232 — The Botanical Gazette. [May, 
Schroeter was much beloved, and greatly appreciated for his high 
attainments by those who knew him best. To the scientific world his 
loss is well nigh irreparable.—J. C. A. 
Collinsia bicolor.—While studying the genus Collinsia with refer- 
ence to future revision, certain peculiarities of structure in the flower of 
C. bicolor have come to light which seem to be of sufficient significance 
to merit some mention in the GAZETTE. 
At the point where the upper pair of stamens become free from the 
corolla, the wings of the filaments turn into the sac of the corolla, 
After continuing attached to the corolla by one edge for a little way 
they end in free tips which are somewhat bearded. These tips point 
out into the sac so that they almost meet over the rudimentary fifth 
stamen or gland at the base of the sac. 
The conclusion arrived at after careful study of the question was 
that their function is to guard the nectar gland. The utility of sucha 
device can readily be seen. The four stamens are declined toward 
the lower lip of the corolla and clasped by its middle lobe; so that 
the insect must enter by this path in order to reach the pollen. But 
the throat is so large and with such a wide opening that the insect 
could easily enter and reach the gland without coming in contact with 
the pollen, were it not for these guards, which effectually bar this road 
to the nectar. 
The same phenomenon has been observed in milder form in C\/ran- 
ciscana. Both species are easily distinguished from all others by this 
peculiarity.—ALice E. KEEner, Herbarium Lake Forest University. 
