SS BOTANICAL GAZETTE. 



been lost), and one has germinated. It behaves in the manner 

 anticipated. In view of the curious behavinr in germination of 

 Mcgairhiza and of Ipoma\i Icptophylla, which both agree in lengthening 

 greatly the petioles of the cotyledons, and both have a huge root, it 

 was thought likely that 1. pandumta, which is also huge rooted, would 

 also keep its caulicle short and elevate its cotyledons on long ])eti- 

 oles. And we find that it does so. The germination of the tuber- 

 ous-rooted species of New Mexico and Arizona, also of the Carolin an 

 /. Jalappa, should now be observed. Mr. Darwin, always sagacious, 

 has suggested that the object (;f this peculiarity is to leave the primary 

 bud upon the apex of the huge root well underground, for its greater 

 safety, whether against severe cold < r drought. It will be interesting 

 to know whether all the great-rooted Convolvulaccce have this pecu- 

 liarity. Seedlings of Ipomcva Jalappa, sent by Dr. Mellichamp from 

 South Carolina, appear to present an intermediate condition. 



A good illustration of the truth of the doctrine "'ne nimium 

 crede colori" is supplied by Dr. Charles W. Swan, of Lowell, Mass , 

 who sends us white flowered individuals of Gratiola aitrea, growing 

 in the midst of bright yellow ones; also after a little search, some in 

 termediate ones with pale yellow corolla. 



In my First Lessons, in Structural Botany, etc., I have tiken the 

 embryo of Maples, without discrimination, as a pattern of embryo 

 without a plumule ready-formed. I ought to have known the i-oft 

 White-Maple [Acer dasycai-pu/n), having thick cotyledons, vvell stored 

 with nourishment, ought to have a ready-formed plumu e. If I had 

 thought of it and examined, I should have found it so, and should 

 have used this species as an illustration. Mr. C. S. Deane, of Grun- 

 dy, Iowa, has supplied my omission and called my attention tn the 

 fact. There is a good plumule in ^he seed, like that of the bean. In 

 the books referred to, where Maples in general are mentioned, vSugar 

 Maple and Red Maple are to be understood 



Polygonum cilinode roots at the tip of slender axillary branches, 

 and so pr ipagates freely. This is noted by E. L. Hankenson, of 

 Newark, New York. 



Clcistogamous species of Ileliantheiiiiini were sui)i)osed to exist 

 only in America. Dr Ascherson calls attention to one in Spain 

 and another in Kgypt which were essentially indicated by Linnaeus 

 and by Delile. He particularly confirms the fact, and speaks of a 

 number of other plants which become cleistoga nous in the African 

 desert, where insects are scarce. 



It was Prof. Decaisne, we believe, who long ago ex|)lained that the 

 uncultivability of Rhinanthideous plants (such as Pedieiilaria, Gerardia, 

 etc.) was owing to their parasitism in early life. He has, of late, suc- 

 ceeded in raising them well by sowing the freshly ripened seeds on 

 turf, containing grasses and Leguminous plants. It sh uld be tried 

 with our Gerardias and the pretty Ortlwcarpi of California. — A. 

 Gray. 



Me.sembrianthemum, not Mesemhryanthei)tum. — ^o it is proper- 

 ly written by Jacob Breyne, who made the name, and by Dilleniiis 



