336 Miscellaneous. 



entered Into the flora of similar localities in Western Europe, or 

 else of species so closely allied that only critical examination would 

 show the distinction. Tlie jjlaut which gave the greatest brilliancy, 

 chiefly on account of its numerical i)roportions, was Salicorniu her- 

 bacea, the same plant which abounds along European shores. To 

 the rich rosy red oi i\i\s ?,\iQ<i\eii Salicoynia macronata (of Bigelow, 

 S. vhyiiiica of most authors) added a rosy brown. Although this 

 species is American, there are forms of S. lierhacea on the English 

 coast which approach it. The third species is S. (onbir/va of 

 Michaux, a perennial species and the analogue of the British S. 

 radicans. This one never changes its bright green colour till 

 severe frost destroys it. The livelj' green very much enlivens the 

 brilliancy of the orange, red, and brown in the other marsh-plants. 

 The species preciselj' the same with those of England which gave 

 colour to the marshes, besides these Salicornias, wore SalsoJa Kali, 

 Siueda maritima, Atriplex patula, Polyiionum maritimum, S^^artina 

 striita, Spart'nia juncea, and Ammophila arenaria — the three last, 

 grasses which add much by their light browns to the richness of the 

 whole. Statke Jimoiiium, by its faded blue-grey tint, gave a pecu- 

 liar element to the colour. Aster Jle.vvosus, closely related to Aster 

 trifoliuvi of European marshes, furnished a tint of jairple-gieen. 

 So far as could be observed of the many other species of jdants 

 which might be collected, these were the only ones giving character 

 to the beautifully coloured picture tlie marshes presented at this time. 



The most interesting inquiry here presents itself — Why should 

 plaiits common in the main to both continents, colour so much 

 more brightly in America than in Europe? We are reminded 

 that what we see here in these marsh-plants does not hold good 

 with close allies in other species. Among trees and shrubs there 

 are some peculiar to each countrj", but closely allied, in which all 

 the American allies colour, while the European rarely do. He 

 named on the American side, Bctida popuhfoJia, Fraxlnussamhitci- 

 foJia, QuerCHS alb((, Cratar/us cordata, Ulmiis americana, Alnv.s 

 semdata, Castanea americana, as against Betida alba, Fraxhms 

 excelsior, Qaercus 7'ohur, Cratceijus oxyacantlia, Ulmus campestris, 

 Ahius glutinosa, and Castanea vesca. The whole American line had 

 autumn colouring, of which the parallel European line was wholly 

 destitute. These trees did not lose this characteristic by removal to the 

 other continent. In America there were many of the European- species 

 five or ten generations from seed ; and yet these last generations 

 showed no more disposition to embrace the colour-characteristics of 

 their American cousins than did the first progenitor brought from 

 abroad. We were so accustomed lo associate our bright clear 

 autumn skies with the colour of our autumn foliage, that facts lilre 

 these stagger us. Why should several generations of these European 

 trees resist our climatal influences ? But w^e have to remember that 

 the colouring of fruits and foliage is not wholly the result of 

 chemical ])ower ; what for want of a better name we know as vital 

 power, claims a share. 



Some apples have colour on the sunny side, while the rosy cheek 

 never appears on those of the same variety hidden by the foliage ; 



