April 1906] proceedings s. i. assn. arts and sciences. 37 



In " Species and Varieties, Their Origin by Mutation," Prof. Hug^o 

 DeVries records the following of a tubular-rayed composite • " In con- 

 cluding this series of examples of horticultural mutations, I might men- 

 tion two cases, which have occurred in my experimental garden. The 

 first refers to a tubular dahlia. It has ray florets, the ligules of which 

 have their margins grown together so as to form tubes, with the outer 

 surface corresponding to the pale under-surface of the corolla. 



" This novelty originated in a single plant in a culture from the seed 

 of the dwarf variety — Jules Chretien. The seeds were taken from in- 

 troduced plants in my garden, and as the sport has no ornamental value, 

 it is uncertain whether this was the first instance or whether it had 

 previously occurred in the nursery at Lyons, from whence the bulbs 

 were secured. Afterwards it proved from seed, but was very variable 

 exhibiting rather the features of an ever-sporting variety." 



There are several examples of flowers with tubular petals mentioned 

 by Maxwell T, Masters in "Vegetable Teratology," also cases where 

 the petals have cohered. 



In conclusion, we may add that here on Staten Island we have two 

 other species of Rudbeckia,n2iV[\it\y R. laciniata L. and R. speciosa Wen- 

 deroth. The last mentioned was found at Tottenville in 1898 and 

 1899 {Proc. Nat. Set. Assn. S. I., Oct., 1900); but the ground has since 

 been built upon, and the species has probably been exterminated on the 

 Island. The white-rayed ox-eye daisy, which came to us from the 

 Old World, begins to blossom about the middle of May, I have found 

 it on the Island as early as the 14th of the month. It is not until the 

 first week in June, and more often later, that the yellow daisy or cone 

 flower from the western plains begins to star the meadows. The na- 

 tive Rudbeckia sPeciosa I found to blossom later at Tottenville than 

 Rudbeckia hirta, the first flowers not appearing until the last week in 

 June. 



Dr. Philip Dowell exhibited specimens and read the following: 

 Botanical Notes. 



Additions to the Local Flora. 



Salix Bebbiana Sarg. A single tree, 20 to 25 feet high, was found 

 near Merrell Avenue, not far from South Avenue. 



Sisymbrium altissimum L. A single clump of this plant was found 

 growing along the roadside on Charles Avenue, Port Richmond. 



Brassica juncea (L.) Cosson. Found in waste ground at Port Rich- 

 mond. Mr. Wm. T. Davis has specimens of this Indian mustard col- 



