164 
THE ELORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
L July, 
with a rich creamy yellow. A fine tree in the Knap Hill Nnrseiy is just now a most telling 
object. Those who wish for effective colours, to light up their pleasure-grounds or park 
scenery, should not fail to introduce this free-growing tree to appropriate positions. Though ' 
by no means a golden tree as to its cost, it is certain to win golden opinions from all who see 
it well developed in suitable situations. 
- She Choisya ternata is a remarkable evergreen Eutaceons sbnib, "witb 
ternate fragrant leaves of a deep green colour, and dotted like a Myrtle, and 
bearing white flowers in handsome axillary clusters. This plant is a native of 
Mexico, and during the investment of Paris by the Germans, though considered a stove plant, 
had to take its chance amongst hardy ones. Quite unexpectedly the plant flourished, and 
in the latitude of Paris has proved itself one of the hardiest and most ornamental of shrubs. 
Probably it would also prove hardy in the south of England and Ireland, and specially by the 
sea. If so, we have in Choisya ternata a most desirable addition to our hardy shrubs. 
— Duval-Jouve, at a recent meeting of the Botanical Society of 
France, recommended the use of \hQpith of the Virgin!s Thistle^ Silybum Marianum, 
as a good material for use, instead of Cork or Elder-pith, for making sections of 
leaves or other thin substances for microscopic purposes; and next in value to the pith of this 
Thistle, he recommends that of Ailantus glandulosa. In any case, the pith should not be 
used fresh, but should be taken from old dry shoots. This hint will be useful to those who 
have experienced the difiBculty of getting flat sections with the aid of cork, and the certainty 
of blunting the razor. 
- J3e. Farlow, an American botanist, has lately published the results of 
an observation, according to which the fronds of Pteris serrulata may be produced 
directly from the prothallus, which is formed when the spore germinates, without 
the agency of archegonia. The general rule is that the spore in germination produces a 
prothallus, on which are developed both antheridia and archegonia. The former contain 
speimatozoids analogous to pollen, which latter, making their way to the archegonium, fertilise 
a cell contained within it, and as a result of this fronds are formed. If Dr. Farlow’s obser¬ 
vations be conflrmed, the case will be analogous to the formation of adventitious buds on 
leaves. Usually the prothallus has no vessels, but in the case in question, a number of 
scalariform vessels were developed. 
- ^HE Algerian Viola Munbyana is a well-marked species, growing on 
the summits of the whole range of the Atlas Mountains in Algeria. In Munby’s 
Flora of Algeria^ published in 1847, it was mistaken for V. calcarata^ and in 
Desfontaines’ Flora Atlantica, 1808, it was confounded with V. cornuta. Messrs. Boissier 
and Reuter first described it as a new species in their Pugillus Plantarum Novarum in 1852. 
Although sufficiently distinct from either F. cornuta or calcarata, it comes very near V. lutea^ 
and the length of the spur of the flower appears to be the only well-marked distinction. 
Like V. lutea, its flowers are both entirely violet and entirely yellow, and clumps of it will 
have as many violet as yellow flowers. In cultivation it has withstood the hardest winters, 
generally beginning to flower about the end of February,' and attaining its greatest beauty 
in May. 
- ®^HE correct name of the plant called in gardens Eh 3 aichospermum 
jasminoides is Trachelospermumjasminoides^ a name given byLemaire,in \hQjardm 
Fleunste^ vol. i., 1851, t. 61. It has also been called Parechites Thunhergii by 
Asa Gray. 
- ^EOFESSOB Meisnee, of Basle, a most accomplished botanist, and a 
genial, amiable man, died on May 2, in his 64th year. Professor Meisner is well 
known as the author of several accurate monographs in De Candolle’s Prodt'ornus, 
and other publications, and of a most laborious and useful conspectus of the Genera 
of PlanU, 
