32 



THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



about the disk were also noted. Rays were found constricted 

 at the base, at the tip, or in the middle, and quilled rays also 

 occurred. Most of these characters, according to the investi- 

 gator, are inherited and the red splash of mahogany brown on 

 the rays is said to be a simple Mendelian dominant. 



Fleshy Fruits and Evolution. — Many a good botanist 

 may be astonished when he reads this note to discover that 

 fleshy fruits are almost invariably produced by woody plants, 

 and that such herbaceous species as have fruits of this type are 

 climbing vines. There are exceptions, to be sure — we at once 

 call to mind baneberry, cohosh, ginseng, wild spikenard and 

 certain nightshades among dicots, and the Solomon's seal, 

 trillium, asparagus and clintonia among monocots — but the 

 exceptions are rare enough to emphasize the rule. In certain 

 families of plants conspicuous for their flesh}^, fruits, such as 

 the rose family, the difference between woody and herbaceous 

 species in this respect is striking. The terestrial herbs in this 

 family all have dry fruits with the exception of the strawberry. 

 Those who have observed this peculiar restriction of the fleshy 

 fruits are of the opinion that it may throw some light on evolu- 

 tion. It is suggested that the trees were first on the earth and 

 that the herbs have originated from them. The trees were 

 disseminated by fruit eating birds, but owing to the reluctance 

 of the birds to feeding near the ground, the herbs had to 

 develop other means of distribution. This method of account- 

 ing for the lack of fleshy fruits among herbs seems a trifle far- 

 fetched, but it may stand until a better one is forthcoming. 



Albinism. — Albinism in plants is quite common in those 

 which have blue ^ or purple flowers. I recall no case of it in 

 yellow or pink flowers. Plola ciicullata produced one albino 

 plant in ten, I should say, in a large patch in Atkinson, Ne- 

 braska, in the nineties. The effect was very pretty as the stools 

 were large. Clcoine scrrulata is a common instance of albinism 



