BOTANICAL GAZET7E. 23 



tian indicates, however, that from this epoch vegetables existed in 

 gre it abundance." 



"Many of these primordial plants are undeniably linked with more 

 modern types, of which they bear the generic form, and prove that 

 this primordial flora is not really separated from that which followed 

 it. We can even affirm that certam Silurian algas have had a duration 

 so prodigious and a tenacity of character so pronounced that their last 

 direct descendants were living in the European seas in the middle of 

 Tertinry time." 



"With the Devonian tilings changed. The bad state of preservation 

 of fossil vegetables belonging to this formation has not permitted us 

 to study them perfectly ; but, from the aspect of those which we pos- 

 sess, we conclude that at this epoch the vegetable kingdom was al- 

 ready vigorous and varied, and that nature while in its infancy put 

 forth the carboniferous flora, the almost inconceivable exuberance of 

 which has never since I:)een equalled." "The plants of this flora be- 

 long exclusively to the two classes of vascular cryptogams and gymno- 

 spermous phanerogams." "The Permian flora, which succeeded the 

 Carboniferous, is only a pale reflection of it." "Saporta says of the 

 Trias, which commences' the Secondary or mesophytic period,' that 

 "it appears to correspond to one of those periods of revival where 

 the failing types finally disappear, while those which displace; them 

 are successfully introduced. The first leave chasms because they are 

 reduced to a decreasing number of individuals ; the last are yet ob- 

 scure and rare. Both old and young are equally feeble, and, when 

 these two extremes meet, the apparel of nature seems poor and monot- 

 onous." At the beginning of the Jurassic period a transformation is 

 already manifest, and we soon find ourselves in the presence of a new 

 flora, where the carboniferous types have disappeared, but where, ex- 

 cept some rare monocotyledons, the angiosperms are still wanting. 

 From Spitzbergen to Hindostan, from Europe to Siberia, everywhere 

 the same vegetable forms, so that the character of the Jurassic flora is 

 monotonous, lifeless, and relatively indigent." "We know not under 

 the influence of what conditions organic evolution, and especially the 

 apjiearance of dicotyledons, has taken place; but we do know that 

 from the commencement of the neophytic period, these plaints appear 

 in a multitude of places and multiply with great rapidity." "This 

 revolution," says Saporta, "has been as rapid in its progress as univer- 

 sal in its effects." 



Notes ON Fungi. — In printing Miss Banning's pajier in the Jan- 

 uary G.\ZETTE some mistakes were made which should be corrected. 

 In the description of i?. ^W(?//m' (p. 7) read "rose-color" instead of 

 "sage-color." R. ahitacea (p. 7) has "buff colored" spores instead ot 

 "half-colored." In A. rubescens (p. 6) from Eastern Maryland the 

 spores measure .0003 x. 00032 inch; small plant from Western Mary- 

 land .0003 x. 00026 inch. 



Catalpa speciosa, Warder. — On page 3 of the January (Gazette 

 "3^-4 times" should read "3;-<^-4 lines." The d;Ue of Dr. Warder's 



