BOTANICAL GAZETTE. 49 
the most dissimilar forms. No two of them are alike. What has environment 
to do in the case? And persimmons are often seedless in this part of the wor 
seldom, indeed, having their full complement of seeds. If I examine wild 
plants closely, I find few which do not vary in some respects from their neigh- 
rs of the same species. Either there is some ambiguity about the the terms 
“variation” and “environment,” or Dr. Sturtevant’s proposition that “variation 
is an indication of changed environment,” needs revision—THomas MEEHAN. 
Notule Californice.—Chrysanthemum Leucanthemum, L, is mentioned in 
the Botany of California as occurring at Santa Cruz, in fields, and is remarked 
upon as not likely to become the troublesome weed here which it has so long 
been in the Atlantic States. Being a perennial, its tronblesome spreading is 
such as timothy, clover, te: where the hive weal. finds time and place 
to thrive, are here unknown. However, among the middle ranges of the Sierra 
there are not wanting considerable tracts of perennial oman and in this re- 
gion of the State the white weed may possibly prove troublesom 
In Nevada county, not far from Grass Valley, I ues in J aly last, abund- 
ance of it. It appeared to grow luxuriantly, not only in the moist meadow 
lands of the valleys, but was also well established on ‘a dry hilleides, under 
the partial shade of the scattered pines. It was a surprising thing to behold 
the veritable ox-eye daisy making itself perfectly at home in the society of the 
Eriogonums and the Hemizonias, and blooming with them in the midst of the 
summer drought. 
Convolvulus sepium, L., new to California, has been found by the _— ome 
ing the past season, growing in great abundance in the brackish marshes 
Suisun Bay, and also in similar situations near the town of Napa. It ratte 
ee rather unlike the eastern pa having a narrower and paler foliage, and being 
slightly pubescent. Its roots are within reach of tide-water in both localities, 
and its stems, pions a height of not more than two or three feet, support 
themselves on the weeds and rushes, among the masses of which it grows. The 
- corollas are ste rie rge and deeply tinged with rose 
ae Typha angustifolia, L., thus far reported only trow the south part of the 
- State, is much more abundant in the marshes about Suisun'than is the com- 
-Moner species. Its leaves and stems here often attain the height of ten or 
twelve feet.—Epw. L. Greene, Berkeley, California 
The Anomalous Cobwa.—I = re to inquire whether the anomaly of 
le seedling Cobiea, given on page 12, may not be differently interpreted. Ma 
_hot the notched leaf be formed of the two cotyledons, united and turned to one 
‘side, and | the pinnate 0% be the leaf of the next node, the internode between 
as undeveloped 2 2—A. GRAY. 
 Heliotro pism in Sun-flowers.—It is well understood, I believe, that re 
slower doe not turn with the sun, and that the poetical associations of t 
