102 JOURNAL OF THE [April, 



The flowers are in a recurved panicle, not unlike the graceful 

 spray of an ostrich plume. 



An abundant species is the S. lanceolata, whose flowers are 

 borne in scattered corymbs, or flattish topped clusters, some- 

 thing in the manner of the Wild Carrot, which habit is in strik- 

 ing contrast with the Golden-rods generally. This pollen 

 makes a narrower ellipse than the one just mentioned, the two 

 diameters being t^Vu and t^Vu inch respectively. 



S. squarrosa is less common than the other two species. The 

 flowers are more conspicuous, and arranged in a showy wand, or 

 sceptre-like spike. Its pollen measures sio by roVtr inch, hence 

 it is larger than that of S. altisstma. 



And exceedingly interesting is the end view, since it shows a 

 tripartite disposition, being as it were depressed at three points. 

 Now these depressions are simply the terminations of three 

 longitudinal canals on the sides. The end view is shown in 

 Fig. 2 ; and Fig. 3 shows one of the longitudinal grooves. I 

 find these marks much fainter in S. alHssima, and barely dis- 

 cern able in S. lanceolata. 



We have now noticed three points which are pertinent to the 

 discussion, as will appear, namely : the minuteness of these 

 pollen-grains, their spiny armature, and the naked grooving at 

 the surface. 



I. — The first effect noticeable of pollen then is due to its 

 presence in the air as an impurity. The granules are taken in 

 at breathing, as a foreign element. Except that it is more 

 pungent, their action is in common with that of other impurities 

 — namely suffocating. Advanced Hay-Fever is always more or 

 less asthmatic, and impurities in the air will cause spasms, and 

 in some instances even the odor of domestic animals will bring 

 this about. 



2. — But pollen, taken into the respiratory tubes, is a mechani- 

 cal irritant. In severe Hay-Fever all the air-passages are in a 

 state of inflammation. The starting spot is in the vicinity of 

 the nares. At first the patient does not dislike the tickling of 

 the pungent grains of titillating dust. But it very soon becomes 

 serious, and nature summons all the sternutatory forces to eject 

 the intruders. So violent does this sternutation become, and so 

 long continuous, that the blood is started from the nostrils. The 



