310 BOTANY. 
such case except in shrubs induced by cultivation. Iam unable 
to detect in the plant before me any difference from the common 
form, unless, perhaps, less pointed petals and somewhat narrower 
leaves.— C. M. Tracy, Lynn, Mass. 
Erica REPENS.— This plant deserves a more careful examina- 
tion than it has yet received. The infrequency of the occurrence of 
fruit has been explained in different ways, but no satisfactory ex- 
planation has yet been offered. In the “ Botanical Register,” vol. 
3, p. 201; the following statement occurs :—‘ Some of the corollas’ 
are frequently found to be sterile; and, according to Michaux, it 
would appear that the species was dicecious, the flowers being 
sometimes barren throughout in individual plants.” Mr. Meehan 
has called attention to the great degree of variation which occurs ` 
in many of our native wild plants, this among the number, and 
it is to be earnestly hoped that our botanists will commence early 
to make more critical observations respecting variations in such 
cases. A series of carefully conducted experiments in regard to 
the cross fertilization of Epigea is much needed. Owing to the 
great facility with which such experiments can be performed, we 
are confident that some of oùr readers will take the matter in 
h 
DımorrHIC FLOWERS or THE Irecac PLaxt.— Prof. Balfour of 
Edinburgh has given to the Royal Society of Edinburgh, a very 
interesting account of dimorphism in the flowers of Cephaélis 
Ipecacuanha, The plants in the Edinburgh Botanical Garden were 
derived from two sources; in one case the flowers have long sta- 
mens and short styles.. In the other case there is distinct dimor- 
phism. Some of the flowers have long stamens and a short style ; 
others short stamens and a long style. Successful fertilization has 
_ followed the application of the pollen from one form to the stig- 
mas of the other form. It will be remembered that this plant 
belongs to the order Rubiacew. This order gives us one of the 
very best common instances of dimorphism, Houstonia coerulea, 
clearly described in Dr. Gray’s “ How Plants Behave.” 
IODINE IN THE DETERMINATION OF FuNGI.— Some of our readers 
are acquainted with the use of chemical re-agents made by Nylan- 
der in the study of lichens. This application has led to the idea 
_ that a similar use of chemical tests may be adopted in the deter- 
mination of fungi. In the Feb. (1873) number of the ‘‘ Journal 
. 
