118 BOTANICAL GAZETTF. [ May, 
greenhouse (March 6th) he would say “these are all one.” The florist would 
want to keep them separate, and give them separate names, for the rounder one 
is by far the most showy. The forms of the same species open their flowers al- 
most simultaneously. Flowers on different plants will open on almost the same 
day of the month, Then again the numerical order in which they appear in 
the axils of the tubercles is a good specific point. Counting from the upper- 
most tubercle on which the bundle of spines seems fully at ae following 
the spiral down, the flowers will sometimes come from the axil of the second, 
or of the third, the fourth, or the fifth. Sometimes there will : two circles of 
flowers. In this Heyderi and “ forms” there are three circles, from the second, 
third, and fourth 
e point I desire to make in this note is that cacti are not only hard to 
determine, but harder than we have been led to believe them; that in al} 
probability characters that we have depended on as hover lee teta are of less. 
value than has been assumed; and that those who find new “forms” should 
hesitate considerably before sade science with a heavy burden of synonyms. 
s one special lesson of interest from the study of these two forms of 
Mammillaria. Everyone knows that the fronds or joints in Opuntia are not 
always of uniform shape on the same plant. One generally with an almost 
athe acer section will sometimes have sections much elongated. I have noted 
n Opuntia Rafinesquii, that when the frond is elongated, the ovarium is 
Se tied ‘isa the petals are more slender. Elongation goes through the whole 
morphological course. This experience is repeated here; the more elongated 
plant has longer and more slender sepals and petals, and longer and more slen- 
der stigma-lobes. THomMas MEEHAN. 
EDITORIAL. 
Ir 1s TIME for botanists to be looking forward to their meeting at Buffalo 
next August. Those who were present at Ann Arbor can bear testimony that 
they spent a ‘delightful time together, that they timulated in their work, 
and that the year that has elapsed since has felt the constant influence. The 
personal friendships formed at such a time are not only pleasant to remember, 
but exceedingly profitable. As Buffalo is more centrally located, and as there 
are many botanical reminiscences connected with it, we expect even a larger at- 
tendance than at Ann Arbor. The Botanical Club has grown into a very vig- 
orous life, not so much on account of its organization, for it has none, but on 
account of its informality, the strong bond holding it well together being 3 
community of sentiment. As many botanists will come to Buffalo with the 
warm feelings aroused by the companionship of the last few years, and as there 
is an active local botanicai society, we may all expect.a week of great enjoy- 
ment and profit. Arrangements will be made for meetings and excursions, and 
abundant opportunity given for talks in the herbarium and in the field. We 
bespeak thus early a large attendance, that plans for the summer may be made 
to include a week at Buffalo, beginning August 18. One feature ot the Club 
meetings can be spoken of now. The June Gazerre will be an herbarium 
