1879] Botany. 521 
GENERAL NOTES. 
BOTANY. 
THe Root oF OXALIs vioLacEa.—The violet wood-sorrel is an 
abundant plant in this locality, growing commonly on gravelly 
hillsides. On comparing it with descriptions it seems to agree 
in all essential points noted by authors; but there is one 
striking peculiarity of the root which appears to have been 
overlooked—at least I have not been able to find the slightest 
reference to it in any work that I have examined. This is the 
usual occurrence of a white, carrot-shaped root beneath the ordi- 
nary scaly bulb. When there is a bunch of plants a cluster of 
the tap-roots may be formed. They are only lightly attached to 
the under surface of the bulbs, so that when broken off the scar 
left is almost imperceptible. They consist for the most part of a 
watery fluid, which can be easily squeezed out, leaving but little 
solid substance. A thin, clear skin, together with the large 
quantity of water present, renders them somewhat translucent. 
he size varies, but from two to three inches appears to be the 
usual length. I have found them an inch or two long the first 
week in May, which shows that they are early developed. A not 
unpleasant sweet taste recommends them to children as suitable 
for eating ; no injurious effects are noticeable. 
During the past two years I have dug up many plants of this 
species in order to determine the presence or absence of such 
bottom roots. In most cases they were present, but in many 
Botanica, News.—The first volumes of the sixth edition of Dr. 
Asa Gray’s Botanical Text Book, to be issued in four volumes, has 
just appeared under the title of “ Structural Botany; or Organog- 
raphy on the Basis of Morphology,” to which is added the princi- 
ples of taxonomy and phytography, and a glossary of botanical 
terms. Three other volumes are contemplated as parts of this 
great work, one on physiological botany, by Prof. Goodale ; one on 
cryptogamous botany, by Prof. Farlow, and one on the normal 
orders of phenogamous plants, by Prof. Gray. The collection 
of plants made by Prejevalsky in his second journey to Central 
Asia, together with that of Potanin, is being worked up by the 
eminent botanist, Maximovitch and Regel, and the results will be 
published in a fine work on the flora of Mongolia and Kan-su. 
——Mr. Lesquereux, the authority on the fossil plants of North — 
America has just issued an “Atlas to the Coal Flora of Pennsyl- 
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