18 
were from the French possessions in southeastern Asia. Thus, 
during Triassic times, Sonora, Mexico, and Tonkin, Asia, appear 
to have had an equisetum in comm 
Mr. Nash exhibited a number of flowers of a lady-slipper, 
Paphiopedilum insigne, a native of the Himalayan region, showing 
a great range of color variation. A great many varieties have 
received names. In the type of the species, the dorsal sepal, 
or standard, is green with numerous small brown spots and a 
white border at the apex, varying greatly in the number and 
size of the spots and the amount of white on the margin. In 
the variety Sanderae, which was discovered in a consignment of 
the plants received by Sander & Sons, the standard is a bright 
yellow-green, the upper portion a pure white, and the only 
remains of the spotting are a few minute specks at the base. 
The whole effect is of a yellowish-green flower. The flowers of 
eee ilum Massaianum were also exhibited. This is a hy- 
f P. Rot ere with P. superciliare, the ie itself 
: hybrid production. 
Dr. W. A. Murrill exhibited specimens of “Shiitake,” an 
edible mushroom cultivated for centuries in Japan on decaying 
trunks of oak and hornbeam sprinkled at intervals with rice 
water, which species has been found to have several scientific 
names. Specimens obtained from shops in Japan by the Chal- 
lenger Expedition in 1875 were named Agaricus ies 
edodes by Berkeley (Jour. Linn. Soc. Bot. 16: 50. 78), this 
being the first name applied and the best pee of the 
species. Excellent specimens have been sent to the Garden by 
Professor Kusano, of Tokyo, during the past year, and others 
have ey Sine in the Chinese shops of New York City. 
Dr. N. L. Britton called attention to a Cuban palm (Thrinax) 
possessing a soft fiber which is removed by the natives and used 
for stuffing pillows and for other similar purposes. Specimens 
of the plant were exhibited. 
Frep J. SEAVER. 
