900} BRIEFER ARTICLES 351 
iorizontal system, seem to have developed for this purpose entirely, 
_masists almost wholly of wood cells. Owing probably to the general 
senness of climate the annual rings are not easily demonstrated.— 
_Carteron E. Preston, Harvard University. 
NON-SEXUAL PROPAGATION OF OPUNTIA. 
ProressoR Toumey, in an article in the BoTANicaL GAZETTE 
-0:356. 1895), speaks in general terms of the use of spines as aids in 
-Gsemination of opuntias which are dispersed by the breaking off of | 
lie separate joints. A short note may be added as to the function 
of these spines, especially in such long-spined species as O. fudgida 
: Engelm. A joint falling upon the sand very often rebounds from the 
tusticity of the spines, and by this impetus is carried some distance 
fom the parent plant. The greatest aid, however, is in the placing 
the joint. Joints destined for such dissemination are as a rule 
» ovate, the best developed areolae with the longest spines being situ- 
*sdon the distal end, those of the proximal end being scarcely at all 
Xt. The result of this is that the joint upon falling almost invari- 
Uy lights with its base downward, in the best possible position for 
i iy eee The distal parts are kept off the ground in all cases by 
: Rg spines.— CarLeton E. Preston, Harvard University. 
a GAURELLA =GAUROPSIS. 
I : 
uy “AVE to propose the restoration of the name of Gauropsis Torrey 
; Fremont 
: Tor. Bot, ¢ 
| Bectea, 7 
Pag Pres}? 
tees The type species of Gauropsis, Gaurella guttulata 
Set) Small 
ie ' Gaur 
ha sl a 
fy 
