NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



875 



on the market. Although the timbers are much ahke, yet the 

 Columbian tree does not belong to the Mahogany family at all, 

 but to the Monkey Pod hmilj . (Lecythidacea). It is much valued 

 as a furniture wood, and it is surprising that although about 40 million 

 feet of Mahogany is sold annually, only about 18 million feet are the 

 true Mahogany. — A. D. W, 



Marsh Plants and Subterranean Org-ans. By E. E. Sherpf 

 {Bot. Gaz. pp. 415-435, May 1912; 10 figs.).— The vegetation of Skokie 

 Marsh, Glencoe, Illinois, is found to consist of three pronounced 

 formations: Eeed Swamp, with {1) MyriophyUum-Potamogeto?i-Sium, 

 (2) Waterlily, (3) Scirpus-Typha, {4:) Phragmites, and (5) Iris-Acorus 

 associations. 



Swamp meadow used for marsh hay and burnt in autumn with 

 Calamugrostis, Phalaris, Carex, &c. ; and Meadow with Poa pratensis, 

 Agrostis alha, &c. 



Weekly readings with atmometers showed reed swamp in centre, 

 average daily evaporation 3 cc, outerpart 4.5 cc. ; swamp meadow 

 4.27 cc. ; forest {Quercus-Fraxinus) 7.91 cc. In the Phragmites 

 zone evaporation at 1.95 metres above the soil was 7.5 cc, and 2.5 cc. 

 at soil surface. Great variations in depth of water was found at 

 different seasons. 



The author has carefully worked out the different levels or depths 

 at which the rhizomes in the various marsh associations are found 

 to develop. His results are o'f great interest, but do not admit of 

 being given in a short space. The rhizomes of Nymphaea advena are 

 found at a depth usually at 8-25 cm. below the soil. — G. F. S. E. 



Miltonia vexillaria Vuylstekeana optima. By G. T. Grig- 

 nan (Rev. Hort. p. 228, May 16, 1912 ; coloured plate). — This beauti- 

 ful orchid, raised by M. Gharles Dietrich, Anderghem, near Brussels, 

 is a cross between M. vexillaria dulcis rohusta and M. vexillaria 

 Leopoldi. The flowers, over 3 inches wide, are rich, rosy mauve, veined 

 with deeper rose, and with an intense crimson centre of a moth-like 

 form with divided wings; very handsome indeed. — C. T. D. 



Mistletoe in Shensi. By P. Kingdom Ward {Gard. Chron. p. 147; 

 Aug. 24, 1912; 2 figs.). — Notices the very local distribution but great 

 abundance of three species. Viscuni alburn, a large-leaved species — 

 occurring only on willows — and an orange-berried one — a fourth species 

 with scarlet berries, was seen but once. — E. A. B. 



Mistletoe on Rosa canina (Rev. Hort. p. 49, Feb. 1, 1912).— 



An instance of this, presumably rare, is described as having been 

 observed in France near Alen9on. — C. T. D. 



New Plants, Western America. By J. M. Greenman (Bot. 

 Gaz. pp. 510-512, June 1912).— New species of Castilleja (2 sp.), 

 Senecio (2 sp.).— G. F. S. E. 



