too green at Christmas to be of 

 interest for decoration except from association. Towards the close of winter the pulp 

 becomes thin and gelatinous, and the germ begins to grow and turn green within 

 its nourishing and translucent envelope. In lliis condition the berries are readily 

 beaten oil by the spi'iug rains and winds on to other Ijranches, when the germs, already 

 highly developed, quickly pierce through the bark to the nourishing sli'eams of sap 

 flowing beneath. 



It would seem that the mistletoe, being green throughout, was specially adapted for 

 the elaboration of sap, and tliat it ought to assist the tree in this office, if for no other 

 reason than to maintain the health of the latter. Such services are sometimes perfoi'med 

 by animal parasites, but common observation goes lo show that vegetable parasites take 

 only and give nothing. Tliat this is true of tlie mistletoe is indicated by the fact that 

 the portion of the branch beyond its insertion frecpiently dies, when the remaining por- 

 tion ceases to grow. In such cases, the mistletoe will continue to grow until its diame. 



