Miscellaneous. 341 



that the aquatic plants have the most extended area. Setting 

 books aside, I have been able to follow this species from station to 

 station, by means of the authentic specimens deposited in the her- 

 baria, in Asia, Oceania, Africa, and America. In Africa it extends 

 without interruption from Bone (in Algeria) to the Cape of Good 

 Hope, over 61 degrees of latitude, and in longitude from the mouths 

 of the Senegal to the islands of Mauritius and' Reunion — that is to 

 say, over 73 degrees. In Asia I have myself collected this plant in 

 the marshes of Alexandretta in Syria, and it may be traced into 

 India as far as Ceylon, and across the archipelago of the Philippines 

 and the Sunda Islands as far as the south of Australia. This area 

 includes 112 degrees of longitude and 73 degrees of latitude. In 

 America the extreme points are, in the north Kentucky, and in the 

 south the Rio de la Plata, giving 72 degrees ; and from east to west 

 Mexico and Bahia, or GO degrees of longitude. 



Thus JussicBa repens occupies a broad band passing all round the 

 globe, of which the two extreme borders parallel to the equator, in 

 the northern and southern hemispheres, are distant each 35 degrees 

 from the equinoctial line. 



Further investigations pursued in the same spirit will probably 

 show that this example is not isolated ; and already M. Ernest Cos- 

 son* has indicated an aquatic grass, Leersia hexandra, Swartz, the 

 geographical extension of which is not less, and its botanical syno- 

 nymy equally complicated. — Comptes Rendus, 9th July, 1866, 

 pp. 39-41. 



Note on a Regular Dimerous Flower of Cypripedium candidum. 

 By Asa Gray. 



Mr. J. A. Paine, junr., of New York, who two years ago de- 

 tected an interesting monstrosity of Pogonia ophioglossoides, has 

 now brought to me, preserved in spirit, a monstrous blossom of 

 Cypripedium candidum, which demands a record. 



The plant bears two flowers : the axillary one is normal ; the 

 terminal one exhibits the following peculiarities. The lower part of 

 the bract forms a sheath which encloses the ovary. The labellum 

 is wanting ; and there are two sterile stamens, the supernumerary 

 one being opposite the other, i. e. on the side of the style where the 

 labellum belongs. Accordingly the first impression would be that 

 the labellum is here transformed into a sterile stamen. The latter, 

 however, agrees with the normal sterile stamen in its insertion as 

 well as in shape, being equally adnate to the base of the style. 

 Moreover the anteposed sepal is exactly like the other, has a good 

 midrib and an entire point. As the two sterile stamens are ante- 

 posed to the two sepals, so are the two fertile stamens to the two 

 petals, and the latter are adnate to the style a little higher than the 

 former. The style is longer than usual, is straight and erect ; the 

 broad, disciform stigma therefore faces upwards ; it is oval and 

 symmetrical, and a light groove across its middle shows it to be 

 • Flore Algerienne, 4to, t. i. p. 18. 



