. 
142 The Botanical Gazette. [Apel 
thus presenting a perfect cross-section (fig. 3). The central portion, 
corresponding to the odspore was filled with nearly white silica, while 
the portion that was originally the wall of cellulose surrounding | 
the odspore was bluish in color. The furrows on the fruit (see fig.) 4 
caused by the five enveloping cells of the sporostegium, are separated — 
by rather prominent ridges, but the walls are not marked with dots of ° | 
processes as is so frequently the case. The base (fig. 2) showing the 4 
origin of the five enveloping cells, presents a small five sided orifitt _ 
which answers to the point of attachment. 
Among the 60 or more species that have been described in a fossil 
state, there are several that resemble Chara Stantoni in general ap 
pearance, but when more closely examined it is found that they all 
differ in size or number of cells exposed in side view, and as these ms 
characters of great constancy it serves clearly to distinguish pg 4 
The geological position of this species prove it to be one of Oo | 
oldest yet described. So far as now known the genus Chara had 1 
igin in the Triassic, where it is represented by a single species — 
Jurassic has two species, the Cretaceous very few, while the a 
found in the upper Tertiary. — F. H. Know ton, U. S. National q 
seum, Washington, D. C. ¥ 4 
Is Cypripedium spectabile poisonous to the touch ?—In the a 
Bulletin, vi, 15 it is stated on the authority of the late Win. C 
Pubescens he found himself suffering from a severe attack of ae 
poison. He had taken great pains to keep clear of Rhus toxt 
but notwithstanding, the same symptons continued severa! 5 
Seasons at a time when he was accustomed to handle the Cyp 
(Torr. Bull. v1, 22) nor did it seem credible. Some years later 48 
case occurred in this vicinity and was reported to me by the ” } 
physician. A lady near whose home grew a fine clump of Cyp™ 
spectabile had been in the habit of gathering it when in blot 
using it sometimes for home decoration and sometimes for the ® 
ation of the church. At such times for four or five eens 
she suffered from syptoms of Rhus poisoning, but on careful The 
ation no Rhus could be found where the Cypripedium grew: in # 
Symptoms invariably appeared whenever the Cypripedium W% 
house and disappeared with its removal, and on her removal to # 
part of the country never re-appeared. In fact, when she © 
lecting the plant she escaped entirely. 
A third instance of a similar kind occurred in this part of a 
try in connection with one of my own students who had always yo 
the habit of handling Rhus with impunity and had done $0 7°" — 
