NOTES 
A NEW CORDYCEPS. — A very remarkable species of Cordyceps 
has just been received at the Kew Herbarium from Owen’s River, 
Victoria, where it was discovered by Miss M. Henley. It springs 
from a large caterpillar, and differs from all known species in the 
sharply differentiated fertile branches being erumpent from a simple, 
vertical stroma, eight to nine inches high ; also in peculiarities of the 
ascophore. It will be known as Cordyceps Henleyae , and will be 
described in detail at a later date. G. MASSEE, Kew. 
ABSORPTION OP WATER BY DEAD ROOTS.— Several 
experiments have already been made relative to the power of dead 
roots to supply nourishment to plants 1 , leading to the conclusion that 
if the roots are killed without being ruptured, they may continue 
to take up moisture, and thus keep the plants alive for a considerable 
time. The matter may be roughly tested by killing the roots of the 
plants by immersing them for a time in boiling water, and carefully 
noting the results. 
The following plants were experimented upon, with the result which 
any cultivator would have anticipated, namely, that dead roots are 
incapable of affording any continual sustenance to the plants to which 
they are attached. At the same time it is interesting to observe that 
in many cases the plants remained fresh for several days after their 
roots were killed. In every case care was taken to prevent the heat 
or steam from the boiling water from injuring the leaves or stems of 
the plants above the ‘ collar.’ For the purpose of comparison the 
tops of two plants of Cassia alata were cut off level with the soil, and 
placed in water in the same house with those treated with boiling 
water. It will be seen that specimen 3, which had been severed 
under water remained fresh as long as the plant with boiled roots. 
Cassia alata. — 1. Plant in pot : roots immersed in boiling water on 
Feb. 16th, 1893; had not suffered on 20th; flagged on 23rd; leaves 
turned brown on 25th, and finally died. 
1 See Strasburger, Leitungsbahnen in den Pflanzen, Histologische Beitrage, III, 
p. 849, and the papers there cited. 
