Ebola i i le 
237 
long as the banner and wings, only slightly falcate, and united 
to the apex.” 
Dr. H. A. Gleason spoke on “Variation in Flower-number in 
Vernonia,” presenting the results of studies which have since 
been published in the American Naturalist. 
“In many species of Vernonia, in which the number of flowers 
in each head is less than ten, the numbers of the Fibonacci series 
are followed exactly. In other species with larger heads, there 
is a close approximation to the Fibonacci series, with more or 
less variation in both directions. Detailed studies of condi- 
tions in Vernonia missurica Raf. show that the species presents 
a great variation in flower-number, with observed extremes of 22 
and 62. On plants with heads sufficiently numerous to warrant 
drawing conclusions, the mode falls on or near a number of the 
Fibonacci series, usually 34, but in plants with relatively few 
heads this agreement may not appear. For each plant, the 
flower-number is quite constant, but is eee slightly greater 
in the terminal head of each primary cyme.”’ 
A. B. Srovur, 
Secretary of the Conference 
NOTES, NEWS AND COMMENT 
Mr. Kenneth R. Boynton, who has been acting as marshal of 
the garden school, has been appointed supervisor of gardening 
instruction, succeeding Captain Henry G. Parsons, resigned. 
Miss Marjorie F. Warner, a librarian at The Bureau of Plant 
Industry, Washington, recently spent a week at the Garden 
studying the literature of Horticulture prior to 1800. 
The following scientists have recently registered in the library: 
Professor A. S. Hitchcock, Dr. J. N. Rose, Dr. Neil E. Stevens, 
and Dr. Charles D. Walcott, Washington, D. C.; Mr. Ralph 
Hoffmann, Stockbridge, Mass.; Mr. A. H. Cockayne, Werawa, 
New Zealand, and Miss Annie Lorenz, Hartford, Conn. 
