345 
tiaux (Ann. Sue. But. de France. 1889) record Gillwus linearis Er. as 
occurring in decaying aroid flowers in the island of Guadeloupe. 
In the Bfoiitserrat aroid, having the spadix entirely within a flask- 
shaped spathe,* the inflorescence is proterogynons. Whether or not 
some of the female flowers remain receptive at the time the pollen is 
released by the Macrostola beetles. I am unable to say. Even were this 
the case, it seems likely that, as in Dracunculm vulgaris Schott and some 
other aroids in which the fact has been ascertained, the pollen is not 
potent to effect fertilisation within the inflorescence, and setting of the 
fruit follows only upon the introduction of foreign pollen from without. 
Upon this assumption, taken in connection with the observed facts, the 
following summary may be given of the successive stages in the flower- 
ing of this plant : 
1. Female flowers at base of spadix receptive, and immersed in liquid ; upper por- 
tion of spadix male : flowers immature, and tightly enrolled by inner fold of spathe. 
2. Entrance of a single pair of Macrostola beetles, bringing with them upon their 
bodies the pollen from an older inflorescence; fertilization of the receptive female 
flowers by the foreign pollen, aided by the mucus of the plant. 
3. Maturing of the anther cells in upper portion of the spadix. and pollen released 
by the Macrostolas and their offspring. 
4. Seal of the inflorescence broken by the ripening of the rot-fungus: entrance of 
saprophagous insects and destruction of the spathe: Macrostolas ejected, bearing 
pollen upon their bodies to enter and fertilize other flower cases. 
5. Ripening of the fruiting portion of the spadix in open air, and dissemination 
of the exposed seed. 
NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS ON THE TWIG GIRDLER. 
( Oncideres cingulata Say. 
By Theo. H. Scheffkr, Lawrence, Kans. 
The beetle usually known as the hickory twig girdler, injurious also 
to the persimmon among forest trees and the apple and pear in 
orchards, has appeared in eastern Kansas, as a depredator upon the 
white elm ( JJlmus americana). So far has it departed from its known 
and recorded preference t that hickory groves and orchards in this 
vicinity show no signs of its work, while elms, both in natural groves 
and in yards and parks, are more or less affected. 
"The material at hand is unfortunately insufficient for the proper classification of 
the plant, and the species can not be determined. It is apparently a Philodendron 
belonging to Engler's section IV of this genus, as given in his classification of aroids 
{Die uatiirlichen Pflanzen-Familien, Endlicher u. Prantl: Aracea> von A. Engler, 
p. 134). 
tXoTE. — Since writing the above my attention has been called to a short article in 
the Konsas Horticultural Report for 1882, in which this insect is spoken of in con- 
nection with its work upon elms. — T. H. S. 
It is also mentioned as attacking elm by Professor Riley, in the third volume of 
the American Entomologist \ p. 2f»7. 1 >ecember. 1880). See also First Report South 
Carolina Agr. Exp. St. 1888-89, pp. 40. 41.— Ed. 
