1897,] ; Botany. 903 
The newly discovered toxicodendrol appears to be present in all 
parts of the plant, even in the roots. Old and dried stems also yielded 
it. No difference has as yet been detected between the oil extracted 
from Rhus toxicodendron and that from R. venenata. Successful 
analyses have not yet been made, but further investigations along these 
lines are in progress in Dr. Pfaff’s laboratory. It is to be hoped that 
he will extend his researches to other species of Rhus, notably R. 
pumila Michx., concerning which there has been considerable contro- 
versy, some writers maintaining its innocence, others its extreme viru- 
lence.—B. L. ROBINSON. 
Botany in Detroit.—The botanists appeared to share the feeling 
of many other scientific men that it was inadvisable to hold a separate 
meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, 
preferring to arrange for a joint meeting with the British Association 
which met a week later in Toronto. At any rate, the botanists pretty 
generally did not go to Detroit. When Section G organized on Mon- 
day forenoon, there were in addition to the Vice-President and Secre- 
tary but three duly qualified members who were eligible to appointment 
upon the sectional committee, and it was not until the second day that 
all the committees were filled. And yet in spite of this discouraging 
beginning, the sessions were interesting and profitable. 
Vice-President Atkinson delivered his address upon “ Experimental 
Morphology ” on Monday afternoon, August 9th, detailing with some 
particularity the results of his experiments upon ferns of the genus 
Onoclea, in which by mutilation at certain periods he was able to bring 
about the transformation of the sporophyll into a normal or nearly 
normal foliage leaf. The possibility of applying experimental methods 
_ to the solution of many morphological problems was discussed at some 
length. 
The following papers were presented, some in extenso and others by 
title only. , 
Trillium gree fena its variations, normal and teratological, by 
Charles A. Davi 
A discussion of the structural KARIES of the order Pezizinæ of 
Schroeter, by J. E. Durand. 
The taxonomic value of fruit characters in the genus Galium, by K. 
E. Wiegand. 
Report upon "E progress of the botanical survey of Nebraska, by 
Charles E. Besse 
Chan on aga winter in the perithecia and ascospores of certain 
Brysiphees, by B. T. Galloway. 
