Si 



Explanation of the Plate. 



1. — Single fruit of Nipa fvuticans with terminal umbo, one-third natural size. 



2. — Section of similar fruit with single seed cavity ; showing also the outer 



spongy tissue of the epicarp, the thin hard mesocarp (white line) and the 

 endocarp. 



3. — Cast of Nipadites from Honeycombe Chine (Morris) N . Parkinsonis, Bowerb. ? 



4. — Smaller cast from the same locality, from the collection of the Bournemouth 



Natural Science Society. 



(From drawings by Miss Chidell ) 



Euonymus Mildew 



(Oidium Euonymi-japonicse). 



By George Massee, Esq., f.ls., Royal Gardens, Kew. 



Euonymus japonicus, an evergreen shrub, a native of Japan, is 

 one amongst the few ornamental shrubs capable of resisting 

 the injurious action of sea spray, hence it is much in evidence 

 at seaside resorts, more especially along the South coast. Although 

 established in this country for many years, and extensively planted, 

 until within about the last ten years it was remarkably free from 

 disease, when, almost simultaneously at several localities along the 

 South coast, it was attacked by a white mildew, which in some 

 instances developed to such an extent that the bushes presented 

 the appearance of having been covered with a thick coat of white- 

 wash. 



The fungus, called Oidium Euonymi-faponica, closely related to the 

 hop mildew, rose-mildew, and the American gooseberry mildew, is a 

 native of Japan, where it attacks the Euonymus as a wild plant, and it 

 is somewhat remarkable that the host-plant should have remained so 

 long free from its parasite, both in this country and on the 

 Continent. A severe outbreak of the mildew on the Euonymus was 

 recorded from France, about the same time that the pest appeared 

 in this country. 



The fungus first appears as small white scattered spots, more 

 especially on the upper surface of the leaves. These spots gradually 

 increase in size and grow into each other, frequently eventually 

 covering the greater portion, or the whole of the leaf. 



After the patches have been growing for some time they 

 present a mealy appearance, as if they had been dusted with flour. 

 This is due to the presence of myriads of very minute spores, which 

 are produced in upright chains, and become free from each other 

 as they mature. These spores are washed by rain, or dispersed by 

 wind, birds, insects, etc., and those who happen to alight on other 

 healthy leaves set up an infection which in turn produces more 

 spores, and as this production of spores continues throughout the 

 summer season it can be readily understood how quickly the disease 

 can spread unless checked by prompt and drastic measures. 



