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Cincinnati Society of Natural History. 



not been recognized of late as far as is known. It is an introduced plant, 

 with small yellow flowers and lanceolate and arrow-shaped leaves (Gray). 

 It should probably be omitted from the list. 



CARYOPHYLLACEiE. 



82. Silene nivea, D C. — This species was first found in our locality 

 by Miss Kate Peachey, along the Little Miami River, near Loveland, Ohio. 

 The patch was a small one, but well established, though subject t<> overflow 

 by the river, and liable to be buried out of sight under deposits of mud. 

 The flowers are quite large, white, and at a hasty glance are liable to be 

 mistaken for S. stel/ata, Ait., from which they differ, however, in having 

 the petals cleft only, instead of fringed; and the leaves are opposite instead 

 of whorled 



86a. Silene noctiflora, L. — Recorded by Mr. C. (x. Lloyd as found 

 at Crittenden, Ky. Escaped from cultivation. 



PORTULACACEiE. 



98. Claytonia Virginica, L. — Mr. Davis L. James has made some in- 

 teresting observations on the fertilization of this plant, which are here in- 

 serted from his notes. 



" If the flower of Claytonia Virginica be observed soon after it opens for 

 the first time, the stamens will be found standing erect and around the pis- 

 til, the lobes of the style closely pressed together, and none of the stigmatic 

 surface exposed. The anthers are extrorse. The stamens remain erect 

 the first day and the style lengthens slightly. The second day the stamens 

 are mature, they begin to shed their pollen, and are bent towards the pet- 

 als. The style has been further lengthened. 



"On the third day in the life of the flower the filaments are bent out- 

 wards and the anthers are now closely pressed on the petals ; the style has 

 elongated, its lobes are recurved and the stigmatic surface is exposed. 

 Flowers with reflexed stamens and a mature style, and with erect stamens 

 and undeveloped style, are both found on one plant, the former always be- 

 low the latter in the raceme. The insect observed in the work of fertiliza- 

 tion is a small bee. 



" Mr Meehan thinks that the pollen which is shed upon the petals by 

 the ripening stamens is brought into contact with the stigma when the 

 flower closes at night. But as the flower droops as it closes, the pollen 

 would more likely fall to the ground. I have seen the pollen shed upon 

 tin; petals in but one case, and that was in a plant brought into the house 

 and placed in damp sand. Claytonia is quite fertile with us, not one out 



