NOTES ON DARBYA AND BUCKLEYA. 
(a 4 
W. W. ASHE. 
The limited and localized distribution of Darbya and 
Buckleyva, two genera of southern Appalachian plants 
(Darbya a monotypic genus and ABuck/eya with one Jap- 
anese species and the east American plant which is uuder 
consideration) has frequently since their discovery been a 
subject of comment among American botanists. Among 
the chief factors which have limited their distribution, as 
Professor Sargent’ has pointed out in the case of Auck- 
feya, are the tact that the sexes are confined to diff-rent 
plants, and the rapid degeneration of the oily albumen 
surrounding the embryo: the first being an obstacle to the 
formation of seed; and the latter injuring or destroying 
the germinating powers of the seed unless they early 
reach a suitable place for sprouting. Both thus check 
the increase of new plants. 
Another fact which has apparently been overlooked in 
connection with these plants and which is probably also 
in a large measure accountabie for their localized distri- 
bution, is that no efficient means is provided for seed-dis- 
semination. <All animals that I have tried with the seed 
reject them; in regard to birds I cannot speak. The 
heavy fleshy seed have evidently been developed to sprout 
and grow near the parent plants. The seed of Buckleya, 
it is true, since it is found only along and near streams, 
are apt to be transported by the stream. ‘This 1s evi- 
dently the case with Backleva along the French Broad 
and Pigeon rivers. Kearney’ records it as growing at an 
elevation of 30m above the river on the side of a wooded 
1Gard. and Forest 3: 236. 
» 
Bil; “Tor, Bot, ‘Cl, 21.56%. 
