272  Aralla  spinosa,  X.,  Hedera  Helix,  L,  {^''^^^elJmJ^' 
them,  iiotwitlisanding  the  destruction  of  the  blood  globules.  If  the- 
smallest  quantity  of  coloring  matter  remains  the  test  is  sure.  The 
crystals  which  are  obtained  in  this  test  are  so  characteristic,  and  form/ 
under  such  peculiar  circumstances,  that  it  is  impossible  to  be  deceivedo.. 
The  following  is  the  modus  operandi: 
Some  of  the  fluid  obtained  by  the  usual  means  of  washing  the  spot 
with  distilled  water  is  put  in  a  watch  crystal  ;  add  a  little  of  the  Solu- 
tion of  common  salt,  and  let  it  dry  under  the  bellglass  of  an  air-pump^, 
near  a  glass  containing  sulphuric  acid.  Now  wash  the  deposit  on  the- 
crystal  with  acid  acetic,  glac  ;  evaporate  to  dryness  at  a  temperature 
of  100°  C.  on  the  water-bath  ;  then  add  a  few  drops  of  water,  and. 
watch  the  crystallization  under  the  microscope.  Any  one  who  has 
once  seen  and  watched  the  crystallization  can  never  be  mistaken. — • 
Medical  Gazette,  May  Qth,  1871. 
ON  THE  FLOWERS  OF  ARALIA  SPINOSA  L.,  AND  HEDERA^ 
HELIX  L. 
By  Thomas  Meehan, 
The  stud}^  of  Aralia  splnosa,  L.,  affords  some  interesting  facts:- 
which  do  not  seem  to  have  attracted  the  attention  of  other  observers.. 
In  Dr.  Gray's  indispensable  Manual  of  Botany^  it  is  said  to  be 
"  more  or  less  polygamous."  I  have  had  many  specimens  under  mj 
daily  observation  this  season,  from  the  earliest  opening  till  the  last- 
blossom  appeared,  and  find  that  it  is  much  more  nearly  monoecious 
than  the  above  quotation  would  imply. 
There  are  three  different  sets  of  flowers  corresponding  to  the  thrice 
compound  branchlets  of  the  large  panicle.  When  the  flower  scape- 
elongates,  it  seems  suddenly  arrested  at  a  given  point,  and  a  very 
strong  umbel  o^  female  flowers  appears  at  the  apex.  A  great  number 
of  secondary  branches  appear  along  this  main  one  ;  and  they  also  sud- 
denly terminate  each  with  an  umbel  of  female  flowers.  From  these- 
secondary  branches  a  third  series  appear,  and  these  flowers  are  wen- 
filled  with  anthers  that  are  abundantly  polleniferous.  The  female 
organs  of  these  flowers  of  the  third  class,  are,  however,  defective,  as- 
only  a  few  bear  capsules,  and  in  these  a  large  portion  of  the  seeds 
have  no  ovules.  The  polygamous  character  is  confined  to  this  third 
series  of  flower,  the  first  two  having  purely  pistillate  blossoms.  Irsi 
these  there  do  not  seem  to  be  the  rudiments  of  stamens. 
