127 



ovate-orbicular, 1.75 mm. long, 1.5 wide, apiculate, jointed with 

 style, the latter thickened at base. Stigmas two. 



From its American allies this species may be distinguished by 

 the combination of wingless culms, erugulose white and green 

 mottled sheaths, and beak of perigynium not exceeding body. It 

 is to be referred to the group Stenorhynchae Holm. 



^ New York 



SHORTER NOTES 



Tri- and Tetracarpellary Walnuts. — In Torreya, June, 

 1913, the writer published a short note on "A Tetracarpellary 

 Walnut." Recently he has had an opportunity to examine a 

 series of 106 abnormal walnuts, all from the grove in Santa Ana, 

 California, referred to in the first note. Of these 106 walnuts, 89 

 were tricarpellary, 45 being symmetrical and 44 unsymmetrical. 

 The remaining 17 were tetracarpellary, 7 being symmetrical and 

 10 unsymmetrical. The statement as to symmetry is as viewed 

 from the pointed end ; a few of these specimens were incomplete, 

 that is, the grooving of the shell did not extend entirely around 

 to the back of the shell. It was not found possible to connect the 

 production of these malformed walnuts with any particular tree 

 or trees in the grove. 



If this case be taken as typical, it would appear that the 

 tendency toward the production of the tricarpellary type is 

 greater than that toward the tetracarpellary type, and that ap- 

 proximately one half of the specimens are symmetrical or nearly 

 so, in both types. 



I am indebted to Prof. R. C. Shuey, of the University of 

 Pittsburgh, for these specimens. 



F. Alex. McDermott. 



Mellon Institute, 



University of Pittsburgh, 

 Pittsburgh, Pa. 



