THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. 
55 
Most of the scientists considered this was a case of visual 
deception, but several 3^ears after Dr. Lankester estabhshed 
it as a fact, if one very exceptional. He noticed such a 
flame in the same species, and also in the hairy red poppy, 
the flashes of light occurring at the end of a hot dry day. 
Another gentleman stated that on a June evening, about 
nine, he saw flashes of light pass along three scarlet 
verbenas growing a foot apart in his garden. He called 
the attention of his gardener and several other persons to 
the spot, and the sight lasted quite a quarter of an hour. 
There was a smok3^ appearance in the air after the flashes, 
which reminded one of the summer lightning in miniature. 
Subsequently the same phenomenon was noticed amongst 
some red pelargoniums, and it was repeated many times 
during July and August, when the weather was sultry and 
electric. Friends are requested to watch their Chrysan- 
themums at dusk, since that flower is reported to be now 
and then luminous, presumably the white and yellow 
varieties. Other luminous plants are the white lily, the 
nasturtium, the sunflower, the evening primroses and 
some wall mosses. — Indian Planting and Gardening. 
Wanted. — Short notes of interest to the general bot- 
anist are always in demand for this department. Our 
readers are invited to make this the place of publication 
for their botanical items. 
Plant Protection.— One of the advantages of the 
movement for the protection of our wild flowers is that 
it has afl'orded an outlet for a lot of fine writing by 
sentimental individuals, w^ho, to judge by their effusions 
stood in grave danger of bursting unless some way was 
devised for giving vent to their feelings. Particularly non- 
sensical is the suggestion that we "teach the child the 
merit of leaving the daint^^ little recluse to fulfill the law 
Ml. 
