THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



97 



[Miss Sanborn voices the sentiments of all philosophical 

 botanists relative to the value of Wood's Manual, but the next 

 generation is not likely to knov^ very much about the book, for 

 it has recently gone out of print. It is likely that it may be re- 

 vised and brought up to date by some modern botanist, but in 

 this case, the interesting notes which Wood, was in the habit of 

 tacking on to the more scientific descriptions would be the first 

 to go. A revised Wood's manual does not appeal very strongly 

 to those who know the original. — Ed.] 



Arils. — The aril is a structure seldom given much con- 

 sideration by systematic botanists, but it is a prominent feature 

 in several plant families and in some cases it is sufficiently val- 

 uable to form an article of commerce. Structurally the aril 

 is an outgrowth of the seed stalk which surrounds the seed. 

 A familiar example of this is found in the bittersweet (Celas- 

 trus scamdens) , where the bright red and showy portion of the 

 fruit is an aril. The equally brilliant pulpy part of the mag- 

 nolia fruit also represents this structure. Among edible arils 

 may be mentioned that of the lichee or Chinese nut which, as 

 sold in our markets, is usually of raisin-like consistency, and 

 enclosed in a sort of hull like a nut. Among native arils that 

 are edible may be mentioned the juicy pulp of the May-apple 

 {Podophyllum) formed from the arils which surround each 

 seed. In the pomegranate {Punka granatum) each seed sur- 

 rounded by its crimson aril occupies a small cell to itself. 

 Mace, well known for its use in flavoring various dishes, is 

 also an aril, being produced by the same fruit that yields the 

 nutmeg. 



