The Scientific Notebooks of German Orchidologist Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig Kränzlin

JULY 30, 1881.] THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 145

— PODOPHYLLUM EMODI. — At the present time the scarlet fruits of this Himalayan herbaceous plant are very ornamental; they are said to be much better than the sweet, slightly acid ones of teh only other species of the genus, the United States May

[black and white illustrations] EWS Sc FIG. 32. — PHALÆNOPSIS VIOLACEA (SEE P. 144.)

Apple, P. peltatum. Though the fruits are edible, the leaves and roots of both are probably poisonous; indeed, the leaves and roots, drastic and poisonous, is distinctly stated of P. peltatum by Dr. ASA GRAY. The resin—podophyllin—which has obtained a footing in this country, and is used in medicine as a substitute for mercurials, is derived from the last-named plant.

— ADENOCALYMNA NITIDUM.—This is a Brazilian climber, belonging to the natural order Bignoniaceæ. It has large Allamanda-like golden-yellow blossoms, which are freely produced by the plant on the roof of the Victoria-house at Kew. A. comosum,

a species with rather smaller flowers, is in bloom in the Palm-house.

— THE PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF MATÉ. — Maté, or Paraguayan tea, is known to be extensively used in South America, and almost universally in Brazil, the common practice being to pour boiling

water on some of the powder (consisting of ground leaves and twigs of certain species), the to suck the infusion through tubes provided with strainers. MM. D'ARSONVAL and CONTY (says the Times) have recently inquired into the action of this substance,

administering it to dogs, either by injecting into the veins or by introduction into the stomach, and they have observed a remarkable effect of it on the gases of the blood. It diminishes the carbonic acid and oxygen both of the arterial and of the venous blood to a large extent, sometimes a third or even half of the normal quantity. This action, which is less