BOTANY. 319 



and the Oospora form is met with toward the end of the summer. The 

 author states that this method of development will be found to occur 

 frequently among lower organisms and that it will apply to a great 

 number of plants and lower animals. 



The micro-organisms of the Leguminosae are in many cases patho- 

 genic to certain animals. 



Notes on the salt-marsh plants of northern Kansas, J. H. 

 SCHAFFNER (Bot. Gaz., 25 {1898), No. 4, pp. 255-260).— The author 

 reports upon studies of the vegetation of the salt marshes and springs, 

 which are said to be quite common in central Kansas. The particular 

 region reported upon was visited in August, 1807, and consists of a 

 marsh about 7 miles long, which varies from a quarter of a mile to a 

 mile in width. The conditions in the vicinity of this marsh are said 

 to be quite natural, no cultivation having been attempted near it. 

 Another region was visited the same season and some notes relative to 

 the flora of this marsh are appended. 



The author's summary relative to the flora of these salt marshes is as 

 follows : 



" (1) The salt marshes of northern Kansas are characterized by large areas abso- 

 lutely destitute of vegetation ; by the paucity of species around their margins: and 

 by the entire absence of all woody plants. 



" (2) The vegetation of the streams flowing through them consists of diatoms and 

 the three sedges, Scirpus pungens, S. campestris, and S. lacustris. 



" (3) The three characteristic plants in and about the barren portion are Distichlis 

 maritima, Polygonum ramosissimum, and Suceda diffusa, of which the Smeda is by far 

 the least abundant. 



" (4) The plants which may be regarded as successful invaders are the following: 

 Ira ciliata, Sporobolus heterolepis, S. texanus, Atriplex expansa, Asia- multiflorus, 

 Ambrosia psilostachya, and Hordeum jubatum. Sporooolus texanus has never been 

 reported, I believe, beyond the southern part of Kansas. Its abundance in the 

 northern tier of counties of Kansas extends its northern limit nearly 200 miles. 



"(5) Among the less successful invaders which are quite common are the follow- 

 ing: Panieum crus-galli, V. virgatum, Euphorbia marginata, E. glyptosperma, Chenopo- 

 dium hybridum, Polygonum persicaria, I'. hydropiper, Amarantus chlorostachys, Datura 

 stramonium, Solatium rostratum, Xanthium strumarium, Helianthus annuus, Oenothera 

 biennis, Gaura parviflora, Elymus virginicus, and Spartina cynosuroides." 



Investigations on the root development of some forage plants, 

 C. C. Georgeson and J. E. Payne (Kansas Sta. Bui. 75, pp. 212-222, 

 2)ls. 6). — The various plants whose root systems were investigated were 

 the black-eye cowpea, soy bean, Canada field pea, peanut, alfalfa, com- 

 mon millet, Hungarian millet, German millet, African millet, sorghum, 

 pearl millet, Jerusalem corn, white and yellow millo maize, red and 

 white Kafir corn, brown durra, several varieties of field corn, oats, 

 grasses, and sunflower. The soil was dug and washed away from the 

 roots, and their lateral and vertical penetration was measured. The 

 distribution of the roots in the soil as ascertained by the investigation 

 is indicated in the plates in such way as to show the relative root and 

 top development. The widest lateral penetration of any of these roots 



