April, 1901] 
Kellerman — Minor Plant Notes. 
99 * 
be noted here. He has shown that the common and abundant 
Spurge Rust, occurring on very many species of Euphorbia (twelve 
of which are listed in the Ohio Flora) is able to propogate itself con- 
stantly through the germinating seed of its host, and therefore 
becomes in that way practically a perennial species. He remarks 
that “ It is the only demonstrated example of this manner of propo- 
gation in the whole order of Uredineae. Actual cluster-cups may 
be seen in the hulled seeds of Euphorbia dentata. Seedlings kept 
under bell jars become rusted three months from the date of plant- 
ing, showing all stages of the rust, while seeds disinfected with 
mercuric cloride produce no rusted plants.” 
Ohio Hybrid Oaks. — The Ohio Oaks have received as yet no cri- 
tical study, though notes as to their variation have occasionally and 
indirectly got into print. It is often suggested that there may be 
numerous hybrid forms, though mere guesses are scarcely of any 
significance. Lea’s Oak, which is now known to occur in Ohio at 
four stations, namely, Cincinnati (the original locality reported), 
Brownsville in Licking County (tree since cut down), Columbus 
(one specimen), and Cedar Point in Erie County, has been known 
for years. It has been generally referred to Quercus imbricaria and 
Quercus velutina for its parentage, though Mr. Fischer was of opin- 
ion that the Columbus specimen was a cross between Quercus rubra 
and Quercus imbricarica. It was a matter of much interest when 
Mr. A. D. Selby reported, at the December Meeting of the Ohio 
Academy of Science, that he observed a hybrid Oak, a single tree, 
growing at Lakeville, Holmes County. The parentage he refers to 
Quercus alba and questionably Quercus inbricaria. He reports it 
with pronounced aspect of Q. alba “save in the elongated, short- 
lobed leaves which obviously approach those of Q. inbricaria.” 
While certain resemblances to Q. acuminata may suggest them- 
selves (were his words) this species has not been observed in the im- 
mediate region. No mature fruit was seen. We may perhaps ven- 
ture to suggest that the evidence for its hybridity between the two 
species named— one an annual-fruited and the other a biennial- 
fruited species— is suspiciously slender, and it is hoped that mature 
fruit and further inspection may put the case beyond doubt. 
Asparagus Rust Abundant on Young Plants.— An inspec- 
tion of the two patches of Asparagus on the University farm unex- 
pectedly showed a more general infection of the plants which were 
but one year old. The older plants grow in the narrow flood plain 
of a little stream that flows through the farm to the Olentangy; 
throughout this patch which is perhaps a dozen years old, the 
infection is quite general, though very few of the plants show a large 
amount of the Rust, and no perceptible damage to the crop has 
hitherto been reported. A year ago seed was sown on higher ground 
