229 



ca?i/is, \\e indicated two species, N. denndata and .A", foliosa. 

 Bentham regarded the two species eis one, in which he was prob- 

 ably right, the more so as Nuttall says they grow together and 

 perliaps are not distinct; and to the combined species he gave the 

 name of N. Nuttallii, ob\'iousl>- because neither of Nuttall's 

 names was properl}- appHcable to the species as he regarded it. 

 This mode of proceeding has not been rare in similar cases, and 

 in the present instance seems to be quite justified, if not actually 

 demanded, by the rule that false names are inadmissible. 



Note on Sarracenia variolaris.* 



Last March I had in my room, in Gainesville, Florida, a vase 

 full of Sarracenia variolaris (Yellow pitcher plant), and my at- 

 tention was attracted towards one blossom which failed to open 

 all of its petals. Examining it, I found that two of these, opposite 

 each other, clung by their tips to the center of the umbrella- 

 shaped style and were fastened securely there. Using a little 

 force, I tore the tips of the petals off", instead of pulling them 

 assunder as I had expected to do. I then opened the style with 

 a pin and found that the tips of the petals had penetrated the 

 style and had reached nearly or quite to its base. 



After that I examined all the blossoms of 5. variolaris that 

 I could gather, and noticed a considerable number of variations. 

 I saw the first case repeated in one instance, but this time there 

 was only one petal connected with the style. 



The normal number of sepals and petals is five with the 

 margins entire. I found irregularities both in the number and in 

 the shape of these. Often there were notches in the petals, and 

 these were sometimes found in the sepals too. The division was 

 even carried so far that occasionally six petals would be found. 

 There were also irregular notches in the umbrella-shaped top of 

 the style. In several cases the yellow^ petals were marked with 

 delicate reddish lines at the base. Mary F. Peirce. 



/ *CoMMUNiCATED BY Dr. Gr.w.— Oil examination of the style in some of the 

 specimens supplied by Miss Peirce. we find that it is more or less hollow, the tube 

 widening at the orifice. Perhaps there is a viscid secretion, by which the tips of the 

 petals were stuck fast. This should be looked to ne.xt spring, on the living plants. 

 We cannot make out what is meant by the tips of the petals having "penetrated the 

 style." Asa Gray. 



