THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



27 



have them. The difference is often noticed in a single family 

 in which plants with both notched and entire leaves occur. 

 From this fact it is inferred that stipules are essentially lobes or 

 teeth of the leaf, their greater size being due to the fact that 

 they receive their vascular supply from the lateral leaf-traces as 

 they emerge from the stem and therefore are perfectly supplied. 



Cures for Poison Ivy. — For ivy poisoning the fishermen 

 along parts of the coast of Massachusetts where poison ivy 

 {Rhus toxicodendron) abounds, treat the poisoned parts — feet, 

 ankles, hands, etc. — by rubbing them with crushed leaves of 

 the fire weed (ErccJitifes hieracifolia) which also grows along 

 the shore in some abundance. In even bad cases of poisoning 

 a few applications have been enough to cure the patient. The 

 same treatment cures also' those poisoned by poison sumach or 

 poison dogwood {Rhus vernix). I have known very uncom- 

 fortable cases of poisoning by both sumachs cured in three or 

 four days, and made far less uncomfortable in a few hours, by 

 the use of this plant. The leaves should be fresh each time, 

 bruised and crushed so that their sap moistens the poisoned part 

 freely and is allowed to dry in. — Miss C. G. Soule, Brookline, 

 Mass. [It would be of interest to make a list of the plants 

 whose juice is regarded as a specific for ivy poisoning. In 

 some localities the juice of the touch-me-not {luipaticjis) is 

 valued for this purpose and in others the burdock has some re- 

 pute. Judging from what is known of the poisonous principle 

 in the sumach family it seems doubtful if any of these herbs 

 can do more than take the attention of the patient from his 

 troubles and cure him by mental suggestion, but there may be 

 a reason under it all. If any of our readers know of other 

 plants used for ivy poisoning, we would be glad to hear from 

 them. — Ed.] 



Variations in Flower Color. — Some years ago, I found 

 on the border of Caspian Lake in Greensboro, Vermont, a pure 

 white form of skull-cap {Scutellaria galericulata) . The follow- 



