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POPULAR SCIENCE REVIEW. 
BOTANY. 
Parasitic Fungi on Lychnis cliurna . — In one of tlie numbers of the Gar- 
dener's Chronicle for June, the Rev. M. J. Berkeley gives some results of 
his observations this year on the fungi which attack the anthers of Lychnis 
diuma. He says that among myriads of plants he has found a single plant 
only of the male and female form respectively, in which, while some blos- 
soms were attacked, a few escaped. In most cases every flower was equally 
affected. In the male plant, and this only in the white-flowered variety, 
which is quite distinct from Lychnis vespertina , the unaffected flowers were 
in their normal condition, with scarcely a trace of pistil. In the female 
plant, though the pistil was partially developed, but in no case, as far as he 
could find, fertile, the stamens were uniformly developed in the affected 
flowers, and the anthers tilled with the spores of the Ustilago. In the 
unaffected flowers there were just the same rudiments of stamens as are 
always visible in unaffected plants, and no further development. It seems 
perfectly clear, therefore, that, when the female plant is traversed by the 
mycelium of the fungus, there is a tendency to cause the development of 
the stamens, which takes place at the expense of the pistil, which is much 
reduced in size. There is not the slightest ground for considering it a 
reversion, and the true explanation is undoubtedly that, says Mr. Berkeley, 
which is given in the Gardener's Chronicle of last year [1869, p. 1,110] : — 
“ The Ustilago penetrates the plant, but as it can only fructify in the 
stamens, it would appear to be the determining cause of the production* of. 
those organs in the normally female flower.” Mr. Berkeley has planted 
affected female plants, and he says he shall be very surprised if any of 
them prove truly hermaphrodite, should they not be attacked by the fungus. 
Amongst thousands of unaffected plants he has not found a single one, 
after a long search, which combines both sexes. 
The Alpine Flora of Britain . — In a paper lately read before the Geological 
Association of London, the Rev. James Crombie discusses the origin of the 
alpine (or boreal) flora of Great Britain, showing that it is directly due to 
a pa9t geological condition of our island. This alpine flora is met with 
upon our higher mountains ; but only on the higher ranges of Scotland, on the 
lofty and extensive Grampians, does it occur in great plenty and variety. 
The limits within which the plants are usually found are from about 1,506 
to 4,40G feet (the summit of Ben Nevis). This space has been divided into 
certain zones, both physically and botanically distinct from each other, and 
these are applicable to all the loftier mountains, making due allowance for 
diversity of situation, mineralogical structure, &c. The flora of each is so 
similar in its main features as clearly to betray a common origin and a 
similar mode of distribution. Between our alpine flora and that of Scandi- 
navia there is a great similarity, and the author considers that the boreal 
forms of Great Britain were derived from it. lie agrees with the late Pro- 
fessor Edward Forbes, that the distribution of this alpine flora was effected 
during the Glacial epoch, which, indeed, the character of the plants them- 
selves renders most probable. 
The Chicago Botanical Society . — A Botanical Society, which promises to 
be most successful, is established at Chicago (U.S.). 
