48 THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. 
is an ultimate, trigenerational, symbiotic unit in the plant life-his- 
tory, integrated from tissues and structures belonging to two 
sporophytic generations and the intervening gametophytic phase." 
Does Selaginella Bear Seeds ?~The Selaginellas are among 
the higher cryptogams and so of course do not normally bear 
seedsi Certain megasporangia, however, have been observed to 
remain for a long time on the plants, and in this condition, their 
spores having germinated and the eggs having been fecundated, 
they assume the character of seeds according toi Prof. Conway 
Mac Millan. 
Variation in PLANTS.—Variations in shape, color and size 
of plants, flowers and fruits do certainly sometimes result from 
outside influences as fertilizing wild flowers with old tin cans will 
prove. Some limited observations have suggested the question 
if position on the plant does not cause some of this variation. Is 
the lower, first ripening fruit (e. g. tomato or pea) usually the 
largest and best or nearest to the type of the improved variety? 
--/. A. Bates, So. Roydston, Mass. 
The Fruit of American Yew. —The fruit of the ground hem- 
lock or American yew {Tarns Canadensis) is usually regarded as 
poisonous. This has kept most botanists from tasting it and the 
fact does not seem to be generally known that the scarlet pulp sur- 
rounding the seed is quite sweet. Although the belief in the poi- 
sonous properties of this plant is widespread, the makers of our 
botanies are silent on the stibject. Can any of our readers tell 
whether it is really poisonous or not ? 
Large Forest Tree NuRSERiES.—According to Forestry and 
Irrigation the State of New York has established two nurseries 
for growing young forest trees which are of note from the num- 
ber of plants they will contain. One in the Catskill region is 
planned for raising two million seedlings ; the other in the Adiron- 
dacks will be capable of growing three million. The trees are to 
be used in the State's re-foresting work. Tavo parties are now in 
the forests attempting to gather enough seed of the species desired 
to fill the nurseries. 
Unusual Plant NAMES.-Referring to the puzzling plant 
names in the August number. Rev. James A. Bates of South Roy- 
