31i 



ago, before they had been so much investigated by the European 

 observers. 



Dr. T. F. Allen remarked on his discovery in July, 1 872, of a new 

 species oi Eriogomim allied to E. tomentostim, Michx., near White 

 Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. This has been named E. Alleni 

 by Dr. Sereno Watson, and the description will appear in the 

 addenda to the new edition of Gray's Manual. He wished to 

 emphasize the fact that the plant had been found at the place 

 mentioned, as this had been called in question. 



Professor Schrenk exhibited microscopical preparations of 

 cross sections of the leaves of the Witch Hazel, Hamamelis Vir- 

 ginica, showing peculiar structures called " osteo-sclereid cells," 

 found at the extremities of the fibro-vascular bundles, and situated 

 vertically to the leaf-surfaces, often reaching to the epidermis. 

 He concluded that they are functionally strengthening elements. 

 They are very abundant in the leaves growing In the shade and 

 wanting In those of firmer texture exposed to the sun light. 



W 



Wheelock exhibited a specimen of Crep 



found at Greenwich, Conn., and not reported from that State in 

 Mr. Bishnn'c rnf.i^^..„ 



£s 



J 



Dr. Britton showed a specimen oi Dentzia Mexicana, Hemsley, 

 collected by F. Miiller In Orizava, Mexico, and remarked on its 

 interestmg isolation, all the other known species being of Asiatic 

 distribution. Mr. Hemsley's description states that the fruit Is 

 unknown; this specimen has fruit, which does not differ materi- 

 ally from that of the Asiatic species. 



Dr. Allen remarked on the extremely meagre flora of Block 

 Island, which he had recently visited In search for Characeae. 

 The same two species occur there as on the eastern end of Long 

 Island, however, but the CEnothera fruticosa, var. humifusa of 

 Montauk Point was not observed, but, instead, a very abundant 

 growth of a depressed form of Soiidago nemoralis. 



