﻿214 Proceedings of the Club 



ported finding all four of these forms within one county of central 

 Nebraska on the sandhills, but to the east the broader-leaf only, 



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and in Western Nebraska a narrow-leaf variety only. 



General discussion on the Asclepiadaceae followed, partici- 

 pated in by Prof. Greene, Dr. Britton, Dr. Rusby and others. 

 Miss Vail, in answer to inquiries, indicated the difficulties in the 

 way of regarding the horn in that genus as a midrib. It is very 

 variable, often double, differs in character from the still persistent 

 midrib of the same hood, and in many western species is replaced 

 by a broad triangular lamina. 



Miss Vail described her results when watching plants of 

 Asclepias Cormiti last summer. Bees and many small insects 



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directed themselves at once to the glutinous top of the anther- 

 column. They seemed to neglect the corona, and but little secre- 

 tion was apparent in it, instead of the copious deposits of honey 

 expected. 



Prof. Greene queried if the corona in this family might not 

 prove to be the true corolla, and cited the Malvaceae as similar in 

 adhesion of the corolla to the stamen-tube. He said, I would 

 exclude from Asclepias every species which does not develop a 

 terminal umbel. The only invariable character by which I would 

 distinguish Asclepias and related genera is found in the anther- 

 wing. The first index to a new genus is its aspect. It is the part 

 of the systematic botanist to define, if possible, what the significant 

 elements of this habit or aspect are. Habit is often strongly 

 marked even where clearly accented characters are difficult to find. 

 It is a nice genus which has both habit and clear characters. 



Dr. Britton followed with description and exhibition of a new 

 salt marsh Scirfus, or bulrush, from Connecticut, related to S. 

 robustus of Pursh, but with different inflorescence and achene. 



Dr. Britton also presented specimens of Triostatm angustifolium 

 from Stratford, Conn., its previonsly-known stations northeast of 

 Pennsylvania being only at New Brunswick, N. J., and Glen Cove, 

 L. I. A large supply of roots from Stratford are now planted at 

 the Botanical Garden to exhibit development. 



Wednesday Evening, Februarv 23, 1898. 



This meeting was held in the large lecture hall of the College 



