1887. | BOTANICAL GAZETTE. 223 
weed, Champia parvula Harv., and established the interesting fact that 
there are five cells at the apex of the frond, instead of one as is usual in 
other plants. The paper will be published in’ the Proceedings of the 
American Academy. 
Dr. Britton’s paper has already appeared in the August number of 
the Bulletin of the Torrey Club. It dealt with the correspondence of the 
floral and lithological features in certain parts of New Jersey, especially 
the occurrence on the Kittatinny mountains of plants whose ordinary 
habitat is in the sandy soil near the sea-shore. The paper was com- 
mended by Prof. T. C. Porter, who spoke of his own studies in the same 
line, which he hoped to publish after a time. 
In the absence of Prof. Coulter his paper on Umbellifer fruits was 
read by Dr. Beal. The paper did not admit of discussion on account of 
its technical character ; it will be published in this journal. 
Dr. Farlow spoke of the confusion which has arisen regarding the 
apical growth in Fucus, illustrating his remarks with blackboard sketches. 
Investigators have been inclined to think that the growth proceeded from 
more than one apical cell. This was shown to be untrue, and what does 
take place was explained, together with the reasons that led other obsery- 
ers to different views. 
The outline of Dr. Newberry’s remarks on the flora of the Amboy 
Clays was published some time since in the Bulletin of the Torrey Club 
The two papers on the honey plant were read for the authors. The 
plant, Echinops sphzerocephalus, thistle-like in appearance, growing four 
to five feet high, has been discovered to be of more than usual value for 
bees. It is hardy at Buffalo, N.Y. The seeds, about the size and form 
of rye, yield more oil than linseed, being as much as four and a half 
ounces to the pound when crudely expressed. The residue left after re- 
moving the oil is very bitter like quinine, but the active principle has 
not been examined. Samples of the plant and its products were exhib- 
tted. The paper was discussed by Messrs. Morong, Britton, Claypole, and 
Mrs. Wolcott, especially as to the literature of the subject and the possi- 
bility of the plant becoming a troublesome weed if allowed to escape 
from cultivation. 
r. Schrenk’s paper on the minute structure of Brasenia was a long 
and able account of an interesting investigation. It was illustrated by 
8towing plants, sections under the microscope, and enlarged drawings. 
Proterogyny in Datura meteloides.—I have been cultivating this 
Species for ornament, and by accident discovered the peculiar way in 
Which the stigma is in a position in which it may be fertilized before 
the pollen of its own flower is shed. 
As is well known the corolla, in estivation, is plicate-convolute or 
*upervolute, and opens in the evening twilight and begins to close 
and droop shortly after sunrise the following morning. From twenty- 
