856 The American Naturalist. [October, 
weed being successfully exterminated by a parasite. In the absence 
of the author, Dr. Vasey’s paper upon “ Otto Kuntze’s changes in the 
nomenclature of North American grasses” was read only by title. A 
combination paper by Messrs Fernow and Sudworth upon “ Revised 
nomenclature of the arborescent flora of the United States” was 
passed with a few remarks by Prof. Fernow, stating that the subject 
matter had been disposed of in the Botanical Club. A third paper by 
Mr. Coville was upon “ Characteristics and adaptations of desert vegeta- 
tion.” In his absence, Mr. F. Roth’s paper “Shrinkage of wood 
as observed under the microscope” was passed, as likewise two sent by 
Prof. Pammel upon “ Peziza sclerotium” and “Temperature, and some 
of its relations to plant life.” The “Pleospora of Trope@olum majus,” 
“ Secondary spores of anthracnoses” and “ A bacterium of Phaseolus” 
were read by B. D. Halstead. Prof. Meehan’s paper, “ The signifi- — 
cance of cleistogamy,” in the author’s absence was read by title, 
thus closing the schedule of botanical papers of Section F, with a 
total of thirty-eight papers. 
The Botanical Club held many meetings and they were largely 
attended. In the absence of the president, Prof. Spalding, Dr. 
H. H. Rusby was elected to the chair. Mr. Coville presented a paper 
upon “ Range, locality, station, and habitat.” After considerable dis- 
cussion the conclusion seemed to be that “ range” was the region over 
which a species naturally grows; “ locality,” the geographic position 
of the species; “station,” the spot where the species occurs, and 
“habitat,” the kind of place where the individual specimens grow. 
homas Morong gave a paper upon “ Travels in Paraguay, and its 
flora.” Dr. Rusby, also an exploring botanist, remarked upon the 
trials and dangers of such work. Prof. Underwood showed “ A vari- 
ety of Poun vulgare L., new to America.” 
The paper by Mr. Maxwell on “ Symbiotic growths in the roots of 
Ranunculaceæ ” brought out many questions, particularly from the 
mycologists. “Some rare and interesting fungi from Florida” were 
shown by Mr. Swingle and fully discussed. 
Mr. Morong’s second paper “ Observations upon certain species of 
Asclepiadaceæ as insect traps” was discussed by Dr. Beal and others, 
after which Dr. Vasey gave a full account of the work of the Botan- 
ical division of the U. S. Department of Agriculture. 
Dr. Arthur spoke next of the Botanical Congress at the World’s 
Columbian Exposition, and the subject was considered at length and a 
committee appointed to confer with officers of the new section of bot- 
any in the matter. Mr. O. F. Cook who has recently returned from 
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