191 
Jlr ' 'no 
Itt ti\ ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST. 
EDITORIAL JOTTINGS. 
NOTES FROM CORRESPONDENTS. 
In a recent trip through Southern Illinois we 
made a few botanical notes, which we give our 
readers. The low bottom lands near the Ohio 
and Mississippi rivers are heavily timbered. 
One of the commonest trees is the American or 
White Elm ( Ulmus Americana^ L.) This has 
just passed the flowering stage. The Ked Maple 
(Acer ruhrum, L.) occurs frequently, and is 
a^lso just out of flower. The Sweet Gum 
-v {Liquidamhar) is abundant in many localities, 
^ a large number of the prickly fruit-balls still 
[ " remain upon the tree. That vegetable thief, the 
% Mistletoe (^Phoradendron jlavescens, Nutt.), 
i ^ seems to have a particular attachment to the 
Elm trees, occurring much more frequently on 
them than on any other tree. It grows also on 
the Sycamore {Platanus occidentalism L.), on 
I the Red Maple (Acer ruhrum, L.), on the Black 
Vt Gum (Nyssa multijlora, Wang.), and on some 
other trees. Some large Elms seemed loaded 
{ with this parasite, a hundred or more bunches 
growing upon one tree. These masses of yel- 
lowish-green vegetation give the trees a peculiar 
appearance. 
In many cases the small branches of the 
^ Sweet Gum were covered with broad corky 
f ridges; sometimes this occurred only on the 
lower limbs, and in other cases all the branches 
\ were free from the exci-escence. These corky 
ridges are much like those which occur on the 
Winged Elm ( Ulmus alata) which also grows 
I in the same places. 
' On rocky ledges at Cobden we found old 
i fronds of some interesting ferns, viz. : Cheil- 
j anthes vestita, Swartz, Polypodium incanum, 
\ Swartz, Asplenium ebeneum, Ait., and Aspleni- 
f um trichomanes, L. Old stalks were also 
' abundant of the False Aloe (Agave Yirginica, 
L.) This plant sends up a large and preten- 
tious stalk, but its flowers are insignificant. 
Patches of the small cane (Arundinaria tacta, 
f Muhl.) were frequently visible, and at first sight 
/ might be mistaken for small willow bushes. The 
r low and swampy grounds are everywhere be- 
. coming verdant with extensive patches of the 
; Copper-colored Iris (Iris ciiprea, Pursh). 
i Many other rare plants occur in this region, 
\ of which we shall probably have occasion to 
1 speak hereafter. 
Many plants could not be perpetuated but for 
the agency of insects, and especially of bees; 
and it is remarkable that it is chiefly those which 
require the aid of this intervention that have a 
nectarium and secrete honey. 
We have the following notes from Mr. E. 
Hall, of Menard county. Ills., and commend 
his inquiries and observations to the attention 
of our readers : 
Ground Nut — (Apios tulerosa, Moench). — Will the 
readers of this journal everywhere, during the coming 
season, make observations on the fruiting of this vine, 
and will those who are so fortunate as to find it in fruit 
examine carefully anfl report the conditions under 
which they so find it? Its habit of reproducing itself 
from the tubers is the suppo^d cause of its general 
infertility; and when found in fruit the tubers should 
be carefully unearthed, and their development and 
health noted, as well as their connections with the plant. 
I have only once met with this plant in fruit in the State 
of Kansas, and where I had no opportunity to examine 
the development of its tubers. Its flowers are very 
fragrant, thus attracting insects that may destroy the 
fertilizing elements of the female organs by undue 
irritation, or by producing premature dissemination 
of the pollen; but, whatever the cause, careful and 
patient observation will detect it. 
Qiiercus alba-macrocarpa.~A Jtme_hybnd,. 
perfectly fertile, is growing near Athens, in Menard 
county. Ills. The mother tree was undoubtedly Q. 
macrocarpa of the variety called oUvmformis, as young 
specimens, apparently of the same age as the hybrid of 
that species, are or were growing in its vicinity. In 
general character its paternal blood largely predomi- 
nates, its maternal characters are chiefly notable in the 
fruit, the younger branches, and in the form and 
pubescence of its leaves. From these several charac- 
ters its parentage is readily traced, and it affords a most 
interesting instance of a fertile hybrid of these two 
distinct species of oaks. 
Tlie grenus Ctuercus in Menard County, Ills. 
— The species of this genus here have prevalence in 
about the following proportions : 
White Oak {Qmrcus 33 per cent. 
Yellow and Scarlet Oaks (^. coccinea), 25 per cent. 
Ked Oak {Q. rubra), 10 per cent. 
Burr Oak {Q. macrocarpa) , 10 per cent. 
Chestnut Oak {Q. castanea), 8 per cent. 
Post Oak {Q. oUusiloba), 5 per cent. 
Laurel Oak {Q. imbricaria), 5 per cent. 
Black Jack {Q. nigra) ^ 3 per cent. 
Pin Oak (Q. palustris), 3^ per cent. 
Swamp White Oak prinos, var.), 34 per cent. 
I have placed the Yellow and Scarlet Oaks together 
from the fact that the species are not easily known or 
readily separated; even good botanists are often puz- 
zled to discriminate between them, and some have 
doubted the existence of both species, but the weight 
of opinion is at present in their favor. Their specific 
differences are to be sought chiefly in what might be 
called constitutional characters. Eleven-eighteenths of 
the species of the Northern United States east of the Mis- 
sissippi are represented in this locality — a much greater 
proportion than the general flora of the same region — 
showing that these kings of the forest have somewhat 
equal powers in competing for existence under the 
conditions here prevailing. Since the settlement of the 
county a new generation is springing up , which 
somewhat differently proportioned. The above esti- 
mates are for the original forests. 
BOTAN ICAL 
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