1889.] 



BOTANICAL GAZETTE 



-59 



On the assumption of floral characters by axial growths i)i 

 Andromeda Catesbcei, by Thomas Meehan. 



This species has been considered dioecious. What has 

 been taken as a flower (a) with abortive sta- 

 mens in the sterile plant is shown by com- 

 parison with the corresponding parts of a 

 fertile flower (b), to be only the pedicel with 

 petaloid bracts at its base. 



*» 



ifit 



*f 



illus- 



On the sip" 

 irated by Pycn 



HAN. 



The author observed that plants of P. 

 muticum, with apparently perfect flowers, 

 produced no seeds, while plants growing near 

 P. lanceolatum, evidently without stamens, 

 were well provided with seeds. As no other plants of these 

 species grew in the vicinitv, it seems to be a case of hybrid- 



a 



b 



Floral parts of An- 

 dromeda Cat< ;<i. 



ism. This was used to illustrate the author's belief that hy- 

 bridism is not a factor in evolution, but a conservative force 

 in herecity, and that dioecism does not favor the evolution ol 

 forms, but acts as the handmaid of heredity, to bring buck 

 toward the normal condition forms that have wandered. 



Some physiological traits of the solid-stemmed grasses and 

 especially of Indian com. bv F. L. Stewart. 



The author had ascertained by several seasons' experi- 

 ments that when corn has the ears removed at the time tli< 

 kernels are hardening, that the life of the plants is greatly 

 prolonged, and the sugar in the stock much increased. M he 

 economic bearing of this fact was indicated. 



On the genus Eleocharis in America, by X. L. Britton 

 There are about forty North American species, of which 



thirtv-six belong to the "United States. E. pygma>a and b. 



pauciflora are excluded from the genus. Xo new species are 



made. 



On the tropical distribution of 



Britton. 



The abundance of species in different genera in the neu 

 and old worlds were compared, and also to some extent their 

 boreal and austral distribution. 



the flora of New Jersey 



L. 



Giving 



some 



account of the collection of data for the 



vjivmg some ulluuiu \jv **«- ^^** - 



compilation of the final report on the flora ot the state, which 



is soon to be issued. 



