998 



AMERICAN FORESTRY 



plants. Some of 

 these movements 

 are wonderfully 

 c o m p 1 ex, and 

 must conse- 

 quently mean a 

 great deal to the 

 plant possessing 

 them. In this 

 wild lupine the 

 leaves fold them- 

 selves about the 

 stem below, par- 

 asol fashion ; or 

 the reverse 

 movement may 

 take place, the 

 1 e a flets extend- 

 ing upwards to 

 close up and in 

 line with the 

 stem that sup- 

 ports them. A 

 number of ex- 

 planations have 

 been put forth 

 making for a 

 solution of these 

 phenomena; but 

 the subject is too 

 extensive a one 

 to take up in the 

 present connec- 

 tion. It is brimful of interest, nevertheless, and deserves 

 to be carefully and exhaustively studied. 



As a matter of fact, the study of the morphology of 

 flowering plants and their physiology is one of the most 

 fascinating lines of research in all nature. When one 

 comes to think of it, the opening and closing of such 

 flowers as our common morning-glories and allied Con- 

 volvulaceae is an extraordinary phenomenon. That it 

 should take place only at night or on very dark days is a 



Fig. 4. FULLY RIPE FRUIT OF THE MAY- 

 APPLE OR MANDRAKE (Podophyllum pelta- 



turn)'. 



Observe how the fruit stems spring from the 

 point of the parting of the bases of the leaf- 

 stems. The leaves themselves are of an elegant 

 green, and the fruit is a rich yellow. 



most interesting fact ; and that the movement in closing 

 is always in the same direction is another point worthy 

 of close study. What is the necessity for the closing up 

 of the leaves of sensitive plants and trees upon slight pres- 

 sure from one's fingers, and then opening again in a little 

 while? Why should the species referred to present such 

 a remarkable habit, while it is seen to be entirely lack- 

 ing in others? 

 Grafting and its 

 results still hold 

 many a secret 

 not yet revealed 

 to science, and 

 the same is true 

 of cross- fertili- 

 zation. Indeed 

 there is abso- 

 lutely no end to 

 the list of secrets 

 still to be dis- 

 covered through 

 r e s e a rches in 

 structural and 

 physio logical 

 botany, by those 

 who devote their 

 time and minds 

 to problems of 

 this nature. 

 Much research 

 work of this 

 class has already 

 been done ; and 

 doubtless, when 

 the temporary 

 checks caused by 

 the war shall 

 have ceased to 

 exist, a great 

 deal more will 

 be undertaken. 



Fig. 6. A SINGLE SPIKE OR RACEME OF 

 THE LUPINE IS ONE OF THE GLORIES OF 

 THE PLANT WORLD DURING THE EARLY 

 SUMMER MONTHS, IN THE REGIONS 

 WHERE IT FLOURISHES 



Lupine derives its name from the Latin of wolf, 

 lupus, for the reason that superstitious people 

 believe that the plant exercises its power to 

 devour the soil's fertility. 



NOTES ON THE AMERICAN SNAPPING TURTLE 



To one who has paid any attention at all to our fresh- 

 water turtles, surely the common Snapping Turtle is no 

 stranger. Two species of it is represented in the reptilian 

 fauna of this country, and both belong in the family 

 Chelydridae. Of these two forms the smaller occurs, in 

 suitable localities, all over the eastern parts of the United 

 States, and westward to the Rocky Mountains. South- 

 ward it ranges into South America, and may be found 

 in many parts of Mexico and Central America, in which 

 latter countries there is still another species which is not 

 found within our borders. In other words, there are 

 three North American species, or two in the genus 

 Chelydra, and the big fellow known as the Alligator 

 Snapping Turtle, which is the sole representative of the 

 genus Macrochelys. These animals are the largest of our 



chelonian species, especially the last-named, specimens of 

 which have been taken that have weighed upwards of 

 140 pounds, or more. These are confined to the southern 

 parts of the United States, in the sluggish rivers and 

 swamps (M. lacertina), while our common snapping 

 turtle, although very much smaller than the Alligator 

 snapper, is considerably larger than any other United 

 States chelonian ; in fact, they are as pygmy and giant as 

 compared with each other. 



The present brief sketch will be devoted to our com- 

 mon Snapping Turtle, the scientific name for which is 

 Chelydra serpentina. Captive specimens of this species 

 have been in my possession many times, young as well 

 as adults at various ages. Moreover, it has been studied 

 in nature from one end of the country to the other ; and 



