248 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [SEPTEMBER 
are examined, and the influence of glacial periods is considered—M. A. 
CHRYSLER. 
Some abnormal pines.—BoopLe* has described an abnormality obtained 
from a specimen of Pinus Laricio growing in the Kew Gardens. Most of the 
foliage of the tree is normal, but pairs of concrescent leaves are produced every 
year in considerable number. The fusion of the two leaves seems to be very 
much as has been described for the double needles of Sciadopity. 
WorsDELL” has described a remarkable shoot of Pinus ‘Peaierei grown 
in England. Some of the scale leaves bear ordinary axillary spur shoots with 
two needles, but a majority of them subtend a very different axillary structure, 
the most frequent form being ‘‘a swollen fleshly foliar organ arching outwards 
over or against the subtending scale leaf.” Another form which the axillary 
shoot assumes is that of a pair of transversely placed fleshy leaves. ~ The 
phenomenon of the recurved leaf and its origin by the uniting of the first two 
leaves of an axillary shoot by their adaxial margins is additional proof of the 
accepted character of the ovuliferous scale of the Abietineae.—J. CG: 
Death camas.—This name is applied to species of Zygadenus to distinguish 
them from Quamasia and Calochortus, which were also known as camas, and 
were much used for food by the Indians. Reports of the poisoning of stock 
from eating the roots and leaves of the species of Zygadenus led to its investi- 
gation by Marsu and CLawson.* It seems that Zygadenus grows abundantly 
on many of the stock ranges of the west, and is one of the most important 
sources of loss to sheepmen. Ill the species are poisonous, through the whole 
season of their growth. The toxicity of the bulbs and tops is about the same, 
while the seeds are much more toxic than any other part of the plant. The 
poisonous principle is an alkaloid or alkaloids allied to veratrin and cevadin. 
Sheep, cattle, and horses are poisoned by the plant, but the fatalities are almost 
entirely confined to sheep.—J. M. C 
Thelephoraceae.—Burt™ has begun the publication of a monograph of the 
North American Thelephoraceae. The first three papers contain a general 
discussion of the limitations of the family, a key to the genera, 23 of which are 
recognized, and a presentation of three genera. The genera presented are 
Thelephora, with 23 species, 3 of which are new; Craterellus, with 18 species, 
6 of which are new; and Cyphella, with 21 species, 5 of which are new.—J. M M.C. 
26 Boop LE, L. A., Concrescent and solitary foliage leaves in Pinus. New Phytol. 
14:19-22. figs. 4. 1915. 
27 WORSDELL, yi fee, An abnormal shoot of Pinus Thunbergii Parl. New Phytol. 
14:23-26. figs. 5. 
% Marsu, C, ag ewe A. . , and Marsu, H., Zygadenus, or spice camas. 
Bull. U.S. Dept. Agric: no. 125. pp. 46. 1915. 
29 Burt, E. A., The Thelephoraceae of North America. I, II, HI. Kae Mo. 
Bot. Gard. 1:185-228, 327-350, 357-382. pls. 4, 5, 15-17, 19. 1914 
