1896] BOTANICAL PAPERS AT BUFFALO 241 
fruit ; (3) the vegetation is shrubby with the exception of two 
perennial herbs, a fern and a sedge; (4) the occurrence of 
Quercus nana in the summits extends the geographic range of 
that species several hundred miles in an unexpected direction ; 
(5) almost one-half of the shrubby plants on King’s mountain 
are ericaceous, and the range of one, Rhododendron Catawhiense, is 
extended far to the east and in addition the station is at a much 
lower altitude than any at which the species has hitherto been 
known to occur ; (6) although the summit of King’s mountain 
is much smaller and some feet higher than that of Crowder’s 
mountain it harbors six more species, chiefly shrubby. 
Davip F, Day: Parthenogenesis in Thalictrum Fendleri.—In 
1883 a seedling of 7. Fendleri was sent home from Colorado for 
cultivation. In late May it flowered and:proved to be pistillate. 
About the last of August it presented abundant and good seed, 
although no staminate plants of any species of Thalictrum were 
in the neighborhood. The seeds were planted and yielded 
abundantly staminate and pistillate plants. Staminate plants 
have been artificially prevented from maturing flowers almost 
“very year since, At least eight times in the thirteen years the 
pistillate plants have produced good seed in abundance. Plants 
were sent to Meehan, Missouri Botanical Garden, and Orpet 
of S. Lancaster, Mass., and all report in 1896 perfect seed 
from pistillate plants. This seems to be a clear case of parthen- 
genesis. 7. dioicum does not show a similar habit. 
Etias J. Durann: A discussion of the order Pesizinee of 
Schr vter.—A brief historical sketch giving the views of the prin- 
“Ipal systematists in regard to the classification of these plants, 
“specially that of Schrater in his Kryptogamen Flora von Schlesten. 
eas visgmed of the paper deals with the most recent views and 
summary of investigations on the subject by the writer. 
. M. Tracy: What should constitute a type specimen?—The 
pee called attention to the confusion existing in the use of 
