BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA. 
67 
Effects of Narcotic and Irritant Gases on Plants. — Mr. John S. Livingston 
has conducted a series of valuable experiments in the Royal Botanic Garden, 
Edinburgh, which lead to the conclusion that gases divide themselves into two 
classes as regards their "action on plants — viz : into narcotic and irritant gases. 
This distinction, to whatever cause traceable, is as real in the case of plants as in 
that of animals. When subjected to the influence of a narcotic gas, the color, it 
was observed, never became altered, and the plants looked as green and succulent 
at the end of the experiment as at the beginning. Whenever the plant began to 
droop, though removed to a forcing bed, and watered, in no instance did it recover, 
but died down even more speedily than it would have done if left to the continued 
action of the gas. In one word, narcotic gases destroy the life of the plant. With 
irritant gases, on the other hand, action is more of a local character. The tips of 
the leaves first begin to be altered in colour, and the discoloration rapidly spreads 
over the whole leaf, and, if continued long enough, over the whole extent of the 
plant. But if removed before the stem has been attacked by the gas, the plants 
always recover — with, however, the loss of their leaves. In a short time they put 
out a new crop, and seem in no way permanently injured ; but of course, if repeat- 
edly subjected to an atmosphere of irritant gas, the plant is destroyed. 
LIST OF PLANTS COLLECTED ON THE SOUTH AND EAST SHORES OF 
LAKE SUPERIOR, AND ON THE NORTH SHORE OF LAKE 
HURON, IN 1860. 
By Robert Bell, attached to the Geological Survey op Canada, Corresponding 
Member of the Botanical Society. 
The Species determined by B. Billings, Jr., F. B. S. C. 
RANUNCULACEiE. 
Anemone Pennsylvanica^ L. Ke-we-naw Point. July 4th. Stoney bed of a brook. 
Schibwah River. August 6th. Bed of the river. In flower at both 
localities. 
Anemone nemorosa^ L. Opposite Gros Cap. June 15th, in flower. 
Tlialictrum Gornut% L. Ke-we-naw Point. July 4th, in flower. 
Ranunculus aquatilis, L., var. divaricatus. LaCloche Island. October 3rd. In 
shoal water, no flower. 
Ranunculus repens^ L. Ke-we-naw Point. July 4th. 
Caltha palustris, L. Opposite Gros Cap. June 15th, in flower. 
Coptis trifoUa^ Salisb. Opposite Gros Cap. June 15th, in flower. 
Actcea spicata, L., var, rubra, Michx. Opposite Gros Cap. June 15th, in flower. 
Actcea spicata^ var. alba, Michx. Grand Island. June 22nd. 
