i8o > The Botanical Gazette. [J une ' 



quarter of an inch long, and the well formed cotyledons had already 

 separated, showing the plumule which had just begun to expand. 

 What is to be noted as curious in this case, is the fact that the seed 

 had germinated in the intact fruit, and the cotyledons and plumule 

 were dark-green in color. Normal germination of seeds under such 

 circumstances is so rare that one naturally is lead to suspect that some 

 mischievous person had inserted a germinating seed into the fruit 

 after it had been cut open. This possibility is excluded by the posi- 

 tive statement of Prof. Briggs, that the fruit was brought to his table 

 perfectly intact, that he saw it cut open, and at once noticed the green 

 seedling which was in the center of the fruit, just where the cut was 

 made, and escaped injury except that a small part of one of the coty- 

 ledons was cut away by the knife. The testimony is so positive that 

 suspicion of deception is excluded, and we must believe that the seed 

 actually germinated and bore green cotyledons and plumule while en- 

 closed in the sound fruit.— W. G. Far low, Cambridge, Mass. 



Coursetia axillaris, n. sp. — Shrub or small tree (?), the younger parts 

 pubescent : leaves small, odd-pinnate; leaflets 3 to 5 pairs, reticulated, 

 almost glabrous above, somewhat pubescent below (as is also the 

 rhachis), 3 to 8 mm. long, obtuse, the lower pair orbicular, the upper 

 pairs obovate : flowers axillary, on peduncles 4 to 10 mm. long : calyx 

 pubescent, 4 mm. long, with 5 broad equal teeth (the 2 upper ones 

 high connate): petals about equal in length; vexillum very broad (12 

 mm.) and reflexed; wings oblong: vexillary stamen free; the others 

 equal: style slender, very hairy above the middle: ovary 2 to 8-seeded: 

 pod 2-valved, glabrous, 3.5 cm. long, with lobed margins and on a 

 broad stipe.— San Diego, Texas, April, 1891, (G. C Nealley, 16). This 

 plant is interesting as being an intermediate form between two closely 

 related genera, Coursetia and Sabinea. While the general characters 

 are those of Coursetia, the inflorescence is that of Sabinea. In habit 

 and pods it is nearest C. glandulosa of Arizona and Mexico.— John 

 M. Coulter, Crawfordsville, Ind. 



EDITORIAL. 



A movement has begun in Indiana, which may lead to good results. 

 A teacher's "reading-circle" has been organized for some years, con 



taining, it is claimed, 30,000 members. Different subjects are selected 



each year, and an executive committee directs the proper books to be 

 read. It has been found very profitable to publishers to secure the 



