1892. | Briefer Articles. 421 
seeds, and there have been already matured or on the road to maturity 
e372 seed vessels, with 11,160 seeds. How many of these would get 
_ through the long chapter of accidents and produce flowering plants 
next year? I venture to say not a hundred—possibly not ten. What 
chance has an “occasional cross” to benefit the race in a scheme like 
: that proposed? 
And then we find that those which get more than an “occasional 
: _ cross” do not get along any better for it. Take Mr. Robertson’s illus- 
_ trations again. Gaura biennis I believe to be more dependent on insect 
aid than he himself has discovered, though none of those he names 
have any hand whatever in it, while its close ally Gaura parviflora 
is just as absolute a self fertilizer. And if CEnothera fruticosa is 
_ $0 arranged that self-pollination is impossible—a fact of which I am 
: by no means sure—how about its neighbor nothera biennts, which is 
_ one of the closest self-fertilizers in the whole family, and yet has made 
its way not only all over the American continent, but has invaded the 
old world as well! 
_ I repeat, where does the physiological advantage of the “occasional 
cross” come in?—THomas MEEHAN, Germantown, Philadelphia. 
Sullivantia Hapemani—tIn the November GAZETTE (p. 348), owing 
to undue haste in printing, this species appeared as a Heuchera. The 
_ Oversight was unfortunate, but it is to be hoped that the correction 
can overtake the blunder. It is a matter of some interest to discover 
in our flora a third species of Swd/vanta, and that, too, with range In- 
termediate between that of the other two. S. Ohionis of the north — 
central states (Ohio to Iowa and Minnesota) has always: been OOF 
sidered a rare and interesting plant; and 5S. Oregana of the Willa- 
Mette and Columbia Rivers still more so. This third species, from 
the Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming, well preserves the Senne Th 
arance, and would be recognized at a glance by those familiar with 
€ obovate, entire, and brown at base; = ait 
essed at the partition. The species somewhat resembles 5S. ee 
but its lower habit, smaller and deeply cut leaves (the lobes pape 
dentate), green and 3-nerved calyx-lobes, much broader obovate La 
lanceolate acutish) petals, and its broad and depressed pod make 
ty distinct.—Joun M. Cou.rer, Bloomington, at 
: Vol. XVII.— No. 12. 
