116 THE JOURNAL OF BOTANY 
need not dwell ibe it. As regards the gyneecium, Peonia has 2-3 
large follicular carpels arranged, of course, in a single whorl, and 
aring along each rads a number of nero rh red or black seeds. 
In Ranunculacee a very similar gynoecium obtains in several of the 
genera, e.g. Helleborus, Nipélla, Caister: other genera have 
noliacee, @.g. the Illiciee, th ls are few i n number and 
of Peonta appear to me t6 cooedt those of Ranunculacee ; 
texture, however, i resemble, perhdips,: Rate of Mimosa 
e characters of Paonia, apart from pices of the 
vascular Ris es are clearly at all points intermediate between 
ters, including those of the vascular anatomy, I certainly think 
that the trend of relationship is “emphatically in the direction of 
Magnoliacee rather than in that of Ranunculacee 
And yet Péonia in the tout ensemble of its characters and in 
the general aspect of the plant inevitably gives one the impres- 
sion of something distinct and apart from any of these other and 
allied orders, perhaps in fe cree egy similar way as sg son 
dence, to treat of the genus Pgonia (in an timate paper which 
I hope shortly to contribute to a contemporary journal) as consti- 
the Peoniacee. To my mind, its present inclusion in the Ranun- 
culacee (and perhaps the same may be said of one or two other 
genera, e.g. Hydrastis) is quite sheetan Ah amy in reason. 
By whomsoever this inclusion was effected, all the merry of 
the plant were certainly not at the time nee into accou 
the other hand, it differs too much from all members of the M. 
noliacee to aes its oa in that order. It is thus entitled 
to be regarded as a group a 
THE “ WITCHES’ BROOMS” OF THE SOUTH MIDLANDS. 
By James Saunpmrs, A.L.S. 
oe who are making observations on the diseases of 
trees, particularly the — in ahley the malformations known as 
“ Witches’ Brooms” are d thee ith may find the following list of 
service for comparison with similar data from other districts. 
