1888, ] BOTANICAL GAZETTE, 271 
greatly surprised at some of the things we did find. On the 
very crest of Whiteside, in the dry soil, were no less than four 
species of Orchids, all of them found in the swamps of the — 
lowest parts of the state visited. This was not an unusual 
case, for it became an object of common remark among us 
that distinctions of habitat fail here. Most of the plants 
seem to be found indifferently on the mountain tops and in 
the valleys, on dry slopes or in the swamps. 
_._ The effect of altitude on the time of blossoming of some 
of our common plants was clearly seen. We often found 
so far south, 
Evanston, I11. 
BRIEFER ARTICLES. 
New variety of Asclepias tuberosa.—Asclepias tuberosa is one of the 
Well marked species of the genus, with its hairy stem (destitute of a only 
ice), scattered leaves and orange-colored flowers. Only one variety, 
decambens, is given in Gray’s Synoptical Flora. A form different from 
this, and one which seems to be well entitled toa varietal name, has been 
inmy herbarium for some years, and I now wish to characterize It as a 
new variety, 
Asclepias tuberosa, var. flecuosa. Stem flexudus: leaves sub-opposite, : 
‘pair at each node: the flexuous stem is caused by a peculiar curvature: 
of the internodes.-Cumberland mountains, Tennessee. Miss M. Mohr.— 
JosnrH F. Jaws, Oxford, Ohio. 
4 strange little ticking sound which might be compared with = nee 
tate by the little beetles often found in old furniture, known as “ death- 
Watch beetles,” Upon examination, it was found that the ripe capsules 
oe bursting open and scattering their seeds in all directions. is ii 
MGS are not two lines long, yet the explosive power of their elastic V oe 
~ st@at as to throw the seeds fully three feet away. Many oh them 
"98 Capsules Were watched, and the average distance seeds Te pal 
ead two feet, sometimes a little less and often a good deal more— 
oa ANDERgon, Great Falls, Mont. 
