Dodora

JOURNAL OF THE

NEW ENGLAND BOTANICAL CLUB.

Conducted and published for the Club, by BENJAMIN LINCOLN ROBINSON, Editor-in-chief.

FRANK SHIPLEY COLLINS MERRITT LYNDON FERNALD Associate Editors. HOLLIS WEBSTER

WILLIAM PENN RICH

Publication Committee. EDWARD LOTHROP RAND | ———

VOLUME 4,

1902.

Boston, Mass. | Providence, R. 1l.

740 Exchange Building. Preston and Rounds Co.

Rbodora

JOURNAL OF

THE NEW ENGLAND BOTANICAL CLUB

Vol. 4 January, 1902 No. 37

THE OCCURRENCE OF ELEOCHARIS DIANDRA AT BRUNSWICK, MAINE.

CHARLES A. Davis.

In the latter part of July and early August, in 1894, the writer was studying the flora of the vicinity of Brunswick, Maine. Nearly ten years before, while he was a student at Bowdoin College the same region had been, as was thought at the time, very thoroughly studied, but the knowledge and experience gained in the intervening time pointed out that many places of interest existed, which not only had not been examined, but had been avoided as barren, by the student.

The richest and most profitable collecting ground found at this time proved to be one of these supposed barren areas, namely the banks of the Androscoggin River, between high and low water marks.

Those familiar with the coastal region of Maine, know that many of the larger rivers are affected by the tides, for long distances from their mouths, the effects being well marked, up as far as the first fall above the mouth of the stream. This effect is of course not peculiar to Maine Rivers, but because of the fiord-like bays into which the rivers empty and the large volumes of fresh water which they dis- charge, this tidal action in Maine is frequently limited to mere hold- ing back of the outgoing fresh water of the stream, so that twice a day, at high water, the river is broad and deep, and twice a day it becomes shallow and shrinks away from its former limits leaving bare much of its former bed. Since the effect of tidal action is to hold back the fresh water of the stream, we find that in the higher reaches of the tidal action, the water is fresh, and so we have rather broad zones of very wet fresh-water mud- or sand-banks, left along the

2 Rhodora . [JANUARY

shores of the streams. These in their characteristics of soil and drainage are like marshes, but they lack the vegetable debris and stagnation which are found in marshes. They are, in fact, much more like wave-washed beaches in small and shallow lakes in their soil forms, differing from them mainly in the fact that they are less exposed to wind action, and have much more fine material deposited in places where slack water occurs. Small shallow pools are left by the retreat of the tides; mud-and sand-bars are abundant, and those which are exposed longest to the light and air, in summer and autumn, are covered with a rich growth of small plants. These, unless examined carefully, would seem unworthy of attention because of their insignificant size, and also because they are more or less covered by the fine silt brought in by the ever recurring tides. The botanist who is looking for unusual and rare species, will however not leave such areas without careful study, and as the Androscoggin River at Brunswick has all of the features described, many hours were spent in the study of the sand- and mud-bank floras of its shores and many interesting plants were found. Most interesting of all was the finding of the little Z/eocharis diandra Charles Wright. ‘This plant heretofore has not been reported from east of the Connecticut valley, and yet at Brunswick it was evidently at home in the muddy sand of the high water areas of a small cove in the shore of the river. Near it in a shallow pool, growing with Juncus filiformis L. and one or two small species of Sagittaria, was Utricularia minor L., until then an unnoticed plant in Maine, and two well marked forms of Zsoefes, probably forms of Z. echinospora Durien. The Zsoefes were common even as far out as the borders of the deep channel of the stream. A more complete study of such tracts, and of these same ones at dif- ferent seasons, would undoubtedly yield a rich harvest of obscure and rare species, for plants of this type of habitat are often very local in distribution but where they do occur they are found in abundance. UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN.

Tue ELUSIVE CHARACTER OF POGONIA PENDULA. — As supple- mentary tothe article on this somewhat transitory plant in RHODORA, ii, 211, a report from Vermont may be of interest.

Mr. Clifton D. Howe wrote from Burlington on Sept. 12, 1899: “Until three years ago Pogonia pendula had not been reported in this

VW

Po i. fne

1902] Silsbee, — Volvaria volvacea in Lawrence, Mass. 3

state for fifty years, when it was found in Newfane. Since then it has been reported in several other places, but is still very rare. It was found quite plentiful in Newfane three years ago. Last year there were only a few plants, and this summer I have been unable to find one. I wish you would watch your station and see if you have the same experience with it." The observers at this station were Mr. Howe and Dr. A. J. Grout, whose homes were in that town.

Aug. 16, 1899, the day following that on which Mr. Harvey found it in Maine, the writer found a single plant in a rotten stump in West- minster, about ten miles east of Newfane. On Aug. 24 and on sub- sequent days, I found it quite abundant in a small wood-lot in Putney, less than a quarter of a mile from the first station. It grew in little hollows, the white, oblong tubers being in rotten wood or decayedleaves. Enough plants were found to have furnished speci- mens for all the botanists in New England, but of the few saved, most were thrown away, as they did not dry well, and it was planned to make careful collections the next year. Last year, however, and this, vain search has been made for this plant in the hollows where it was so plenty in 1899.

Reports from other stations are desirable. Does it thus disappear wherever found? Has any one ever carefully studied it? It seems to need very careful marking if it appears but once in a generation or two of “mortal men.” Let those who find it spread the good news and make, the most of their discoveries. It seems to be a case of “now or never.” Efforts at artificial propagation might be success- ful in the hands of those who are skillful in the handling of bulbs. — W. H. BLANCHARD, Westminster, Vermont.

VOLVARIA VOLVACEA IN LAWRENCE, MASSACHUSETTS.

FRANCIS H. SILSBEE.

ON August 5, 19or, a friend brought to me some specimens of fungi which were readily identified from the conspicuous volva, pinkish or salmon-colored gills, and absence of collar, as belonging to the genus Volvaria. A visit to the place where they were found revealed a large bed of them. In a dumping ground belonging to the Pacific Mills, Lawrence, a large amount of soiled cop and roving

4 Rhodora [JANUARY

waste, together with bits of rags and paper, more or less mixed with night soil, occupied a space of about one hundred square feet. The pile was perhaps two feet deep. This heap was almost covered with the fruit, which grew in great luxuriance in clusters of from three to five each, the groups being perhaps a foot or so apart. As they grew on such a loose, soft material it was very easy to secure specimens in all stages of development, from the closed volva up to the fully mature fruit. I did not notice any specimens where the cap was fully expanded so as to be really plane. While still somewhat conical, or broadly umbonate, the pilei would become wrinkled or crépy, and have a wilted appearance. On consulting Stevenson’s British Hymenomycetes, I found that the species was undoubtedly V. vo/vacea. His description, which is that of Fries with dimensions added, is as follows : —

“ Pileus 7.5 cent. (3 in.) broad, rarely more, cinereous, black-streaked with appressed fibrils, campanulate, then expanded, obtuse. Stem 7.5-12.5 cent. (3-5 in.) long, r2 mm. (din.) thick, white, solid, somewhat equal; volva lax. Gills free, flesh-colored. In stoves [hot-houses], roadsides, etc. Rare. July—Aug.”

From careful observation of the bed referred to, this description might be amplified thus : —

" Pileus 3-6 in. broad ; (very few were less than 3 in. and many were 5 or 6 in.); when first emerging from the volva almost black, and under a lens somewhat fibrillose-tomentose. As the pileus expands it becomes paler, and streaked with black, appressed fibrils, though the disk remains dark. The older pilei become broadly umbonate and striated, and in some cases almost sulcate, especially on the margin. "There seemed, also, a general tendency for the pileus, even before expanding, to split at the disc, usually into quite regular quarters, the split often extending partly down the stem. The margin in the expanded caps, also, was frequently split. Stem silky- fibrillose, solid, white without and within, expanded into a bulb at base, and connected with the volva, central but frequently curved, probably owing to the irregular shape of the heap of material. When growing out of the side of a little mound, the stem would curve upward, to bring the pilei horizontal. Gills free, white at first, becoming pink or flesh-colored, and finally almost salmon-colored ; rather close, of various lengths. Flesh white, rather thin; taste "T and rather pleasant, although the fruit all had a strong odor. Volva white below,

1902] Webster, — Remarks on Volvaria 5

blackish brown above, rupturing quite regularly along a middle zone the upper half adhering to pileus, but breaking up into two or three large pieces as the cap expands, and soon falling off. The lower part of the volva remains large and loose, with a very free margin, though somewhat appressed. Volva white within.

The growth of these fungi was much affected by weather. After a rain they would develop from the button stage to maturity in about two days. Dry, hot weather with bright sunshine seemed to retard the rapidity and luxuriance of growth, specimens then also being smaller. The bed on which they grew was quite warm slightly below the surface, showing that rapid decay of the mass was taking place.

The spores were smooth, oval, somewhat pointed at one end, and about 8 tog X 5 to 6 m, (6 to8 x 34to 4, Massee). When collected in a mass on paper they were of a rusty salmon color.

At this writing, Aug. 18th, the bed is still bearing.

LAWRENCE, Mass.

REMARKS ON VOLVARIA. HOLLIS WEBSTER.

Mn. Silsbee's observations on Volvaria volvacea furnish a peg on which to hang a few notes about the genus, which may be acceptable to readers who have gone no farther in the study of toadstools than to safeguard themselves by learning the characteristics of the poison- ous Amanitas. For a Volvaria is much like an Amanita, and would surely be classed as one by a tyro in whose mind the image of the wrapper or volva has temporarily obscured such things as veils and rings, or the color of spores. Indeed the volva is more conspicuous in Volvaria, as a rule, than in any Amanita except A. caesarea, in which, as in the larger Volvarias, it consists of a large, fleshy bag that can not possibly escape notice. From the prominence of this wrap- per the genus takes its appropriate name. Unlike Amanita, Volvaria has no partial veil, and hence no ring on the stem. In this, Vol- varia is like Amanitopsis. But whereas both the ringed Amanita and the ringless Amanitopsis produce white spores, Volvaria spores are pink or flesh-colored. The same tint is usually to be seen in the gills,

6 Rhodora [JANUARY

if they are not too young. Amanitopsis and Volvaria, then, differ from Amanita in having no partial veil, and from each other in color of gills and spores. As in Amanita, the gills in Volvaria are usually free, and the stem is easily separable from the cap.

Neither in number of species nor in frequency of occurrence does Volvaria equal Amanita. Hennings, in Engler and Prantl (Die Natiirlichen Pflanzenfamilien, 1898) gives the number of described species as follows: — Amanita, 56; Amanitopsis, 28; Volvaria, 36. And Lloyd (Volvae of the United States, 1898) mentions, as ascribed to this country, of Amanita, 28 species; of Amanitopsis, 10; and of Volvaria, 12.

With other pink-spored Agarics, the genus Volvaria has been traditionally regarded by mycophagists with suspicion. Recent writers, on the contrary, have placed several species in the list of edible kinds. But opportunities for experiment are so infrequent, or so local, that most mycophagists will probably remain doubters, and prefer to err on the safe side.

Besides the species observed by Mr. Silsbee, two others may be mentioned. ‘The first is perhaps as beautiful and striking an agaric as the woods produce. Volvaria bombycina, a species reported from Europe, Asia, North Africa, and North and South America, is the most widely known. It is found on fallen and on living trees, of various species, often in New England on the sugar maple. "Though widely distributed, it is nowhere common. It is pure white, covered on the cap with glistening, silk-like fibrils (whence the name), grows to be several inches across, and is sure to attract attention by its size, habitat, and large, baggy volva. On wilting or on being bruised, the pure white becomes stained with dingy brown. Though this Volvaria is well known to be edible, Cooke ( British Edible Fungi, 1891, p. 228) says, perhaps over cautiously, it “is often eaten abroad, but we have never been induced to try it. Pink-spored species are, as a rule, suspicious." ‘Though the writer has had repeated oppor- tunities of seeing this species, he has found it only once or twice. It is brought as a great prize nearly every year, in July or August, to some Saturday exhibition of the Boston Mycological Club. And for thelast two years a single superb specimen has been brought into Alstead, New Hampshire, to the School of Natural Hm from a sugar grove in a neighboring town.

A second large species, V. speciosa, known in Europe, didis.

t

ae SOUS, BENIN oe NE TOT ESO

1902]. Davenport, — Notes on New England Ferns, — III 7

and North Africa, is reported by McClatchie as abundant in Califor- nia, and is said to be edible. It is grayish and very viscid. The same species is called poisonous by Bresadola, in his recent popular account of the edible and poisonous fungi of Middle Europe (Funghi Mangerecci e Velenosi, 1899).

Volvaria volvacea has been reported from a few other places in this country, but never in such abundance as in Lawrence. It is usually much smaller. It grows also in Europe and in Ceylon.

An interesting series of buttons, collected in Mr. Silsbee’s locality, was shown to the writer by Mr. G. E. Morris. Even the smallest were very dark colored above — almost black — and with a velvety look. On the older ones, and on the ruptured volva, the color was less intense. There is little doubt that this species is edible, but caution is necessary. e

Other species of Volvaria reported from this country are little known. One, V. Loveiama, found in Europe and in Canada (by J. Dearness, as reported by Lloyd) has a peculiar habitat — on decaying agarics (Clitocybe) and should accordingly be easily. recognizable.

More information as to the occurrence of species of Volvaria in New England would be welcome. They may be easily preserved by drying.

CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES ON NEW ENGLAND FERNS, — III. ;

GEORGE E. DAVENPORT.

(Presented to N. Eng. Bot. Club, Dec. 2, r9or.)

NOTE 5. SUBDIVISION OF THE NEW ENGLAND ASPIDIEAE. — In my last notes I explained my reasons for adopting Athyrium for Asplenium filix-foemina and now, as I intend adopting some gen- eric changes in Aspidium it seems advisable to explain my reasons for doing so, and to preface my account of a most extraordinary fern by a synopsis of our New England Aspidieae.

The genus Aspidium as recognized by Prof. Daniel Cady Eaton in

8 Rhodora [JANUARY

his superb work on the Ferns of North America, and, as until recently, generally adopted in the United States, comprises all of the shield ferns with orbicular indusia centrally attached to the receptacle (pel- tate), and those also with cordate reniform indusia attached at the sinus, without regard to the character of the venation except in so far as it may serve the purposes of sectional relations.

As originally proposed by Olaf Swartz in 1800 or 180r (Schrad- er's Journal), and more fully established by him in his Synopsis Fili- cum later on (1806), the genus consisted of a heterogeneous collection of species having little cohesion from natural affinities, but represent- ing the best arrangement which had been made up to that time.

Subsequent revisions, fortified by the views of such eminent pteri- dologists as Drs. Presl, Mettenius and Hooker, gradually reduced its proportions to the limitations recognized by Prof. Eaton.

The genus as thus constituted has consisted of three well charac- terized types, which, while closely related, are readily separable into distinct entities.

The first of these types is represented by Aspidium trifoliatum Swartz, which stands as the type of Aspidium proper, and which is a species with orbicular, peltate indusia, and anastomose venation.

The second type is represented by Aspidium Lonchitis Swartz, which, while it has peltate indusia, as in Aspidium proper, has its venation wholly free. Not only this but it possesses additional char- acters of such a nature that many able authorities have treated it as generically distinct in every way from Aspidium. Now it was upon this species that Roth founded his genus Polystichum somewhere between 1798 and 1800 (exact date uncertain, but the same as that at which he established Athyrium; see previous note in RHODORA, ii. 267), and Polystichum Lonchitis Roth, with its peltate indusia, free venation, and special characters to be described, stands as the type for Roth's genus.

In considering the history of the early genera it appears that nearly, if not all of them consisted of a heterogeneous medley of species which are now seen to have represented different genera, and this justifies adopting the first correctly named species under the genus as the generic type; only such other species as conform to such type characters being accepted as rightfully belonging to the genus.

Following out this principle we find our third type in those mem- bers of the Aspidium genera with a cordate reniform indusium

1902] Davenport, — Notes on New England Ferns, — III 9

affixed to the receptacle by a well defined sinus. Here we have by far the largest group of Aspidiums and our New England species exactly represent true Vefhrodium as proposed by Richard in Mich- aux’s Flora Bor.-Am. ii. 1803, the type being JVepArodium marginale. It is true that Richard named two other species in their order first, but as both belonged to other genera already established they nat- urally lapsed in favor of JV. marginale which thus became the type species. As this species is characterized by having cordate-reniform indusia and free veins, it is clear that species with united veins can- not properly be considered as belonging to Richard's genus by any- one attaching importance to the system of venation; yet many authors have persisted in treating Nephrodium as if it had been founded on species with united veins.

The genus, even as here recognized, is made up of two well char- acterized sections, one consisting of the marginale and spinulosum group with evergreen, or nearly evergreen fronds, fascicled stout rootstocks forming crowns, and with several roundish fibro-vascular bundles in the stipe; and the other with softly herbaceous fronds, long slender creeping rootstocks, and two flattish bundles in the stipe.

This whole matter is discussed more fully in my Fern MSS. where I have made the characters last mentioned the basis for a divisional arrangement of our New England Ferns.

The following brief synopsis will show the arrangement adopted here for our New England Aspidiums : —

TRIBE ASPIDIEAE — J. Smith. Sporophyte (plant-body) large, with fascicled rootstocks forming crowns, or creeping rhizomes; fronds variously compounded, evergreen or herbaceous; sporopAy//s (fruit- bearers) with the sori covered by peltate (attached at the centre), or cordate-reniform indusia, the latter being attached at the sinus; ven- ation free or anastomose,

I. Aspipium (from domis — meaning buckler or shield) Swartz, as emended. — Sori orbicular, indusium peltate, veins anastomose. Not represented in New England.

II. PoLvsrICHUM (from zoAós — many, øríyos — order) ROTH. — Sori orbicular, indusium peltate, veins free. The members of this genus are further distinguished by the irregular auricled pinnae, cori- aceous texture and spiny toothed lobes. The genus is represented in New England by two ferns:

10 Rhodora [JANUARY

1. Polystichum acrostichoides Schott, Christmas Fern, and

2. Polystichum aculeatum Roth, var. Braunii (Spenner), n. comb. (Aspidium Braunii Spenner.) I am not sure that those who maintain specific rank for this fern are not correct, but prefer for the present to adhere to Prof. Eaton's treatment.

III. NEPHRODIUM (from ve$pós — kidney, with reference to the form of the indusium) Richard.! — Indusium kidney-shaped, or cord- ate-reniform with a sinus attachment. The genus is well represented in New England by two distinct sections, as follows: —

Section 1. Evergreen, or partially so; the sporophylls generally withering in late autumn; rootstocks caudiciform, forming crowns; fibro-vascular bundles 3 to 7 roundish. ‘The section embraces the following species : —

N. marginale Richard, N. cristatum X marginale Davenport, AN. cristatum Richard, W. Goldieanum Hooker, N. Bootti? Davenport acc. to Gilbert, JV. spinulosum Desvaux, and JV. fragrans Richardson.

Section 2. Herbaceous; fronds withering early, rootstocks rhizo- matose, wide creeping; fibro vascular bundles flattish, two in number. Contains the following species: — JV. Thelypteris Desvaux, JV. Nove- boracense Desvaux, JV. simulatum Davenport.

A fern now to be described will become a member of the First Section, as will some other forms to be described later on.

In the arrangement which I have here presented, and which it is my intention to adopt in practice, I have not taken into account Bory's Zastrea, as being apparently founded on a misapprehension of the true character of Nephrodium it can only properly be regarded as a synonym ; neither have I taken into account Adanson's Dryop- teris, which the Rochester advocates are striving so hard to establish, because a genus so ill defined, with its type standing for one thing and its description for another, has no just claim for consideration as against the more clearly defined Nephrodium which has been in use for nearly a century.

Nore 6. AN ANOMALOUS FERN, — Late in the autumn of 1894 (Nov. 4) I found growing in one of the woodland swamps in Medford, near plants of Mephrodium marginale, cristatum X marginale, cristatum, — Clintonianum and spinulosum, a strange fern which I could not satis-

! Richard's name does not appear in Michaux and for that reason some authors cite Michaux as authority for the names used therein, but Richard has been generally recognized as the real author.

at a NET DISSE V IEEE : Tau ECT E 4 P EE M " YR D

1902] Davenport, — Notes on New England Ferns — III II

` factorily determine. The plant stood about two feet high, with the erect fertile fronds standing well above the sterile, and its whole aspect resembling that of an abnormal form of C/intonzanum.

On examining the rootstock I found it to be sub-erect, with a growth similar to that iV. marginale, but sufficiently distinct from that of N. cristatum X marginale to suggest its being a probable hybrid between marginale and Clintonianum.

As the particular section of woodland where it grew had been staked out, and the plant appeared to be in danger of an early exter- mination, I transplanted it to my own grounds where I could watch and study it.

This I have done since, until the plant with a single crown has become a large clump, with a breadth of something like twelve inches and a length of eighteen or twenty ; and with sixteen crowns, on one of which last spring I counted 22 crosiers.

Notwithstanding the fact that this extension had occurred by means of lateral growth, the original crown has maintained its sub- erect position, while the later crowns which have developed from lateral offshoots have assumed in one direction more the character of CZntonianum with a distinctly lateral or rhizomatose growth, and in the other direction the caudiciform character of the original crown ; so that there has existed on the same plant crowns of two types, viz. : that of W. marginale and that of Clintonianum.

Not only that, but the fronds from the different crowns have shown all manner of variations that might serve as instructive object lessons for some of our industrious species and variety makers.

The behavior of the plant during successive seasons has been noticeable from the fact that some years it would produce a large percentage of perfect fronds, and in others a large proportion of abortive ones, while none have ever reached the original height of the plant.

It has also been noticeable that the position of the sori varied on different fronds from different crowns. "Thus on fronds growing on the lateral ends of the clump the sori are medial, as in normal CZi- tonianum, or sub-marginal as would be the case in a hybrid between marginale and Clintonianum, while on fronds from the original crown, and the later sub-erect crowns, and sometimes on the same frond, a mixture of medial and costal sori occurs, and on those from the latest sub-erect crowns a costal series of sori generally prevails.

|

12 Rhodora [JANUARY

The character of the fibro-vascular bundles is the same as in all members of the group to which this plant belongs.

I doubt if it is possible to formulate any absolute rule for deter- mining the different species and varieties of the evergreen shield ferns from the character of the vascular bundles,—Sertainly not from their number, which is regulated by the size of the frond and the stout- ness of the stipe. Thus in large fronds of the different species the number may be seven, and in small fronds five, or even three, at the base of the stipe, with corresponding reductions above.

Our plant is no exception to this rule, but it has shown such re- markable variations from all other forms of the group that it seems worthy of special notice.

Several seasons' observations have left me as much in the dark as to its origin as at first.

That it is a hybrid I believe, but between what ferns it is impossi- ble to say. Marginale characters appear in the sub-erect crowns, and in the sometimes nearly marginal elevated coriaceous sori; C/m/omi- anum characters in the decumbent lateral crown and medial sori; Spinulosum characters in the sometimes deltoid lower pinnae, elon- gated pinnules, and sharply, almost spinulosely toothed lobes.

As just such another plant may never be found again it does not seem worth while to dignify this one with a name, but in case another should be found the following diagnosis may assist in determining it more clearly.

Mature sporophyte large (r2 to 24, or more inches tall), partially evergreen, sterile fronds persistent, sporophylls gradually withering away; rootstock decumbent, fasciculate, original crown sub-erect increasing laterally, at length forming large composite clumps, with sub-erect, decumbent or lateral, crowns all connected by short, stout rhizomes, combining types of marginale and Clintonianum; crosiers densely clothed with a mixture of large ovate and narrowly lanceolate pale brown scales. Stipes usually 4 to 8 inches long, sometimes longer, and, as well as the primary rachis, stramineous, often darker

. below, deeply channelled along the face, clothed at the base, and well above, with the ascending scales from the crosiers, and chaffy along the upper rachises. Laminae r2 to 18 inches, or more, in length, 4 to 10 inches broad in the middle, narrowing both ways, often abruptly so at the acuminate apex, which then resembles that of JV. mar-

ginale; once or twice pinnate, or thrice pinnatifid; the middle pinnae

n P

1902] Bissell, —Phaseolus perennis in New England 13

on perfect fronds long lanceolate, acuminate, the lower pinnae shorter often deltoid with acute apices, the upper series narrowing abruptly or gradually to an acute or acuminate apex; superior pinnules gen- erally the longest but the order sometimes reversed; lobes more or less deeply toothed and partially spinulose, texture sub-coriaceous, surfaces smooth; venation, and fibro-vascular bundles as in other members of this group. Sori medial, costal or sub-marginal.

Abnormal fronds defy description, and as it is impossible to get a clear conception of ‘the unique character of this fern from single fronds, a series of the most characteristic will be photographed for distribution.

MEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS.

REDISCOVERY OF PHASEOLUS PERENNIS IN NEW ENGLAND. — In preparing his check-list of the Leguminosae of New England, Hon. J. R. Churchill took much pains to investigate the various reports as to the occurrence of Phaseolus perennis, Walt., in New England.

He has published the result of his work with some detail in RHODORA, II: 92— April, 19oo. He states that the only known specimens from New England were collected nearly fifty years ago at or near New Haven, Connecticut, and as he could find no specimens collected in more recent years, nor any botanist who had seen it, he would infer that it had disappeared from our flora. It is therefore a pleasure to place this Phaseolus in good standing again among our New Eng- land plants, and record for it a present and well established station.

I secured specimens of it at Norwalk, Connecticut, the past summer, in flower on August 23rd, and in good fruit September 16th. This station is about thirty five miles from New Haven, so it can hardly be the one from which the specimens referred to by Judge i Churchill were taken. The Norwalk station is in a patch of rocky woodland, and only a few rods from the border of a salt marsh. The growth was strong and healthy, the vines trailing over the ground and forming a thick mat covering about a square rod, to the exclusion of most other plants. — C. H. Bissett, Southington, Connecticut.

SOME PLANTS RECENTLY FOUND IN AND AROUND NORTH EASTON, MASSACHUSETTS.— Solanum carolinense, L. (Horsenettle.) This west- ern species of Solanum was found in a dry location in the town of

14 Rhodora [JANUARY

North Easton, August, 1899. Two to three hundred specimens were found on the spot. The present year the station was visited and the plant seems to have increased considerably.

Solanum rostratum, Dunal, was found in a cultivated field on the border line between South Easton and Brockton, July, 1900. The specimen located was of enormous size, being 34—4 feet high.

Ajuga reptans, L.' According to Gray's Manual this species is naturalized near Saco, Maine, Montreal, etc. In July of this year a station was found near Elm street, North Easton, in a rather moist meadow. The plants were growing in good clumps, and if the present conditions remain there is hope of a good increase of the specimens. — CARL BLomBERG,. North Easton.

NOTES ON THE BLUE-BERRIED HUCKLEBERRY. — I have read the communications in RHODORA from time to time concerning Gayluss- acta resinosa glaucocarpa Robinson with much interest. The variety, if it be a variety or rather a distinct species, as it may prove later, is common in eastern Connecticut in the towns of Plainfield, Brooklyn, Canterbury, Voluntown and Sterling. It occurs in distinct clumps generally associated with G. resinosa Torr. and Gray. When I was a child I used to pick its berries on account of their larger size, and because of its being different from the common black huckleberry. By some it was considered inferior to the black. I always regarded it as an oddity, and used to hearthe older ones speak of it as a cross between the-black huckleberry and blueberry. "There was probably no foundation for the theory of its being a cross, other than that it was a bluish-black, and that the black huckleberry and blueberry grew near it. It was locally known as the blue-black huckleberry. While it is characteristic of G. resinosa and of some species of Vaccinium, in many ways, it is, nevertheless, so distinct that it may be readily separated from them in the field by its manner of growth, which is more vigorous than G. resinosa, and by its glaucous leaves. — Jonn L. SHELDON, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska.

1902] Williams, — Lists of New England Plants, — VIII 15

PRELIMINARY LISTS OF NEW ENGLAND PLANTS,—VIII.! EMILE F. WILLIAMS.

[The + sign indicates that an herbarium specimen has been seen; the sign — that a reliable printed record has been found. |

LOBELIACEAE. "E: A å E g "xg Lobelia cardinalis, L. SE 4141414 * — Dortmanna, L. eit i+ (tit “a RISE, E. LIRATE 4+ * — Kalmii, L. BNET. 1— Ja “spicata, Lam. AIDE IIS * — syphilitica, L. 4- M CAMPANULACEAE. o |T |u A =£ *|z|* |e |e |ó Campanula aparinoides, Pursh. Eo EDGE S glomerata, L. $ ai rapunculoides, L. $i +i] FD D rotundifolia, L. . dd EA A 4 Jasione montana, L. of Specularia perfoliata, A. ‘DC. Tix alic DIAPENSIACEAE. efB lel sia) s . ac . * |z|” S]a |ó Diapensia lapponica, L. . . . ... - tit

lPrinted in RHODORA as supplementary material.

*

16 Rhodora

PLUMBAGINACEAE.

Statice Limonium, L. var. caroliniana, Gray.

PRIMULACEAE.

Anagallis arvensis, L. Glaux maritima, L. Hottonia inflata, Ell. . Lysimachia Nummularia, L. " producta, Fernald . punctata, L. . quadrifolia, L. y stricta, Ait. thyrsiflora, L. vulgaris, L. Primula farinosa, L. . EU M gt ae "* mistassinica, Michx. . . . . .

Samolus Valerandi, L. var. americanus, Gray.

Steironema ciliatum, Raf. " lanceolatum, Gray. . Trientalis americana, Pursh.

EBENACEAE.

Diospyros virginiana, L.

[JANUARY

slZlalalal¢ Ale | |S lal 3 $1414] 4 oit folam] IFISEIPIE FREI] TIT + + EIe-|4 bie Le te | | # UL | | ab 4 +} od Pee ee +15) ete Lie +)—1 +] +} 4 | 4 hel [ete + +| |+ -obebl»xbeél4 mMEICIPOT T 4axbePbeII + hoped ete t+ d 23|8|9|8 * zs T

1902] Williams, — Lists of New England Plants, — VIII

OLEACEAE.

Fraxinus americana, L. .'. . . .« . + « * pennsylvanica, Marshall pt pubes- cens, Lam).

pennsylvanica, Marshall, var. lanceo- lata, Sargent (Z. pro Michx. 4

sambucifolia, Lam.

Ligustrum vulgare, L.

Syringa vulgaris, L.

“

[11

APOCYNACEAE,

Apocynum androsaemifolium, L. . , cannabinum, L. . Vinca minor, L.

ASCLEPIADACEAE.

Acerates viridiflora, Ell. . Asclepias incarnata, L. gm

^ var. pulchra, Pers. obtusifolia, Michx. phytolaccoides, Pursh. purpurascens, L. quadrifolia, L. B syriaca, L. (A. Cornuti, Decaisne.) tuberosa, L. Ae bs verticillata, L. Vincetoxicum nigrum, Moench.

++++ + + Me

+I ++ + +N.H. FPFF + + Mt

++++ + + Mass.

+ fe RTI

++++ + + Conn.

+++

TX Me

++ N.H. +++ Vt

+ + Mass.

tH RIL + + + Conn.

Me.

NH

+++] ++++

+ +++ ++ +

Vt. Mass.

+++++++++] +t++t++4+4++

R..L

++++++++++ Conn.

18 Rhodora

SANTALACEAE.

Comandra livida, Richardson. " umbellata, Nutt.

ORCHIDACEAE.

|. Aplectrum hiemale, Nutt. |— Arethusa bulbosa, L. . Calopogon pulchellus, R. Br. Calypso borealis, Salisb. | > Corallorhiza innata, R. Br.. > " multiflora, Nutt. odontorhiza, Nutt. à Cypripedium acaule, Ait. - arietinum, R. Br. $ parviflorum, Salisb. pubescens, Willd. spectabile, Salisb. Goodyera Menziesii, Lindl. - pubescens, R. Br.

éé

& [17

“ee

Fernald.

» ." . tesselata, Loddiges. . Habenaria blephariglottis, Torr. b bracteata, R. Br. ciliaris, R. Br. - dilatata, Gray. . " fimbriata, R. Br. Hookeriana, Gray. . [1] & hyperborea, R. Br. . lacera, R. Br. i obtusata, Richardson. . orbiculata, Torr. psycodes, Gray.

z tridentata, Hook.

d virescens, Spreng. Liparis liliifolia, Richard.

À

y V v - A

[JANUARY

++ Me.

EENH

++ Vt.

c u +

Mass.

Kk Conn.

repens, R. Br. var. ophioides.

var. oblongifolia, Paine.

Me. N.H.

+tt+++ttt+++ +++ F444 4444+ 4+ 4444+

f+] ++] ++4+4+4 |

++teettt+ +++ +++ + FHEtteett++e+ts+ Ve

t+t+tttt+t+t+t+t+ +444 +

HEHEHE HHH HH t+++t+tse + +++ ++++ +++ Mass.

RI.

+++ tettt ++ Fttettet+ + +++ ++++ +++ Conn.

++ +++

—

+++

LU Ete

Msn me Som cua PBO|ou B E

1902] Williams, — Lists of New England Plants, — VIII — 19

L

R. + Conn.

Mass.

“> SN. GEL.

Liparis Loeselii, Richard. Listera auriculata, Wiegand. * — convallarioides, Nutt. Ki codalta, R. RES Microstylis monophyllos, Lindl.

"4 ophioglossoides, N utt. Orchis rotundifolia, Pursh.

* — spectabilis, L. Pogonia affinis, Austin.

s ophioglossoides, Nutt.

* pendula, Lindl.

$ verticillata, Nutt. Spiranthes cernua, Richard.

T gracilis, Bigelow. latifolia, Torr. .. praecox, Watson. . Romanzoffiana, Cham. simplex, Gray. . Tipularia discolor, Nutt.

g +

+ + + + +

+++ n E

+

[1

+ -— rS vo + F+tet+ + +144) + +4+4+4+4++ 4¢4+4+4+4+4+4++ Vt + +++++] + + +++

|

NorEs UPON THE Apove Lists. — Old and indefinite reports of plants, which I have been unable to verify by the most diligent inquiry, are purposely omitted. They are as follows :

Asclepias obtusifolia, Michx. — accredited to Maine — Portland Catalogue.

Asclepias quadrifolia, L. — accredited to Maine — Portland Cata- logue.

Asclepias tuberosa, L.— accredited to Maine — Portland Cata- logue.

Asclepias verticillata, L. — accredited to Maine — Portland Cata- logue.

Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Marsh. var. lanceolata, Sargent.— accred- ited to R. I. — Bennett’s List (as F. viridis).

Campanula rotundifolia, L. var. arctica, Lange, to which variety dwarf specimens from the alpine summits of the White Mountains have been referred by some botanists, is not admitted. In my opin- ion such specimens are but a reduced form of the type, due princi- pally to soil and exposure.

Diospyros virginiana, L., has been accredited to Rhode Island in

20 | Rhodora [JANUARY

some lists. I have omitted it, as I find on examination that the re- port is based upon a single tree of very doubtful origin, growing on a farm at Cumberland, Rhode Island.

Campanula glomerata, L., is still well established and thriving in the Danvers, Massachusetts, region, where it was reported more than fifty years ago. It seems strange that it has not obtained a foothold in other New England stations.

Jasione montana, L., has overrun Conanicut Island, Rhode Island, and it is likely to spread.

Syringa vulgaris, L., is such a persistent plant that it must be included in a list of plants growing without cultivation. I have seen it in a thriving condition, on old farmhouse sites in New Hampshire and Maine, abandoned fifty to one hundred years ago.

The Apocynums of New England require revision. It has there- fore seemed to me best to follow the conservative treatment of Gray’s Manual, until the abundant material which has been collected by others and myself can be studied by a competent authority.

Mr. Fernald collected a few years ago on waste land in Cam- bridge, Massachusetts, a few specimens of Lobelia syphilitica, L., one of which is now in the Gray Herbarium. As these plants were doubtless waifs, the species has not been noted in the lists as occur- ring in Massachusetts.

The record of Hottonia inflata, Ell., for Maine rests upon a single specimen collected near Mt. Agamenticus by Mr. John C. Parlin and now preserved in his herbarium. One branch was detached, and it is now in the herbarium of the writer.

The following orchids rest upon old and indefinite or else untrust- worthy records. I have been unable to verify their occurrence, not- withstanding an examination of twenty or more of our principal herbaria, and the writing to scores of correspondents:

Aplectrum hiemale, Nutt. — accredited to Maine — Portland Cata-

logue.

Liparis lilitfolia, Richard. — accredited to Maine — Portland Cata- logue.

Spiranthes praecox, Watson. — accredited to Maine — Portland Catalogue.

Cypripedium arietinum, R. Br. — accredited to Massachusetts — Amherst List.

Cypripedium arietinum, R. Br. —accredited to Connecticut — Bishop’s List.

1902] Williams, — Lists of New England Plants, — VIII * 2r

Cypripedium parviflorum, Salisb.— accredited to Rhode Island — Bennett's List

Goodyera repens, R. Br. var. ophioides, Fernald. — accredited to Rhode Island — Bennett's List.

Habenaria ciliaris, R. Br. — accredited to New Hampshire — Baldwin's Orchids of N. E.

Habenaria ciliaris, R. Br. — accredited to Vermont — Baldwin's Orchids of N. E.

(Likewise omitted in Brainerd, Jones & Eggleston’s Flora of Vermont.)

Liparis liliufolia, Richards. — accredited to Rhode Island — Ben- nett's List.

Listera cordata, R. Br. — accredited to Connecticut — Bishop's List.

Orchis rotundifolia, Pursh. — accredited to New Hampshire — Baldwin’s Orchids of N. E.

fogonia pendula, Lindl. List.

Tipularia discolor, Nutt. — accredited to Vermont — Baldwin’s Orchids of N. E.

(This has been omitted likewise in the Flora of Vermont.)

It seems pertinent to call attention again to the great difference in value between the + sign, indicating that a specimen has been seen, and the — sign, which rests only upon a printed record. Unless this record can be backed up by an herbarium specimen, it can be accepted only with a certain amount of doubt.

Of the most recent segregations accredited to New England not one has been admitted in my list. They are based upon unreliable and inconstant characters. I am well acquainted with all of these variations, and in my opinion they are at best but forms which it is pre- posterous to erect into species. i

Goodyera repens, R. Br., the European type of the species, which was accredited to Vermont in the recently issued Flora of Vermont, has been dropped. ‘The specimens upon which the record was made agree better with the variety ofhzoides of Fernald.

Habenaria Hookeriana, Gray, var. oblongifolia, Paine, has been re- tained, although in the opinion of the writer the variety is not well enough marked, at least in our New England plants, to entitle it to

‘recognition. Equally poor varieties might easily be made out of

accredited to Rhode Island — Bennett's

+ ie on RUN ^

22 Rhodora [JANUARY

mere leaf variations in Habenaria orbiculata, H. obtusata, Orchis spectabilis, etc., etc.

There is a single specimen of Cora//orAza striata, Lindl., in the herbarium of the University of Vermont, collected many years ago by Joseph Torrey — date and locality not given, according to ancient usage. The plant, however, is believed to have been collected near Burlington. Prof. L. R. Jones writes me: “We shall have to await its rediscovery before so crediting it in printed lists." I can but acquiesce in this wise suggestion.

Epipactis Helleborine, Crantz, was introduced in 1898, with some garden plants from New York State, at Stockbridge, Mass. It was hardly likely to persist, however, as it selected a hedge along the main street for a habitat.

Spiranthes Romanzofiana, Cham. is reported to me on good authority as growing on Mt. Greylock, Massachusetts. As there is no published record of the fact, and I am unable to obtain speci- mens at present, I am obliged to omit it from my list until I can record it without the possibility of a doubt.

Orchis rotundifolia, Pursh, is accredited to Connecticut on the authority of Robbins, who collected it at Norfolk (Bishop's List). This report is very old and it may well be that the plant is now extinct in this town, where it has not been seen for many years.

I have been particularly impressed in the study of this interesting order of plants by the fact that the tenure of life of many of our rarer species of orchids is very insecure. It is evident that many of them such as Pogonia affinis and pendula, Tipularia discolor, Aplec- trum hiemale, Calypso borealis, several Cypripediums, etc., survive in some of the New England States only in the most secluded localities. Even there they are doomed to early extinction in many instances, by the growing demands for timber, by forest fires and by the clearing of the land.

Such plants as Hitchcock, Robbins, Tuckerman, and others reported are seldom or never seen now in their former homes, but must be sought for in the few localities, if there are any, which have not yet been called upon to satisfy the insatiate maw of the pulp mill or to suffer the withering influence of an increasing population.

Boston, MASSACHUSETTS.

Vol. 3, No. 36, including pages 285 to 315 and title page of volume, was issued 19 December, 1901.

TRboocora

JOURNAL OF

THE NEW ENGLAND BOTANICAL CLUB

Vol. 4 February, 1902 No. 38

THE MAINE COAST AT CUTLER. G. G. KENNEDY.

THE flora of Mt. Desert has been so well described in Rand & Redfield's volume that the list there given might be considered sufficient for the whole seashore of Maine, but to the eastward lies an almost unexplored territory with a more boreal flora and cold winds and waters.

The innumerable islands, bays and rivers of the Maine coast do not extend eastward beyond Machias Day, and from this point to Quoddy Head, a distance of about 25 miles, we have a bold shore with a full east exposure, open ocean, treacherous currents, and much fog. It is the entrance to the Bay of Fundy and from fifteen to twenty miles off shore lies Grand Manan Island with its cliffs and fog. The Bay of Fundy, some sixty miles wide at its mouth, extends one hundred and fifty miles northeasterly, and uninfluenced by warmer currents from the southern ocean areas, maintains its well- earned reputation as a cold wet sea.

This twenty-five miles of coast is shared by three townships, Cutler, Trescott and Lubec, or to take the shore designations proper for such a sea-faring community, Little River, Bailey's Mistake and Quoddy Head; Lubec village lying on the narrow strait north of Quoddy Head.

A short account of the flora of the region as observed during three days spent in July last at Cutler on Little River, may be interesting to the readers of RHODORA.

Little River is a small fiord just east of Little Machias Bay with a sailing area of less that a mile from Little River Light. Its situation is 44° 40’ N. and 67? 15' W. of Greenwich. ‘The village of Cutler is on this fiord and its picturesque beauty has been described in several magazine articles on the coast of Maine.

24 Rhodora (FEBRUARY

My first walk from the hotel towards the shore at Schooner Head showed how northern the vegetation looked and how much it remipded one of the Lower St. Lawrence at the Saguenay region. Abies balsamea, Miller, and Picea alba, Link, fruiting when only 10 to 15 ft. high grow quite to the water's edge; one group of white spruces from which I collected the seashore moss U/ota phyllantha, Brid., stretched its branches over water many feet deep which beat about the base of the cliff, wetting the halophilous moss, Grimmia maritima, Turner, with its spray, while Empetrum nigrum, L., in deep cushions and Lonicera caerulea, L., in breast-high bushes covered the ground. On the rocky beach grew another Saguenay-Tadousac plant, Z7is Hookeri, Penny, cited in Britton's new Manual as found on “ River shores Newfoundland to Quebec and Maine”; but I think Prof. Macoun is right when he says in Cat. Can. Plants, Vol. LI. p. 25, * Apparently peculiar to the sea coast and always found within the limit of the spray from the sea." All Macoun's stations are marine and this station at Cutler extends its limits from the Gulf of St. Lawrence around the coast to the United States. Fernald’s No. 147 Maine Flora on which perhaps the Maine citation for Z7. Hookeri is founded is a plant with a very small pod but the beak of true Z. ver sicolor.

On this rocky beach grew also a tall, slender dark green Sagina nodosa, Fenzl, which on examination proved to be different from our usual New England plant in being quite glabrous, and thus exactly like the Tadousac plant. It is the true Sagina nodosa of Europe, and all our other New England specimens appear to be the var. pubescens of Koch, while all the specimens in the Gray Herbarium from north of the United States, including one from Isle Royale, Lake Superior, are the true S. nodosa. The var. pubescens I found also at Cutler and perhaps the two forms on the coast do not intrude on each other's territory, as the glabrous plant has not before this been reported from New England, while the var. pubescens, though cited as rare in the Mt. Desert Flora, is quite common at Biddeford Pool, Me., and other points on the coast south to Massachusetts.

The seashore Plantagos are sufficiently troublesome, but one little Tadousac plant attracted my notice immediately —the Plantago borealis, Lange, described in Flora Danica, Vol. XVI. t. 2707, and recorded from Greenland and Iceland and extreme northern Norway. It does not appear to have been separated by Macoun in his Cata-

1902] Kennedy, — The Maine Coast at Cutler 25

logue of Canadian plants, but in Contributions from the Herbarium of the Geological Survey of Canada, xi. (reprinted from Can. Rec. Sci. 1897) 475, Mr. James M. Macoun refers various Labrador and Hudson Bay specimens to P. borealis although no mention is made of any Gulf of St. Lawrence specimens. I collected it at Tadousac in Aug., 1892, and the Gray Herbarium has it from various stations in Labrador, but not from the United States.

The Plantago decipiens, Barneoud, from Cutler exactly matches the original description in being extremely woolly on the scape just below the inflorescence and somewhat woolly at base, with flat linear leaves about equalling the scapes. The varying forms of Plantago decipiens and P. maritima on the New England coast should be care- fully collected for future study.

While coming from the shore one evening we crossed a pasture and in a wet place under the alders collected a Hieracium new to me which proves to be Æ. floribundum, Wimmer and Grabouski, a well known species of central Europe. This plant is new to the United States, and doubtless an importation from Europe, though Cutler is not exactly a port of entry ; yet the plant was growing quite luxuri- antly under the alder bushes.

In a wet place near the shore but not in salt marsh grew a very robust Poa about 3 dm. high and with a culm 2 mm. or more thick. I thought I had Foa alpina, L., but it proved to be 7. pratensis, L., var. domestica, Laestad.: the arctic Poa pratensis has five varieties affixed to it in Lange's Greenland Flora and the Cutler specimen exactly matches authentic Greenland and Iceland specimens in the Gray Herbarium of var. domestica. It has a Briza-like appearance from the large spreading spikelets and as they are of a violet green color the plant is quite striking. Lange says of it, “not unlike Zova alpina.”

A curious feature of the rocky shore at Corbett’s Point is a series of small basins in the ledgy rocks holding fresh spring water: Mr. Corbett told us that during the extreme drought of the summer of 1900 he found his cow never cared for water on her return from pasture, although her usual drinking place was absolutely dry. Out of curiosity he one day followed her to the pasture and saw her go to the shgre and drink from one of these basins, and this she con- tinued to do all summer. These basins are of different sizes, from an area of two square feet to only a few inches, and a dozen or more

26 Rhodora [FEBRUARY

in number. They all contain the larvae of fresh water insects and thus differ from the similar salt water basins on the same rocks in which are various seaweeds, and yet both sets of basins are only just above high water mark and must be often washed by the sea spray. ‘There are no higher springs visible from which their supply could be explained, and yet each basin has a gentle weeping outlet, while the basins are not all on the same level. In one of these little outlets I found the specimen of Sagina nodosa, var. pubescens, also the true Galium trifidum, L., with very thick leathery leaves, and Euphrasia Randii, Robinson, the latter having previously been found only on the islands south of Mt. Desert; while in a mossy place in the woods I collected Ew?Arasia Americana, Wettst. (See Ruopora III. pp. 273 and 274.)

We remained at Cutler in a quiet summer hotel from Saturday noon, July 13th, to Tuesday noon, July 16th. Although not on a botanical trip I had my press along, and the few plants I brought home may give some idea of what might be found by a collector who should devote himself to this wild and unexplored shore.

NOTEWORTHY PLANTS OF SOUTHEASTERN CONNECTICUT, — III.

C. B. GRAVES. (For previous articles of this series, see RHODORA, I, 67 ; HI, 63.)

I am indebted to Prof. F. Lamson-Scribner and Mr. E. D. Merrill for verifying the grasses mentioned below, and to Dr. B. L. Robinson and Mr. M. L. Fernald for assistance upon some of the other species. Those marked with one star are now, I believe, for the first time listed from Connecticut. ‘Those with two stars have not, so far as I am aware, been reported from New England before.

* Paspalum MuAlenbergii Nash. Open sandy soil, Poquonnoc

Plain, Groton. ** Panicum stipitatum Nash. Discovered by Mr. C. H. Bissell and the writer at Selden's Cove in Lyme, Aug., 19or. e. * Agrostis coarctata Ehrh. In wet sand, edges of salt marsh, ` Groton. Foliage of growing plant bluish green.

1902] Graves, — Noteworthy Plants of Southeastern Conn. 27

* Puccinellia angustata (R. Br.) Scribn. Blackhall River, Old Lyme, June, 190o, growing in tufts in the narrow border of salt marsh. A northern species not hitherto reported, I believe, south of the coast of Maine.

* Spartina juncea (Michx.) Willd. (S. caespitosa A. A. Eaton). Edge of salt marsh, Groton.

* Elymus hirsutiglumis Scribn. Banks of Connecticut River near Deep River.

* Elymus robustus Scribn. & Sm. Frequent in sandy soils, valleys of Thames and Shetucket Rivers.

* Eleocharis palustris var. vigens Bailey. In shallow water, Dodge's Pond, East Lyme. This form, long known in Maine and Ver- mont, has not to my knowledge been recorded from any other New England state.

** Carex nigro-marginata Schwein. Rare among loose rocks, Lan- tern Hill, North Stonington.

* Juncus tenuis var. anthelatus Wiegand. Not rare in sandy soil, New London and Groton.

** Juncus brachycarpus Engelm. Near Ocean Beach, New London, in partially reclaimed salt marsh. Desmodium humifusum Beck, This species was reported by the writer and listed in the “ Additions” to Bishop’s Catalogue of Conn. Plants, 1898, but, as it has seemed since, upon insuffi- cient grounds. It was therefore omitted from the last edition of the Catalogue, 1901. The collection this past season of a fuller series of more mature specimens and comparison with material in the Gray Herbarium leave no doubt of the correctness of the original determination. The species should accordingly be restored to its place in the Connecticut Flora. The specimens cited come from a very small patch in dry woodland near this city, which is the only station known to me. It is apparently one of the rarest of the Desmodiums.

* Utricularia resupinata B. D. Greene. This delicate little blad- derwort was discovered last July growing sparingly along the margin of one of the ponds in East Lyme.

* Utricularia biflora Lam. In shallow water, pond on Poquonnoc Plain, Groton.

7 Nymphaea reniformis DC. (N. tuberosa Paine). Still deep water of Selden’s Cove, Lyme. Discovered in Aug., 1901, by

28 Rhodora [FEBRUARY

Mr. C. H. Bissell and the writer. This species has not appar- ently been found before in New England outside of Vermont.

* Spiraea prunifolia Sieb. & Zucc. Escaped and established by roadsides at several points in Groton and Waterford. Seen only in the double-flowered form.

Spiraea Japonica L. f. Well established along a highway at one point in Groton.

* Solanum Lycopersicum L. ‘The common tomato should be included in the Conn. Flora. It is not rare as an escape on shores. Last August many plants were noticed in the tangle of vegetation on a low sandy island at Selden's Cove, Lyme. New Lonpon, CONNECTICUT.

Tue DwarF MISTLETOE AT BRADFORD, VERMONT. — While driv- ing on June 26 along a country road about five miles west of Brad- ford I was surprised, on looking up, to see two large “ witches’ brooms” near the top of a tall spruce (Picea rubra). Investiga- tion showed that the dwarf mistletoe, Arceuthobium pusillum, was present in abundance. I had been looking for the plant, but had not expected to find it in that locality, as it was on a dry hillside dis- tant from any water-course. The brooms were large, one being two and one-half feet in diameter, the other smaller. I saw no other speci- mens near by, nor did I see another spruce, but being on a hunt for orchids, did not make a thorough search. — AricE E. Bacon, Brad- ford, Vermont.

LECHEA MAJOR IN New HAMPSHIRE. — On noticing by the list of Cistaceae, published in RHODORA, i, 212, that there had been no record of Lechea major in New Hampshire, Mr. John A. Wheeler has kindly sent to the Gray Herbarium and the Herbarium of the New England Botanical Club some excellent specimens of that species, which he had found growing in pastures near Milford, New Hampshire. Mr. Wheeler writes that the plant was observed at two stations about two miles apart. From long familiarity with the flora of the region, Mr. Wheeler believes these hitherto unnoticed colonies are of recent origin. — B. L. ROBINSON.

1902] Andrews, — Bryophytes from Mt. Greylock 29

A LIST OF BRYOPHYTES FROM THE MT. GREYLOCK REGION.

A. LeRoy ANDREWS.

Our knowledge of the distribution of bryophytes depends upon collections made at points so widely separated and is, therefore, of so general a nature as compared with that of the higher orders of plant life that a list from a limited region may furnish something of interest in the way of a comparison and possibly fill desirably an occasional gap. From this standpoint the results of collecting done upon Mt. Greylock during the past summer seem worthy of passing note. The specimens were taken from the northern portion of the moun- tain-mass, at various points in the townships of Williamstown, New Ashford, North Adams and Adams, and will give at least a fair idea of the prevailing species. For the sake of definiteness I will confine the list to the mountain region, from brook-beds at base to its sum- mit.

Locally its mosses and hepatics are of great interest as occurring, particularly in higher altitudes, in so many species not found else- where in the vicinity, and several will be noticed to be uncommon in

"the state. The mountain lacks alpine conditions and therefore alpine

species. Subalpine sorts are, however, well-represented, the flora on the whole, as may be seen by comparison with the Vermont lists, resembling in a marked degree that of the Green Mountain region of that state.

Comparatively little collecting has been done in western Massa- chusetts, especially in Berkshire County. A short list of Berkshire bryophytes forms a part of Chester Dewey’s plant-list for the county in the History of Berkshire County published in 1828. I know of no later attempt to treat systematically either the mosses or hepatics of the region, The same list was incorporated in Prof. Hitchcock’s Geological Report of Massachusetts published in 1835.

The nomenclature of the following list follows as closely as possible that of Lesquereux and James’ Manual and Prof. Underwood’s treat- ment of Hepatics in 6th edition of Gray’s Manual.

30

Rhodora

[ FEBRUARY ,

Muvusci.

Anomodon apiculatus, Br. & Sch.

A. attenuatus, (Schreb.) Hueben.

Atrichum angustatum, Br. & Sch.

A. undulatum, Beauv.

Aulacomnium heterostichum, Br. & Sch.

Barbula unguiculata, ( Huds.) Hedw.

Bartramia pomiformis, (L.) Hedw.

Brachythecium reflexum, (Starke) Br. & Sch.

B. salebrosum, (Hotfm.) Br. & Sch.

B. Starket, (Brid.) Br. & Sch.

Bryum argenteum, L.

B. bimum, Schreb.

B. caespiticium, L.

B. roseum, Schreb.

Ceratodon purpureus, (L.) Brid.

Dicranella heteromalla, Schimp.

D. varia, Schimp.

Dicranum fuscescens, Turn.

D. longifolium, Ehrh.

D. scopartum, (L.) Hedw.

Diphyscium foliosum, Mohr.

Drummondia clavellata, Hook.

Fissidens adiantotdes, (L.) Hedw.

F. decipiens, De Not.

Funaria hygrometrica, (L.) Sibth.

Hedwigia ciliata, Ehrh.

Hylocomium splendens, Hedw.

H. triquetrum, (L.) Br. & Sch.

Hypnum crista-castrensts, L.

H. pratense, Koch.

H. Schreberi, Willd.

H. uncinatum, Hedw. ;

Leptobryum pyriforme, (L.) Wils.

Leucobryum vulgare, Hampe.

Leucodon scturotdes, Schwaegr.

Mnium affine, Bland.

M. cuspidatum, Hedw.

M. punctatum, L.

M. punctatum elatum, Schimp.

M. serratum, Laich.

M. stellare, Reich.

Neckera pennata, (L.) Hedw.

Orthotrichum strangulatum, Beauv.

Philonotts Jontana, (L.) Brid.

Physcomitrium turbinatum, (Mx.) Brid.

Plagiothectum denticulatun, (L.) Br. & Sch.

P. turfaceum, Lindb.

Pogonatum alpinum, (L.) Roehl.

P. urnigerum, ( L.) Beauv.

Polytrichum commune, L.

P. juniperinum, Willd.

P. Ohioense, Ren. & Card.

P. piliferum, Schreb.

Pylaisia intricata, (Hedw.) Br. & Sch.

Racomitrium aciculare, Brid.

Sphagnum acutifolium, Ehrh.

S. cymbifolium, Ehrh.

S. squarrosum, Pers.

Tetraphis pellucida, Hedw.

Thuidium delicatulum, (L.) Mitt.

Ulota crispa, Brid.

U. crispula, Brid.

U. Hutchinsiae, Schimp.

U. Ludwigtt, Brid.

Webera elongata, Schwaegr.

W. nutans, Hedw.

HEPATICAE.

Bazzania trilobata, S. F. Gray. Blasia pusilla, L. Blepharostoma trichophyllum, Dumort. Chiloscyphus polyanthos, Corda. Conocephalus conicus, Dumort. Fimbriaria tenella, Nees. Frullania Asagrayana, Mont. F. Eboracensis, Lehm. Jungermannia barbata, Schreb.

Lepidozia reptans, Dumort. Liochlaena lanceolata, Nees. Lophocolea heterophylla, Nees. Marchantia polymorpha, L. Metzgeria conjugata, Lindb. Porella platyphylla, Lindb. Preissia commutata, Nees. Ptilidium ciliare, Nees. Scapanta undulata, Dumort.

A few more species were found but as identification, from imper- fection of specimen or other reason, was not certain, they are omitted

for the present.

Dr. Grout has called attention (RHopora I, 55) to

ke

,

1902] Churchill, — Plants from Prince Edward Island 31

the fact.that ZLeucodon sciuroides is probably more common in New England than had been supposed and it has been recently found in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, though not before, so far as I know, from Massachusetts. Racomitrium aciculare, Pogonatum alpinum and urnigerum and some of the others are not of common occurrence in the state. Scapania undulata presented a purplish form possibly corresponding with var. purpurea, Nees. The list is by no means an exhaustive one but shows something of the possibilities of more care- ful ‘observation and study in a locality which has been somewhat neglected. | MT. PLEASANT, PENNSYLVANIA.

SOME PLANTS FROM PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. J. R. CHurRcHILL.

Ir would be hard to tell why Prince Edward Island was finally selected for our midsummer migration in 1901. The attractions were not exclusively botanical. Indeed I had been warned that the whole island was cleared and under cultivation, apparently to such an extent that there was no room there for wild flowers; and it was quite plain that my hungry botany-box must be filled with those plants only which, whether wanted or not, follow mankind and intrude upon his fields and gardens. I became quite convinced that my botanical fare would be limited to weeds and to the bold denizens of hedgerows, cultivated ground, roadsides and waste places. But there were alluring reports of a cool dry and bracing climate, of a most com- fortable boarding-house at Tracadie Beach on the North shore, of freedom from fogs, and of the salt sea pleasantly warmed for com- fortable bathing upon the sandy shoals in the bright sun.

Now even a botanist loves to bathe, provided the water is not too frigid; and he is not superior to the seductions of a good table and house; and I reasoned that even weeds, if new and fresh, are attractive and interesting, and moreover are essential to the complete furnishing of every well-regulated herbarium.

And so it came about that, on the evening of July 19, I landed at Summerside, and put up for two days at the Clifton Hotel, the best of the three modest inns of the quaint little village.

m Rhodora [FEBRUARY

Prince Edward Island is 130 miles long; and the extreme breadth is 34 miles. It contains over 2100 square miles, and it lies between the 46th and 47th degrees of North latitude; which is about the same as Aroostook County in Maine. In altitude the island nowhere exceeds soo feet, its bare rolling surface reminding one strongly of our Nantucket Island ; although the great fields are more fertile and cultivated. Strikingly alike also are the two ancient seaports, Sum- merside and Nantucket-town, with their primitive weather-beaten buildings and quiet country streets.

It was quite in keeping with the predictions that among the first plants to attract attention were two weeds which grew along the plank sidewalks of these well kept streets. Our common Tall Buttercup (Ranunculus acris, L.) presented here invariably so peculiar an appearance, that I was quite at a loss to name it, until the recent note of Mr. Fernald (RHopora, I, 227. Dec. 1899) came to mind; and it was then plain that this weed was A. acris, var. Steveni, Lange, and that I was now in the latitude where this broad-leaved form should prevail, as stated in Mr. Fernald’s account.

The second gutter-plant was the Garden Cress or Peppergrass of Europe (Lepidium sativum, L.). lt is much taller and more slender than our three common Lepidiums, and the pod is larger. Here, as in England, it is merely a garden escape and not indigenous.

At the eastern end of the village there was a considerable colony of Cotula coronopifolia, L. This pretty plant is botanically a near relative of our common Tansy, and the golden-yellow rayless flowers of both are so much alike that, if it were frequent enough to have a common name, it would or might popularly and appropriately be called the Dwarf Tansy. It was growing in deep soft mud by the edge of the marsh, and though low, its bright golden Tansy-like flowers made the plant quite conspicuous. Its history is interesting. South Africa is its home, but like Lord Bateman, it seems “ determined to go abroad ;— to go strange countries for to see.” It was collected on salt marshes in Chelsea, Massachusetts, by Herbert A. Young in 1879, and by C. E. Perkins in 1880; and these specimens are in the Gray herbarium. Yet it was not considered entitled to mention in the Manual; nor is it recorded in Britton and Brown's Flora. Before 1884 it had reached California, and in the Synoptical Flora of North America (vol i. pt. 2, p. 366) it is said to be “thoroughly established on the [Pacific] coast — and on some watercourses in the interior: a rare ballast weed on the Atlantic coast."

1902] Churchill, — Plants from Prince Edward Island 33

In Part II of the Catalogue of Canadian Plants, by John Macoun (also published in 1884), on page 285, under “ Un-named Species of Compositae,” is the following note:— * (No. 1331.) In August, 1883, Mr. James Fletcher picked up in the neighborhood of Victoria, a small rayless composite, which at first sight might be referred to Matricaria discoidea, but which differs very materially from that species in many respects. It is evidently a denizen of ditches and muddy places, but the specimens are too few and incomplete for identification. Lower leaves laciniate, upper ones much less so. The whole plant quite smooth and branching at almost every leaf which sheaths both stem and branch.” Afterward in 1886 (Part III, p. 552), Cotula coronopifolia is recorded as “abundant for some distance along a gutter in Fort Street, Victoria, Vancouver Island, 1885 (Fletcher). This is the plant described but not named under NOs 1331)

These are the only records of its occurrence that I have been able to find; and it seems remarkable that a weed like this, with both disposition and ability to travel such great distances, should not establish itself more firmly and abundantly in its new homes.

The rest of my time on the island was spent at the Acadia hotel, Tracadie Beach, on the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, about fifteen miles across the island from Charlottetown the metropolis, and more than fifty miles from Summerside. The journey back and forth between these places, by the little narrow-guage railroad, gave a good oppor- tunity to verify the bucolic account of this prosperous land, of which it has been said “ It is one rich rolling arable farm, from Cape East clear up to Cape North,—a warm and sandy land, in a genial climate, without fogs.” Except at Summerside, and a day’s trip made to Charlottetown, all my collecting was done within five miles of Tracadie Beach.

Between the hotel at the edge of the sand-dunes, and the sea, stretched a low level strand thinly carpeted with Festuca ovina; Ag- rostis alba; Poa glumaris (?) ; Carex silicea; Scirpus pungens ; Juncus Balticus (a slender and peculiar form); Salsola Kali; Polygonum Rati; Limosella aquatica, var. tenuifolia; Suaeda sp.?; Glaux maritima; Potentilla Anserina; Spergularia borealis; Ranunculus Cymbalaria, and other maritime plants. A step hence to the sand- dunes disclosed another series of plants. "There was the familiar and characteristic Sea Sand Reed (Ammophila) ; and three woody plants

34 Rhodora [FEBRUARY

of very similar habit trailed in graceful prostrate sprays over the: shifting sands. These were two Junipers; /. communis, var. Cana- densis, and J. Sabina var. procumbens, and the Crowberry (Empetrum). With them in the dry sand were ZZudsomia tomentosa; Rosa lucida, var.; Vaccinium Vitis-[daea; Arctostaphylos, and Smilacina stellata, —names, many of them, more suggestive of the mountains than of the seashore.

Senecio sylvaticus was common, especially along the shores. Its handsome relative, the Tansy Ragwort, or “Stinking Willie” as it is called in Scotland (Senecio Jacobaea, L.), is now vigorously asserting itself here and traveling rapidly and extensively southward through the Maritime Provinces. Yet in the Synoptical Flora, in 1884, it is dismissed in a single line, as * with some other species, occasionally occurring as ballast waifs.” I had seen and collected the bright golden flowers about the railroad stations as I came through New Brunswick, but I learned later that, like many a fine looking fellow, his reputation is very bad. The charges against the plant as stated by Mr. Lawrence W. Watson, a botanist of Charlottetown, in an article contributed by him to a local publication, and entitled * Wolves in Sheep's Clothing," are briefly that, as a pernicious and aggressive weed, it is an enemy to the farmer; second, that it is largely responsible for asthma and hay fever; and finally that it was the cause of a fatal epidemic which recently prevailed extensively among the cattle of Pictou County, Nova Scotia. With reference to the last charge there was, I think, an official investigation, but the evidence of guilt was not clear. So I was pleased, considering its good looks and our short acquaintance, to discredit these reports, and aquit it of all but the ordinary vices of a vagrant weed.

Two other introduced plants quite new to me, both also with weedy tendencies, were frequent about 'Tracadie. One, Mentha rubra, Hudson, is very similar to our only native Mint, M. Canadensis, L. ; but the flowers are larger and reddish-pink, and there are other dis- tinctions in the character of the pubescence and the leaves. The plant is handsome and readily distinguished in the field. The other plant, Gnaphalium sylvaticum, one of the Everlastings, grew about the edges of cultivated fields and roadsides. This weed seems not only to thrive under cultivation, but to improve, in appearance at least, under the severe and often destructive processes of the botanist. Like all the Everlastings, it adapts itself readily to pressing, drying, poison-

1902] Churchill, — Plants from Prince Edward Island 35

ing and mounting; and makes perfect and enduring specimens. As it was only recently discovered this side of the border, in Maine, it has not been admitted to the Manual.

Perhaps I ought to express the hope that my readers will not assume, in view of the excessive attention thus far lavished here upon the mere weeds, that the Island was altogether *an unweeded gar- den, that grows to seed." There was many a little untamed bog, or copse, or shore, which well repaid search for the plants which belong there; the shy natives in their own proper homes; and my collections included many such species. Brief mention of two only of these, which had also the charm of novelty, must suffice.

The Dwarf Mistletoe (Arceuthobium pusillum) has become well known only within comparatively few years, and though it is proba- bly widely distributed, yet it is still sufficiently rare or local to com- pel attention to each newly discovered station. So I was pleased and perhaps pleasantly excited when I discovered the tiny parasite growing in abundance on the Black Spruce, in a sphagnum bog just behind the broad sandy beach at Tracadie. Its history, appearance, habits and distribution were so fully discussed in this Journal (Vol. II, pp. 1 to 11, and p. 221,) that but little beyond this record of its occurrence here need be given. It should be said however that, while the White Spruce and the Larch were both abundant in the neighborhood, yet I did not find the Mistletoe upon them. I was also impressed with the almost constant association, upon the same tree, of the Mistletoe with Peridermium abietinum, the fungus referred to by Prof. Arthur (RHopona, II, 223) ; and the yellow sprays of the spruce, with leaves infested and discolored by the fungus, were the surest guides to the colonies of the flowering parasite upon the branches. I find no definite record of the occurrence anywhere in Canada of the Dwarf Mistletoe.

The second native and notable plant was a ZZ//aea, which I found in the wet sandy margin of Campbell's Pond, which is separated from the ocean by the same broad beach at Tracadie. Though the station was far north of its known range, it was of course assumed to be Zillaea simplex, and it was only after careful examination since my return, that Mr. Fernald identified it with 7: Vailantii, Willd., of Africa and Central Europe. The little plant, less than an inch high, grows in moss-like tufts like its congener 7: aguatica, L. (T. simplex, Nutt.), from which it differs principally in the elongated pedicels of

36 f Rhodora [FEBRUARY

some of the flowers. This species has not been reported from North America; but the “ ZZ/aea simplex” mentioned in Mr. J. M. Macoun’s Contributions to Canadian Botany! as “new to Canada,” and collected also on Prince Edward Island, may be Z: Vaillantii.

August sixth, the last day of my stay, I was joined by Mr. Watson from Charlottetown ; and we rambled and collected to- gether, enjoying the companionship and alike intent upon a whole- some and congenial pursuit. Thus pleasantly ended last sum- mer's pleasant sojourn in a pleasant country! The warnings that were given to deter us were indeed verified, that the island was a gar- den; but it was also demonstrated that this garden contains many beds of flowers and many species which the gardener does not know are there, and which may well attract other botanists, as they did me, to the delightful summer observation and collection of them, and the critical and reminiscent winter study that follows of their forms and habits, their places, and their names.

NOTES ON THE FLORA OF CONNECTICUT.

A. W. DnicGs.

In looking over the pages of Mr. Bishop's recent list of Connecti- cut plants, I find several I have reported in years past that need cor- rection, and some additions that may be worthy of note at this time.

Botrychium lanceolatum, Angstroem (West Hartford) proves to be B. matricariacfolium, Braun, as noted in RHODORA, iii. 36.

Onoclea sensibilis, L., forma obtusilobata is noticeable to a consider- able extent throughout the northern part of the state. It seems to be frequent in pastures, along roadsides where cattle have occasion- ally grazed, and I have found it about railroad embankments where bushes have been cut.

Woodwardia angustifolia, Smith, reported from East Hartford in the list of 1895, was stricken out in the Additions and Corrections as I was unable to verify the report. It has since been discovered in low woods in the central part of the town. This station is some fifty miles inland. Zygodium palmatum, Swtz. also finds its home here.

! No. V, p. 11. Reprinted from the Canadian Record of Science; Jan., 1895.

1902] Driggs, — Notes on Flora of Connecticut 37

Juniperus Sabina, var. procumbens, Pursh. (Hartford, Manchester). Originally planted, now evidently growing without cultivation. The same may be said of Zhuya occidentalis, L. (East Hartford). Aside from the fact that they grow without cultivation they can hardly be considered a part of our general flora.

Zizia aurea, Koch. var. obtusifolia, Bissell, RHODORA, ii. 225, has been collected in quantity from Canaan and So. Windsor.

Lactuca hirsuta, Muhl. Canton, August 14, 1901, along the main road, northern border of Mt. Horr. The species seems to be rare or at least only occasional. This, a single specimen, is the only one I have seen from the central part of the state during the past five years.

Prenanthes trifoliolata, Fernald, is being recognized more or less throughout the state. Along the main road from Granby to Sims- bury it is noticeable.

Cassia Chamaecrista, L. Frequent and often common in towns along the coast, it is noticeably less frequent in the interior of the state. In the Connecticut valley it is well established and plentiful as far northward as Middletown, rather sparingly in Cromwell, Rocky Hill, and South Glastonbury. At Hartford I have seen one colony of few plants.

Desmodium Canadense, DC., throughout the central and northern portions of the state is an abundant and prolific wayside plant. I have seen it by the wayside in woods, but very sparingly, rather appearing as though it were not in its right habitat. In Connecticut it certainly has its most striking and handsome growth in strictly open places, preferring dry soil and the wayside. I always associate D. Canadense with such environment.

Desmodium canescens, DC., is more frequent than D. cuspidatum, T. & G., growing in abundance about the tobacco fields throughout the Connecticut valley and adjacent hill towns.

Carex intumescens, Rudge, although listed from but two stations is well distributed in the Connecticut valley.

Carex Muhienbergii, var. enervis, Boott. Stamford, July 24, 1901. Not before reported from the State. Is plentiful along a path leading to the point of land south of the electric light station. Southern New York has been the northern limit according to Britton and Brown.

Carex mirabilis, Dewey. Reported from Meriden and Bridgeport. Large quantities were found on the Talcott Mt. Range, town of West Hartford, July 24, 1901.

38 Rhodora [FEBRUARY

Solidago Elliottii, T. & G. (Glastonbury). There is little doubt that this was a wrong identification. I recorded this species in my note book of 1894, but successive yearly journeys over the same ground (peat bogs along Salmon Brook) failed to yield further plants. I have persisted in my search, however, and was rewarded this year with S. uZiginosa, Nutt., which has not been recorded before from this part of the state.

Pyrus arbutifolia, var. melanocarpa, Hook., is found in most of our swamp margins and low woods. That this is a plant not requiring moisture or soil such as is usually associated with it, may be seen from the following :— On the summit of Mt. Riga, Salisbury, growing on thin soil without much apparent moisture, plants were found on August 28, 1901, thriving and fruiting in abundance. They were unusually small, often not over three inches high, but bushy and stout of growth. The fruit did not show that it lacked the nourishment of a meadow soil or loam, being of good size and looking large on such small plants. Mt. Riga is over two thousand feet above sea level, has an exposed summit, portions of which are covered with grasses, also Potentilla tridentata and Quercus ilicifolia, the latter forming a sort of ring around the flat rocks of the summit, but not tall or plen- tiful enough to offer shelter to other plant life from the extremes of temperature. The day I was there the soil was almost caked, owing to the radiating heat from the rocks.

Panicum longifolium, Torr. Canton, August 14, 1901, vicinity of Mt. Horr. Previously reported in Ruopora iii. 102, from Rhode Island and in i. 67, from Connecticut. The Canton station extends its range well to the north so that the plant may be expected in almost any part of the state.

Panicum unciphyllum, Trin. Omitted in the lists but frequent in all open dry fields of the northern part of the state.

Panicum lanuginosum, Ell. North Bloomfield, August 2, 190I ; open field south of the railroad cut; abundant. In the field it so resembled P. unciphyllum, Trin. that I did not recognize the specific difference; yet when pressed and mounted the semblance was decidedly different.

Panicum dichotomum, L. Pomfret, July 4, 1901; wood path to the Wolf Den and vicinity ; frequent.

Panicum macrocarpon, Le Conte. Frequent throughout the north- ern portions of the state.

1902] Fernald, — Early Records of Leontodon 39

Pani.um microcarpon, Muhl., I have not seen from the state. It is mentioned in the list as “ (frequent) — Driggs.”

Panicum sphaerocarpon, Ell. North Bloomfield, August 2, 1901 ; open field south of the railroad cut; abundant.

Eragrostis major, Host,—a form. New Haven, July 21, 19or ; plentiful and noticeable.

Eragrostis reptans, Nees. Cromwell, August 19, 190r; pure sand, shores of the Connecticut river; plentiful.

Eragrostis Purshii, Schrader. North Bloomfield, August 2, 1901 ; open dry field south of the railroad cut.

Glyceria elongata, Trin. Canton, August 14, 1901 ; mountain woods about Mt. Horr., few plants.

Poa debilis, Torr, Pomfret, July 4, 1901; Wolf Den vicinity ; local as far as observed. Listed from but one other place in the state.

Agrostis intermedia, Scribn. South Windsor, September 24, 1901 ; dry open woodlands along the southern border of the town.

Festuca tenella, Willd., Asplenium acrostichoides, Sw., and Viola ovata, Nutt. do not appear in the list, but are a part of our general flora.

Sagittaria rigida, Pursh, is abundant in wet sand along the shores of the power house pond at Tariffville.

East HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT. [| Carex Muhlendergit, var. enervis, reported by Mr. Driggs from Stamford,

is a rather frequent form of the species in the southern portions of Connec- tutic, Rhode Island and Massachusetts — Ed.]

EARLY RECORDS or LEONTODON IN AMERICA.— In a recent note on the “fall dandelions” of North America (RHODORA, iii. 293) I made the statement that Leontodon autumnalis was apparently first recorded as an established plant hereabouts in the 4th edition of Gray's Manual. Mr. T. O. Fuller has kindly called my attention to the fact that the plant was recorded not only in the 1st edition of the Manual (1848) but that by both Bigelow and Pursh it was reported as early as 1814. By what peculiar influence I was led to overlook these definite reports in standard floras and to fix upon the 4th edition of the Manual as the starting point of our records I am now unable to recall. There is, however, no question that the Apargia autumn- alis of Bigelow and of Pursh is exactly the Zeontodon autumnalis, L. Bigelow in the rst edition of Florula Bostoniensis said * This plant, probably an emigrant from Europe, has over-run the vicinity of this

40 Rhodora [FEBRUARY

place, and grows in almost every kind of soil. It begins flowering in June and July, and is nearly the last plant that yields to the frosts of November,” while Pursh in the same year reported the plant “ In pastures on roadsides: New England.” Since Pursh’s explorations in America were carried on between 1799 and 1811 it is probable that the plant had become introduced very early in the last century. Michaux apparently did not mention the plant in 1803 and in Manasseh Cutler's Account of some of the vegetable productions of this region, published in 1785, there is no mention of any plant which seems satisfactorily referable to Leontodon autumnalis.— M. L. FERNALD.

LONICERA SEMPERVIRENS ESTABLISHED IN WESTFORD, MASSACHU- SETTS. — About the first of October it was reported to me that the Trumpet Honeysuckle was growing wild in the south part of the town of Westford. I have been to see the place, and found in a pasture on the Amos Leighton farm three spots where the plant was growing on the eastern slope of the pasture, among berry bushes, sweet fern, blackberry vines, etc. At the first station the Lonicera was abundant and covered a space 15 feet in diameter. At the second there were only a few roots under a walnut tree. Miss Leigh- ton told me she had only seen one blossom here, and that one was white. The third station had five or six strong plants. All the stations were within a quarter of a mile or less from each other, and alla half a mile from the farm house. As I do not find that this Lonicera has been reported from many towns in Middlesex County, its occurrence at Westford may be a matter of interest. — Emity F. FLETCHER, Westford, Massachusetts.

Tue Handbook of the Trees of New England! is a real handbook which will be heartily welcomed by every one who knows or cares to know anything about our trees. Although treating primarily the trees of New England, the book is practically as useful throughout the Northern States and Canada, for it is only an exceptional tree of the North which does not occur within the New England States.

1 Handbook of the Trees of New England, with Ranges throughout the United States and Canada, by Lorin L. Dame, S. D. and Henry Brooks. Plates from original Drawings by Elizabeth Gleason Bigelow. Boston, Ginn & Company,

1902. Trade edition (cover with gold lettering), $1.50 ; school edition (black lettering), $1.25. ,

1902] Handbook of the Trees of New England. 4I

The narrow pages and cover, and the very clear drawings of branches showing leaves, flower, fruit, winter buds, and all the parts wished for comparison of different species, immediately commend the book for practical use both at home and in the field where it may easily be carried in the pocket.

Eighty-seven species and varieties are figured in full-page plates, and the text accompanying the plates shows much thought in the planning and a vast amount of detailed work in the organizing of notes. The treatment of each species is divided into seven paragraphs discussing separately the Habitat and Range, Habit, Bark, Winter Buds and Leaves, Inflorescence, Fruit, and Horticultural Value.

From a botanist's point of view the first paragraph of each treat- ment is perhaps most interesting, though all the sections contain points of value. But in the statements of range in New England of the different species we have the most accurate record of distribution yet available, and one based upon the careful observations, not only of the authors, but of many of the most alert botanists of this area who have coóperated very generally with the authors to perfect this portion of the work.

The descriptive paragraphs are very detailed and helpful, yet, in this as in many other books of the present day, one wishes that the leading or diagnostic characters might be emphasized either by italics or by some other device to distinguish them quickly from the purely generic or more trivial matters in the descriptions. In the present book, however, neither this uniformity of type in the descriptions nor the lack of an analytical key are serious hindrances to the practical use of the book. The excellent plates are a sufficient guide to the species, and these may be hastily glanced through with little incon- venience.

The discussion and illustration of species are followed by a glos- sary, and that by an index to both scientific and colloquial names so thoroughly provided with cross-references as to delight its most exact- ing user. The sequence of orders followed, it is almost needless to state, is that of Engler & Prantl, while the nomenclature is intelli- gently conservative. Altogether the book is one to be cordially recommended to all lovers of forests and out-door life, and the authors ani publishers are to be congratulated on producing in such convenient form a book which fills so important and unique a place among New England botanical publications.

42 Rhodora [FEBRUARY

UTRICULARIA MINOR IN HOLBROOK, MASSACHUSETTS.

ALICE G. CLARK.

In the spring of 1898 Utricularia minor was found in a small area of meadow-land in Holbrook, Massachusetts. Several specimens were collected at that time and some also in 1899, but although careful search has been made the plant has not been found since.

This Utricularia is one of the most delicate of the genus. None of the plants found reached a height of more than 2.5 inches. The thread-like stems lay flat upon the ground and were hidden in the Sphagnum. ‘The flowers, borne upon slender erect scapes, are very small, being about as large as the flower buds of Drosera intermedia, with which the Utricularia grew. The latter was in full bloom even in the shade, while the flowers of Drosera were not yet expanded, and the resemblance of the two plants was so strong that in walking along one found considerable difficulty in distinguishing them.

A specimen was recently sent to Mr. Emile F. Williams, whose reply I quote in part: “ Utricularia minor has been one of my deside- rata for some years. I did not realize it flowered so early. Your date is May 25. It was reported years ago from Tewksbury, but has not been seen by any one of late years and botanists were beginning to be very sceptical about it in this part of the country.”

A note as to the growing conditions of the plant might be of assistance to anyone who should wish to look for it next spring. It is described in Gray’s Manual as growing in shallow water, but I have found that during the past two yéars, when water stood an inch or two deep over this spot in the meadow, no trace of Utricularia could be found. During the preceding two years the seasons had been rather dry so that the meadow in this place was covered with a boggy growth of Sphagnum. There were scattered cranberry vines, Vaccinium macrocarpon, also Drosera rotundifolia and D. intermedia, and the green buds of Pogonia ophioglossoides.

Several readers of RHODORA would be interested to know if anyone else has collected Utricularia minor recently, and if so under what conditions.

NORTH EASTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

Vol. 4. No. 37, including pages 1 to 22, was issued 17 January, 1902.

Rhodora

JOURNAL OF

THE NEW ENGLAND BOTANICAL CLUB

Vol. 4 March, 1902 No. 39

IVY POISONING AND ITS TREATMENT. Franz Prarr, M.D. Pu. D.

Or all the cutaneous eruptions caused by poisoning plants, those produced by poison ivy and by poison sumach are probably the most common in this country.

It is the general belief of the public and of most physicians, that the eczematous conditions, which occur in many persons after hand- ling such plants may be caused also by emanations from the plant, the active principle being thought to be a volatile substance.

The two attempts to isolate the active principle failed. One of the investigators, J. Khittel, attributed the action of poison ivy to a volatile alkaloid, the other, John M. Maisch, denied it, stating that a volatile acid, which he called "dáxtcodendric acid” is the active prin- ciple.

Both statements proved to be erroneous, as experiments, which I made a few years ago, have shown.

The lack of any rational treatment of ivy poisoning may be ascribed to the imperfect knowledge of the cause of this disease.

In my researches (v. Journal of Exper. Med. Vol. II. No. II. 97-) I used different parts of the plants, gathered at different seasons of the year and found, that the so-called *toxicodendric acid," which Maisch did not produce in the chemically pure state, is nothing but acetic acid and therefore not the cause of the eruption peculiar to ivy poisoning.

Further investigations showed that the active principle is an oil, which I named *'Toxicodendrol" and which can be found in all parts of the plants, both in Rus toxicodendron and Rhus venenata. This oil is easily soluble in alcohol, ether, chloroform, etc., but is insoluble in water. Toxicodendrol is easily decomposed by heat, but

44 . Rhodora [Marcu

very slowly at ordinary temperatures. A sample of it, which had been kept in an open porcelain dish for over 13 months, was partly converted into resin, but the remaining oil proved to be just as active as before. The active oil was also prepared from plants collected during the winter after having been covered with snow for weeks and from dry stems and branches which had been kept in the laboratory for over a year,

To test the strength of the * Toxicodendrol" I made many experi- ments and found the oil active in the minutest quantities; in one case as little as qgyy mg. of the oil dissolved in 2 drops of olive oil proved effective.

The time of incubation varied from 18 hours to 9 days. This long period of incubation and the stability of the oil explain the belief, that direct contact is not necessary to contract the disease. When the first symptoms appear, several days have usually passed and a person may then not remember having come in contact with the plant. On the other hand some of the oil may stick to the clothing etc. and this may cause the disease even after several months have elapsed. In making these experiments I handled more than 25 kg. of the plants, and several hundred persons passed through the laboratory, where these experiments were made, but not one of those who did not come in direct contact with the plants or the free oil was poisoned.

It seems possible that poisoning might be caused by small parti- cles of the plant, such as pollen and the hairs from the leaves, being carried through space by the wind and thus brought in contact with the skin or clothing, for as above stated, the oil is contained in all parts of the plant and even the hairs of the leaves may be seen under the microscope to contain oil.

Having defined the properties of “Toxicodendrol” we may now outline the rational treatment of ivy poisoning. As we have seen Toxicodendrol is not a volatile oil, but on the contrary is very stable, we must endeavor to remove it as quickly as possible and prevent its spreading.

This can be done by vigorously washing the affected and exposed parts with soap and water and a scrubbing brush ; that is to say by mechanically removing the oil. As the active principle is very soluble in alcohol and gives with lead acetate a precipitate which is nearly insoluble in alcohol, other processes may be employed to remove the oil. The exposed parts may be washed repeatedly with

1902] Merrill, — Notes on Sporobolus 45

fresh quantities of alcohol and a scrubbing brush. The poisonous oil may be thus removed in alcoholic solution. Another way of pro- ceeding would be to wash the exposed parts with an alcoholic solution of lead acetate; in this case the poisonous principle would be first transformed in its insoluble lead compound and then washed away with alcohol.

The washing must be done thoroughly when alcohol is employed, as otherwise the alcohol might only serve to distribute the oil more widely over the skin. The finger nails should be cut short and also perfectly cleaned with the scrubbing brush. Oily preparations, or anything which dissolves the poisonous oil, if used, should be immediately removed, as they may only spread the poison, giving it a larger area on which to work.

The treatment above outlined can not cure the already inflamed parts which must heal by the usual process of repair, but it does prevent the spreading of the inflammation and may serve to remove the poison before it has had time to produce its characteristic effects upon the skin.

HarvarD MEDICAL SCHOOL, Boston.

NOTES ON SPOROBOLUS. ELMER D. MERRILL.

SPOROBOLUS DEPAUPERATUS (Torr.) Scribn. Bull. Torr. Bot. Club. IO: 63. 1883.

Vilfa squarrosa Trin. Agrost. 1: 78. 1840.

Vilfa depauperata Torr. in Hook. Fl. Bor. Am. 2: 257. 2. 236. 1840.

There has been little confusion regarding this species owing to the fact that Hooker's excellent plate leaves no doubt as to the identity ofthe species. In the field this species is very distinct and at once recognized by its densely tufted habit, and prostrate culms which are seldom 1 dm. high, and much stouter than in Sporobolus richardsonii.

The type locality of Vilfa depauperata is “Hab. N. W. America,

1 See also Nash, Bull. Torr. Bot. Club, 22: 464, 465, Bot. Gaz. 21: 155; Scrib- ner, Bot. Gaz. 21 : 14, 15.

46 Rhodora [Marcu

barren sandy parts of the Columbia from Menzies’ Island upward. Douglas”; that of Vilfa sguarrosa is “ America septentr. in Ins. Menzies (Hooker).” Both Vilfa depauperata and V. squarrosa were published during the same year and evidently based on the same material and as it is impossible to determine which species has the priority of publication Hooker’s name has been retained, as it is the one now in use by American botanists.

The range of this species is in dry open, often alkaline soils, from Montana to New Mexico, west to California and Washington.

Sporobolus depauperatus (?) Scribn. Bull. Torr. Bot. Club, 9: 103. 1882, is Muhlenbergia dumosa Scribn.

SronoBoLUs richardsonii (Trin.) n. comb.

Vilfa richardsonis 'Trin. Agrost. 1: 81. 1840.

Muhlenbergia aspericaulis Nees, |. c., as syn.

Sporobolus aspericaulis Scribn. Bot. Gaz. 21: 15. 1896.

Sporobolus depauperatus filiformis Beal, Grasses N. A. 2: 296. 1896.

Sporobolus brevifolius Nash, Bull. Torr. Bot. Club, 22: 464. 1895; Britt. & Br. Illus. Fl. 1: 153. fg. 346. 1896; Ryd. Mem. N. Y. Bot. Gard. 1: 28. 1900; Britton, Manual ros. 1901, not Agrostis brevifolia Nutt.

There has been much confusion regarding this form and various authors have expressed differing opinions regarding it. From a careful study of synonymy, descriptions of species and specimens, and examination of spikelets from Trinius’ type of Vi/fa richardsonis from the herbarium of the St. Petersburg Academy, I have come to the conclusion that Trinius’ name is the earliest available one for this form which is a valid species, although presenting forms which intergrade with Sporobolus depauperatus (Torr.) Scribn. It is recog- nized by its scarcely tufted habit, erect slender culms which are much taller than in Sporobolus depauperatus and never prostrate as in that species, and which are minutely but distinctly punctate, and in its somewhat longer, more acute spikelets.

The type locality of Vilfa richardsonis Trin. is “ Amer. boreal. (Richardson)."

The distribution of this species is in meadows, river bottoms, etc., from Anticosti Island and Maine to British Columbia, south to Ne- braska, New Mexico, and California.

| 1902] Merrill, — Notes on Sporobolus 47

SPOROBOLUS BREVIFOLIUS (Nutt.) Scribn. Mem. Torr. Bot. Club, 5:

39. 1893. .

Agrostis brevifolia Nutt. Gen. 1; 48. 1818.

Vilfa cuspidata Torr. in Hook. Fl. Bor. Am. 2: 238. 1840.

Vilfa gracilis Trin. Agrost. 1: 82. 1840, not V. gracilis Trin, UE

Sporobolus cuspidatus Scribn. Bull. Torr. Bot. Club, 1o: 63. 1883.

There has been much confusion regarding the synonymy of this species owing to the fact that there was some uncertainty as to the identity of Agrostis brevifolia Nutt. Through the courtesy of Mr. Stewardson Brown, curator of the Botanical Section of the Philadel- phia Academy of Natural Sciences, I have been able to examine Nuttall’s type of Agrostis brevifolia and find it to be identical with Vilfa cuspidata Torr., which being a later name becomes a synonym of Sporobolus brevifolius (Nutt.) Scribn. Sporobolus brevifolius Nash, Bull. Torr. Bot. Club. 22: 464. 1895, is Sporobolus richardsonii.

The type locality of Agrostis brevifolia Nutt. is “Hab. In sterile naked plains and argillaceous soils, near Fort Mandan on the Mis- souri ” ; that of Vi/fa cuspidata is “ Hab. Banks of the Saskatchawan, near the Rocky Mountains, Drummond, Plains of the Red River, Douglas"; while that of V7/fa gracilis Trin. is * Amer. Boreal.? (Hooker).” There is in the U. S. National Herbarium a portion of Trinius's specimen of Vilfa gracilis from the herbarium of the St. Petersburg Academy, which is certainly the same as Nuttall’s Agrostis brevifolia.

The range of this species is in dry open soils from Wisconsin, Iowa, and Nebraska, west to Nevada and Montana.

SPOROBOLUS FILIFORMIS (Thurb.) Rydb. Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 3 : 189. 1895; Scribn. U. S. Dept. Agr. Div. Agros. Bull. 17: 173. Jig. 469. 1899.

Vilfa depauperata filiformis 'Thurb. in U. S. Geol. Explor. 4oth Fab S: 356. 1071. Vilfa gracillima 'Thurb. in S. Wats. Bot. Calif. 2: 268. 1880. Sporobolus gracillimus Vasey, Descr. Cat. 44. 1885. This species is fairly distinct, presenting intergrading forms with

Sporobolus simplex Scribn., in general, however, being distinguished

by its more slender, taller culms and mostly awnless spikelets. Its

48 Rhodora [Marcu

range is on sandy shores, light, moist or rather dry soils, etc., from Nebraska and South Dakota to California and Washington.

SPOROBOLUS SIMPLEX thermale var. nov. A rather robust annual 2.5 to 3 dm. high, with numerous, short plane leaves about 2 mm. wide, and purplish, exserted, rather densely flowered, almost spikelike panicles 2.5 to 4 cm. long, 3 to 4 mm. in diameter. Spike- lets 2 mm. long, the flowering glume scabrous, acute, mostly awnless.

Type specimen collected on the margin of a stream of hot water, Lolo Hot Springs, Montana, 302a David Griffiths, Sept. 17, 1898. No. 302 Griffiths, same locality and date, is also referred here.

This variety could with equal propriety be referred to Sporobolus filiformis (Thurb.) Rydb., but is distinguished from both Sporobolus filiformis and S. simplex by its more robust habit, and densely flowered panicles. In its awnless flowering glumes it approaches nearer the former although in general aspect it resembles Sporobolus simplex, but lacks the awned flowering glumes of that species.

SpoROBOLUS ARISTATUS Rydb. Bull. Torr. Bot. Club. 28: 266. 19or.

In his description of this species Dr. Rydberg cites three specimens, 2196 and 27 Tweedy from Wyoming, and 1281 S. Watson from Utah. We have had access to the two latter numbers and after a most minute examination of those specimens we have been unable to distinguish this species from Sporobolus simplex Scribn. and must consider it only a depauperate form of that species. The presence of an awn to the flowering glume is an exceedingly variable character, and even in the type of Vilfa depauperata filiformis Thurb. (Sporobolus filiformis Rydb.) awned and unawned spikelets are found on the same plant.

SponoBoLUs gracilis (Trin.) n. comb.

Vilfa gracilis Trin. Agrost. 1: 52. 1840; not Trin. Ll. c., 82.

Vilfa subsetacea Trin. l. c., Arabic 111.

Agrostis juncea Michx. Fl. Bor. Am. 1: 52. 1803, not Lam, Encycl.

I: 60. 1783.

Heleochloa juncea Beauv. Agrost. 24. 1812.

Colpodium junceum Trin. in Spreng. Neue. Entd. 2: 37. 1821.

Sporobolus junceus Kunth, Rev. Gram. I : 68. 1835.

Sporobolus ejuncidus Nash in Britt. Manual 106. 19or.

There are in the U. S. National Herbarium spikelets from Trinius's type of Vilfa gracilis from the St. Petersburg Academy, the type locality of which is “Carolina.” It is very evident from examination of these

4

1902] Davenport, — Notes on New England Ferns — IV 49

spikelets and Trinius’s description that his ViZfa gracilis is identical with Agrostis juncea of Michaux, although on the following page of the same work Trinius considers Vilfa juncea (Michx.) as a distinct species, evidently, however, basing his description mainly on South American material which was probably not the true Agrostis juncea of Michaux. Through an error Trinius published a second species of Vilfa under the specific name gracilis in the same work, page 82, which, however, is a synonym of Sporobolus brevifolius (Nutt.) Scribn. In indexing this volume Trinius discovered his error and applied a new name J7/fa subsetacea, page 111, to his first Vilfa gracilis rather than to the second and hence V7/fa subsetacea becomes a synonym of Sporobolus gracilis, In Britton’s Manual Mr. Nash applied the name Sporobolus ejuncidus to this species, owing to the fact that the name Sporobolus junceus was untenable because Michaux's original publica- tion of the species sub Agrostis, was antedated by Agrostis junceus Lam. According to the above note this name becomes a synonym, as the species already had two available names, Vilfa gracilis and Vilfa subsetacea, WASHINGTON, D. C.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES ON NEW ENGLAND FERNS, — IV.

GEORGE E. DAVENPORT.

NOTE 7. THE EVERGREEN FERNS OF NEw ENGLAND.— A winter study. This note is intended as a guide to the study of those ferns which remain green, or nearly so, through the winter and early spring, when the frequently occurring intervals of mild weather afford numerous opportunities for studying them to advantage.

With the disappearance of the late autumn foliage from the hills and woodlands, the rocky ledges stand out in bolder relief, exposing to view the great masses of polypody that fringe the boulders with their dark green fronds; the marginal shield ferns that crouch low at their bases for shelter, and the tiny spleenworts that have been hiding away securely in the crevices of the cliffs through all the sum- mer season. In the woodland swamps, when free from snow, the

50 Rhodora (Marcu

prostrate forms of the large ferns are exposed to view, and then is a good time to study the crowns and crosiers.

Then too is a good time to search for abnormal forms of the poly- pody, which in England produces so many remarkable variations. Among the countless thousands of plants distributed throughout our New England woodlands one may well expect to find many interest- ing forms, which, while they might not be of any great importance from a taxonomic standpoint, would yet be of some interest biologic- ally, and help to increase our knowledge of the causes for plant variation.

It may be objected to the treatment adopted in this study, that, being based largely on the charactér of the rootstock, it may lead to the extermination of rare ferns by the taking up of plants; but this need not necessarily follow. The rootstocks of nearly all of our ferns can be studied without disturbing them enough to retard their growth, and with proper precautionary instructions it will be found that those who realize the importance of protecting and preserving our native plants will be less liable to destroy them through this method than they would be through any other. 'Thus this method may even become a valuable medium for aiding in the preservation of rare plants.

Roughly grouping our New England Ferns by their most obvious characters for the convenience of a ready recognition we may separate them into two sections as follows :—

I. EVERGREEN, or partially so, at least as to the late sterile fronds. Fronds more or less persistent through the winter.

II. Nor EVERGREEN. Fronds withering away on the approach of winter.

These sections may each be subdivided into three divisions based on the nature of the rootstock in accordance with the Mendes arrangement. i

Division A.— ROOTSTOCK RHIZOMATOSE, 7. e, having the charac- ter of a rhizome — a running stem. Fronds more or less scattered ; crosiers (frond-buds) usually isolated.

Division B.— ROOTSTOCK CAUDICIFORM, 7. e., short, stout, and hav- ing the form of a caudex. Fronds fasciculate, 7. e., clustered at the growing end. Here occur twò forms namely: with the rootstock, in the one case, erect, or partially so, growth upright; and in the other, decumbent, growth lateral, extending horizontally.

1902] Davenport, — Notes on New England Ferns — IV 51

Division C.— ROOTSTOCKS CAESPITOSE, 7. ¢., forming tufts or little bunches.

As this guide is intended especially for winter and early spring use, only the first section (with more or less evergreen fronds) will be considered here.

Under Division A (with rootstock rhizomatose) we have the follow- ing ferns: —

* Fronds climbing ; rhizome long and slender ; stipes and flexuose rachises twining on shrubbery in rather open woodlands.

1. LYGODIUM PALMATUM, Swartz. Climbing Fern. Sterile portion persistent, fertile portion perishing; pinnae palmately divided, or lobed. N. H., Mass., Ct.

** Fronds not climbing, green all winter, stipes articulated to a moderately stout scaly rhizome.

2. POLYPODIUM VULGARE, Linnaeus. Common Polypody. Abun- dant on boulders, ledges and rocky hillsides. Me., N. H., Vt., Mass., Barings, X

Obs.— Var. cambricum has been found in Connecticut (Dr. Under- wood) and New Hampshire (Mrs. F. G. Webster), and some very interesting abnormal forms have been collected in Vermont by Miss Slosson.

Under division B (Rootstocks caudiciform). Plants large. * Rootstock erect, or partially so, growth upright.

3. NEPHRODIUM MARGINALE, Richard (Asfidium, Swartz).— Mar- ginal Shield-fern. Fronds once or twice pinnate, margins entire or crenate; sori marginal Rocky hillsides with no. 2, ravines and swampy woodlands with 4, 5 and 6. Me., N. H., Vt, Mass., R. L., Ct.

One or two forms have been designated but appear to me little more than states of development.

4. NEPHRODIUM CRISTATUM X MARGINALE, Davenport. Fronds resembling no. 3 in the upper portion, and no. 5 in the lower; lobes toothed more as in no. s. Sori sub-marginal or medial. Found always with no. 3 and no. 5 between which it is a natural hybrid, as Miss Slosson has successfully demonstrated by raising it by artificial crossing from spores. Me., Vt., Mass., R. I., Ct.

52 Rhodora ' [Marcu

Obs.— Under favorable conditions fertile fronds of nos. 3 and 4 remain green nearly all winter. It may be well to add, however, that, as is the case with nearly all of these ferns, both fertile and sterile fronds, when surviving, become flaccid in autumn and lie prostrate through the winter, becoming more or less discolored.

** Rootstock decumbent, growth lateral, extending horizontally.

5. NEPHRODIUM CRISTATUM, Richard (Asfidium, Swartz). Late sterile fronds remaining green all winter, fertile fronds withering gradually, long lanceolate with nearly triangular deeply pinnatifid pinnae, normally acute, or obtuse at the apex, but in var. C/intonianum long acuminate; lobes in both forms bluntly toothed; sori medial, or nearly so. Low swampy woodlands. Me., N. H., Vt., Mass., R. I., Ct.

Obs.— In var. C/intonianum the rootstock is much stouter, and the crowns are more loosely built up as it were, the crosiers overlapping one another irregularly much after the manner of the knuckles on a half closed hand. The large ovate and lanceolate scales with which the crosiers are clothed shade from light amber to dark brown in both forms, and on old fronds the rounded backs of the stipes shade to blackish brown.

An interesting form with apparently strictly herbaceous fertile fronds that perish altogether in early autumn has been collected in Vermont by Miss Margaret Slosson for several years, and may prove to be distinct; however as some sterile fronds on two or three plants of it that have been growing on my own grounds are still green at present writing (Feb. sth), I am not ready to accord to it specific rank; I have, however, provisionally named it Vephrodium cristatum, Rich., var. Slossonae, n. var. Fully matured plants of this form are quite as large as, if not larger, and with broader fronds than var. Clintonianum; the texture is thinly herbaceous and the sori are arranged in a close costal series much as in WVephrodium Goldieanum, from which, however, it is wholly distinct. I shall have more to say about it at another time.

A conspicuous feature in all of the cristatum forms in winter is seen in the deeply sunken blackish grooves in the upper coriaceous surfaces, and the elevated lines beneath which mark the course of the venation,

6. NEPHRODIUM Boorri, Davenport in Gilbert, Catl. 1901 (Aspidium, Tuckerman). Fertile fronds on my grounds at present

1902] Davenport, — Notes on New England Ferns — IV 53

writing (Feb. 5th) brown and withered, but stipes partially standing ; sterile fronds prostrate and green. Normal fronds broadest above the middle, resembling no. 5 below, and no. 78 above, the lobes more deeply toothed than in no. 5, and less sharply so than in no. 7B. Indusium when found finely glandular. Swamps with nos. 5 and 7, Me., N. H., Vt., Mass., R. I., Ct.

7. NEPHRODIUM sPINULOSUM Desvaux (Aspidium Swz.) Fronds with the divisions all spzzu/oseZy toothed, and more deeply cut than in other members of the group. Widely distributed in various situations, Ne. NSH.-VU Mass RE, CB

Many forms of this protean species have been found, but the follow- ing are all that appear worthy of permanent recognition.

a. Normal form.— Whole frond smooth, pinnae obliquely set to the main rachis, the lowermost pair shortest; sori terminal on the veinlets which terminate within the radius of the fruit-dot (sorus) ; indusia smooth; scales of the crosiers light brown.

B. Var. intermedium, Davenport. Divisions of the lamina more finely cut, pinnae spreading at right angles; under surfaces and indusia finely glandular especially along the darker rachises and mid- nerves; sori below the apex of the veinlet which extends beyond the radius of the fruit-dot; scales of the crosiers darker.

y. Var. dilatatum, Baker. Nearly as in a, but much larger every way, the mountain forms being broadly triangular ovate; sor below the apex; scales on the crosiers dark with blackish centres on some of the largest forms.

Obs.— As is well known JVepArodium dilatatum is considered by English authors generally as being a wholly distinct species from JV. spinulosum, and even Moore, who yet regarded spinu/osum as a mere variety of cristatum, so treated it under Lastrea, describing several forms as varieties. His description of var. tanacetifolia “fronds ample, triangular or sub-triangular ovate, tri-quadri-pinnate ; scales of the stipe dark-centred” (Native Printed Ferns 1, 225) exactly . fits our mountain forms from New Hampshire and Vermont; but Moore’s forms are all described as having glandular indusia, whereas in our form the indusium is smooth as in a.

8. POLYSTICHUM ACROSTICHOIDES, Schott (Aspidium, Swartz). . Christmas Fern. Whole plant remaining green, or nearly so; fertile fronds contracted above the middle, the tips only perishing; pinnae auricled at the base, spiny toothed. Rocky hillsides and ravines, Me., NOH ew Mass, RoD VE ;

54 Rhodora [Marcu

Obs.—As pointed out in my previous note (RHopoRA, iv. 9) Porv- STICHUM is especially characterized by its densely opaque, or coria- ceous texture, auricled pinnae and aculeate or spiny toothed lobes.

9. POLYSTICHUM ACULEATUM Swartz, var. Brauni Davenport (RHopona, |. c.). Stipes and rachises thickly clothed with soft hairs and chaffy scales; crosiers densely covered with rich brown scales and chaff; margins of lobes aculeate. Mountain ravines, Me., N. H., Vt.

Under Division C (Rootstock caespitose). Plants small.

10. PELLAEA ATROPURPUREA, Link. Purple Cliff-Brake. Not strictly caespitose, but rhizomes short, moderately stout, and with the stipes so closely approximated as to appear tufted. Doubtfully ever- green with us unless in especially favorable situations. Miss Slosson writes me that she has found that it drops its pinnae in winter, *the stipes and rachises remaining." Needs further investigation and the winter season is a good time for it. Limestone cliffs, N. H., Vt., Mass... KR. I., Ct.

11, ASPLENIUM TRICHOMANES, Linnaeus. False Maiden-hair. Fronds all alike, parrowly linear, pinnate ; stipes and rachises black, or purplish black, and shining. Rock crevices, Me, N. H., Vt., Mass., R. I., Ct.

12. ASPLENIUM VIRIDE, Hudson. Green Spleenwort. Resem- bling no. r1, and in similar situations, but with stipes and rachises green. Vt.

13. ASPLENIUM EBENEUM, Ait. Ebony Spleenwort. Sterile fronds in rosette-like clusters at the base of the taller erect fertile fronds; stipes and rachises purplish black and shining, or in var. Hortonae — a sterile form with plumose fronds — reddish. With no. 11, Me., N. H., Vt., Mass., R. I., Ct.

I4. ASPLENIUM EBENOIDES, R. R. Scott. Fronds more or less distorted, and sometimes proliferous. A natural hybrid between nos. 13 and 17 with which it has always been found growing and to be looked for wherever those two ferns are plentiful in close proxi- mity to one another. Vt. (Egg/eston, Woolson & Swift), Ct. (Adam).

15. ASPLENIUM MONTANUM, Willdenow. Mountain Spleenwort. Fronds ovate-lanceolate and much incised. A comparatively recent addition to our New England fern-flora, and as yet little known. Limestone cliffs, Ct.

1902] Blanchard, — Our Chokeberries 55

16. ASPLENIUM RUTA-MURARIA, Linnaeus. Fronds deltoid, with wedge-shaped divisions, Limestone cliffs, N. H., Vt., Mass., Ct.

17. CAMPTOSORUS RHIZOPHYLLUS, Link. Walking Leaf. Fronds undivided, with prolonged proliferous tips; abnormal forms not infrequent. Limestone cliffs, but also on other formations. Me., N. H., Vt., Mass., R. I., Ct.

This completes the evergreen true ferns of New England, but in old meadow lands, about hummocks and shrubbery, on springy hill- sides, or in low woodlands, when free from snow, in many places may be found the ternate fleshy sterile forms of Botrychium ternatum. So also may be found the handsome furrowed stems of the scouring rush (Zguzsetum hyemale L.) and several forms of club moss (Zycofo- dium), and Selaginella.

NorE. In the preparation of this matter I have been greatly indebted to Miss Slosson for many valuable observations which it gives me pleasure to acknowledge here.

MEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS.

OUR CHOKEBERRIES.

W. H. BLANCHARD.

THE compilers of the Flora of Vermont could find no authenticated specimens of the Red Chokeberry, Pyrus arbutifolia, L., and so left it out, though the Black Chokeberry was given as common. On May 26, 1900, I found the Red Chokeberry on Rocky Hill in Westminster, Vermont, about two miles from the Connecticut River. While I felt sure I had found the typical plant and no variety or “form,” I sent it to Pres. Brainerd and Mr. Fernald to have it compared with authenticated specimens. Both pronounced it a normal plant of the type form. So Vermont botanists can add another plant to our grow- ing list.

Some of my observations on both of our Chokeberries are here given. They seem to indicate that these plants are variable in several respects and may interest botanists. The plants have an abundance of Latin names, some of them indicating that the color of the fruit has been considered to be practically uniform.

The Illustrated Flora describes the Red Chokeberry as from five

56 Rhodora [MARCH

to twelve feet high ; lower surfaces of the leaves, calyx and pedicels tomentose ; fruit globose or depressed, bright red, two or three lines in diameter; growing in swamps and wet woods. Gray gives it as common from Nova Scotia to Florida. It grows at my Westminster station on dry, rocky knolls scattered over a large area of poor, broken woodland, but not in the swampy or moist places. The fruit was not fairly ripe and red till the middle of September, and later it turned black, It was much smaller than that of the Black Chokeberry, which grew here also, and six weeks later. It will be noticed that in Ver- mont it is not common and does not in this case grow in swamps and wet places.

I have watched it at a station in Walpole, New Hampshire, also. Here it grew in a moist place, but the fruit had only a mere tinge of red and that on only a small part of the berries. At both these sta- tions the fruit was globose-depressed like an apple. But on Septem- ber 21, 1901, I found a Walpole station on Drewsville Plain so often mentioned in Mr. Fernald’s article in RHODORA, iil, 232. It was near “ Aunt Philae's " pond, and the plants were from six to ten feet high, but the fruit was as large as that of the Black Chokeberry, elongated-globose like it and as black, plump and shining. I sent specimens to Mr. Fernald and he thought we must call them P. ardu- tifolia. At all three stations the woolly condition of the underside of the leaves, of the calyx and the pedicels was the same and continued throughout the season.

The Black Chokeberry is described in the Illustrated Flora as having the underside of the leaves, pedicels and calyx glabrous ; fruit globose or oval, nearly black or purplish black, three or four lines in diameter; growing in swamps and low woods or sometimes in drier situations. Gray gives it as having black fruit, and Wood as growing in swamps, and from two to five feet high. I have seldom seen it in a swamp or wet place. It is often five or six feet high though generally it is shorter. It often grows with Huckleberries and is generally supposed or said to be poisonous. Some of its com- mon names are expressive if not polite. I have not found it astrin- gent as the floras give it, but flat and tasteless.

I found it very abundant in Stratton, Vt., on the historic ground where Daniel Webster addressed the famous gathering of the Whigs ` of Southern Vermont in 1840. Many specimens were bright-red but otherwise normal, and none grew in damp places.

1902] Leavitt, — Notes on Lycopodium 57

On the coast of Maine, especially on the plains of Kennebunkport where boreal plants are so common, I found large areas of it mostly about a foot high. On August 8, 1901, I saw near the Town House large patches which had red and purple fruit. Ina few days this had darkened a great deal and was wrinkled and dull, while the nor- mal fruit was plump and shining. In all cases the leaves and pedicels were glabrous.

It is evident that these plants need much further study and I should be pleased to hear from others in regard to them.

WESTMINSTER, VERMONT.

NOTES ON LYCOPODIUM. IBS G. LeAvicr,

LYCOPODIUM CLAVATUM, VAR. MONOSTACHYON ON Mr. MoNapn- NOCK. — In driving through elevated pasture land on the outlying southern slopes of Mt. Monadnock, New Hampshire, in November, 1901, I was attracted by a growth of Lycopodium clavatum covering a plot of dry open ground 12 or 15 feet in diameter, and noticeable even at some little distance for its unusual appearance. The plant differed from ordinary c/avatum in having an exceedingly stiff habit, the secondary shoots being shorter and more erect, the lateral seg- ments of these shoots less divergent, and the leaves far less spread- ing than in the type. The later leaves of each season were closely appressed, the latest particularly so, and thus the annual growths of the branchlets being plainly marked off the plant had a conspic- uously articulated appearance. I found in all 7o peduncles bearing in each case a single strobile.

Analogous forms of Z. complanatum and L. obscurum are to be seen where these species occur in open, dry situations, In comp/ana- tum we get short, sparingly branched, more or less erect segments, and reduction in the number of strobiles to each peduncle; in the obscurum, similar effects on the general habit, with certain resultant changes in the plan of the lateral segments. These variations, which are often very pronounced, are due to physiological causes. On the contrary the characters distinguishing the form of Z. clavatum in question seem to be constitutional. The specimens taken agree with plants from further north, of the variety monostachyon, ‘This

58 ; Rhodora [Marcu

variety was the subject of a note in RHODORA for September, 19or. Dr. B. L. Robinson, the writer, found var. monostachyon abundant along with the type in northern Aroostook County, Maine, and at Grand Falls, New Brunswick, and states that in some places it becomes the prevailing form. Its range is indicated by the localities and regions cited, — Prince Edward's Island, Katahdin, Alstead, N. H., Lake Winnipeg, and the Rocky Mountains of British North America.

THE GEMMAE OF L. LUCIDULUM.. Ona sloping rock partly covered with leaf mold I found 25 young plants of Z. /ucidudum, of various ages, derived from gemmae. I was interested in noting that some of these plantlets were 3 feet from the nearest adult growth of the species, and at a level one foot higher. How did the gemmae reach this distance and elevation? ‘They are said by various writers to “fall” or to be “spontaneously loosened” from the parent stems. Some time later when I found Z. Zwceidu/um with the propagative buds undisturbed, I was able partly to answer the question. Press- ing down gently at the extreme edge of the cotyledon-like leaf of one of the buds I broke the gemma off. It did not fall but snapped, and landed 11 inches away. The second flew 25 inches, the third an equal distance. It seems then, that elastic recoil from some source may throw the ripe gemmae a little distance when these bodies are struck, as by rabbits or birds or perhaps by rain drops. The shape of the bud, which is slightly concave above and is held out as it were like the hollowed hand, palm upwards, lends some degree of plausi- bility to the idea that drops of rain or the heavier drip from trees may be the usual means of loosening the gemmae. ‘The range of the trajectory may be 3 or 4 feet, at the greatest. This, I take it, is about 40 times the annual advance by growth. The time taken for bud-derived plants to mature, before another saltus of this kind can occur, must very greatly reduce the relative gain in dissemination as effected solely by snapping of the gemmae; perhaps the ratio of gain may be 3 or 4.

Archangeli says that the gemma, or “ bulbil,” of Z. Sedago— very similar to that of Z. Zucidu/um — falls off, and that, without any dis- articulation by cellular disintegration, the tissues of the short pedicel bearing the bulbil are ruptured through the pressure of cushion-like swellings arising on the bases of the fleshy side leaves of the bulbil and jutting against the upper leaves of the pedicel. When the stress due to the growth of the swellings is greatest, a downward blow may convert the pressure into an efficient propulsive force.

1902 | Leavitt, — Notes on Lycopodium 59

LYCOPODIUM COMPLANATUM, VAR. FLABELLIFORME.— The main stem of Z. complanatum is spoken of by Gray's Manual as *exten- sively creeping (often subterranean)." The Z. complanatum of the Manual is the variety //abe///forme, Fernald. By my observation the main stem is very much oftener unbranched — the vertical second- aries aside — than branched. On the average of many plants examined, it divides less than once in five or six years. And I have never found it subterranean. It creeps onward in a single line, as a rule reaching forward annually a foot more or less, and always running over the surface unless by accident the tip meets an obstruc- tion. If the way is barred the tip may make a detour and become for a short distance in a manner subterranean. Otherwise it lies upon the surface. The duration of the stem is five or six years; that is, the oldest part, which is about to be overtaken by decay, is five or six years old. Naturally in the course of so many years the stem often becomes covered with leaf mold. It does not, how- ever, seek a subterranean path, so far as I have been able to find.

These points with regard to var. fudelliforme are of some value in determining the standing of the variety (?), or species (?), chamae- cyparissus.

The number of strobiles to the peduncle I find very variable, according to local conditions. Strong light and dry soil tend to restrict the branching of the fruiting axes, and this effect is often marked. For example a plant collected without particular attention to the number of spikes proves to have the following strobilation.

Strobiles per peduncle 1 2 3 4 Cases found ET 9:2-^f5 The average number of strobiles is 1.9 —

At Jaffrey, New Hampshire, I gathered a good number of spikes from a variety of situations in order to obtain some idea of the ten- dency of the plant in that region in the matter of branching of the inflorescence (if we may so speak or the “fruiting” parts). The count shows such a degree of variation that one may probably con- clude that the influence of soil, light, etc., is greater than that of geographical position. At least it indicates that it would be a very arduous task to make even an approximate determination of the general tendency in any district. Spikes gathered in an open fallow field, in moderately dry soil, where there was no shade, gave the following figures:

)

60 Rhodora [Marcu

Strobiles per peduncle 1 2 3 bee Cases found 1 OF 2499; 195 1..0 Prevalent number 3, average 3.25.

In low, rich woods the following results were obtained: Strobiles per peduncle 1 2 3 4 Brie Cases found o. 19 394.459 348.3

The fours predominate strongly; the average number is 3.9.

THE Ames BOTANICAL LABORATORY, North Easton, Massachu- setts.

PLANTS NEW TO EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS.— On June 14, 1901, I found in a rocky path on the south side of one of the Blue Hills in Milton, several specimens of Carex g/aucodea, Tuckerm. ‘This plant has not before been reported east of Mt. Holyoke, Massachusetts, in the Connecticut Valley, when Tuckerman discovered it in June, 1865, in a similar rocky path on the south side of the mountain; from this point it has been found west and south to Illinois and Arkansas. July 9 I noticed near the roadside in Milton a new Hieracium, T. vud- gatum, Fries. The plants were in abundance behind an old wall on land that had not been cultivated for twenty years or more and included specimens of very varying size from three to thirty-two inches high.

On Aug. 15, at Scituate, I saw a singular looking brown /uncus resembling 7. nodosus, L., which I took to be /. scirpoides, Lam., but on examination it proved to be /. drachycarpus, Engelm. This quite southern species is reported in the February RHODORA as found near New London, Connecticut, the past season by Dr. Graves, both sta- tions new to New England. At Scituate it grew on a gravelly ridge about a third of a mile from the ocean, and in a patch of peculiar reddish soil quite different from the general soil of the ridge. The gravel was in small equal sized particles with a peculiar greasy feel- ing to the hand; and neither the plant nor the soil were observed elsewhere. stan

As an explanation of one possible distribution of plants I have never seen any notice taken of the transportation of soil from any distant place to another locality; but some years ago while walking in Wareham, Massachusetts, I noticed a bit of fossil rock in the high- way much like the stones on the Potomac shore near Mt. Vernon,

1902 | — Prince, — Some Plants of Intervale, N. H. 61

and certainly not like anything on Cape Cod. In answer to my inquiries I was informed that a few years before a Wareham schooner had brought back from Chesapeake Bay a ballast load of gravel which had been used on the sandy road at this part to make a better highway. Almost all gravel transportation is by railroad and for comparatively short distances, but when brought in schooner loads from a southern shore we may certainly expect new plants and ani- mals to be concealed in it.— G. G. KENNEDy, Readville, Massachu- setts.

SOME PLANTS OF INTERVALE, NEw HaAMPsHIRE.— It may interest the readers of RHopora to know that in August of the years 1889 and 1890 Fogonia pendula was found at Intervale, New Hampshire. It grew not very plentifully in two or three very limited areas under beech trees, often pushing up through the beech leaves and carrying them like an unwieldy collar at a little distance below the flowers. Since the years mentioned I have not been in Intervale during the month of August and have no means of knowing whether this orchid still grows there.

Along a railway cutting through a sand bank at Intervale, there is always to be found a quantity of PoZygone//a articulata, — a station unusually far inland and also marking perhaps the northern limit of this species in New England.

Fludsonia tomentosa grows plentifully among sand and pebbles in abandoned beds of the Saco along the road to Echo Lake, or in bottoms subject to overflow, and has increased noticeably in the last ten years. From the Gray Herbarium I learn that this is the Hud- sonia secured at Intervale some years ago by Miss Susan Minns. Her plant was correctly determined as ZZ. tomentosa by the late Dr. Sereno Watson and is so labeled in the Gray Herbarium, but by some clerical error it was recorded in the 6th edition of Gray's Manual as H. ericoides and this mistake was repeated in the Synoptical Flora.

I have also found Paronychia argyrocoma on sand bars of the Saco near Humphrey’s Ledge at Intervale.— Frances C. PRINCE, Boston, Massachusetts.

THE * KING-DEVIL WEED” IN THE PENonBscoT VALLEY. — I am not aware that ZZzeracium praealtum has been recorded from this part of Maine, and if not the following record may be of interest. On June

62 Rhodora [MARCH

15, 1901, I found it growing commonly and in full blossom between Kenduskeag and Corinth. It was in fields and meadows and by the roadside. The plant must have been established in this locality for a number of years in order to have become so abundant. The com- mon Orange Hawk-weed, Z/Zieracium aurantiacum, was growing asso- ciated with the preceding and equally abundant. — O. W. KNIGHT, Bangor, Maine. 3

[H. praealtum, characterized as the worst weed which has recently appeared in Maine, has destroyed many hayfields in the Kennebec Valley, where Mr. H. K. Morrell and others have made vigorous though usually vain attempts to arouse the farmers to their obligation to check its rapid encroachment. Its spread in the Penobscot Valley, where Æ. aurantiacum, the Orange Hawk-weed or ** Devil's Paint-brush," is already a pest, should be scrupu- lously guarded against.— Ed.]

CYPRIPEDIUM ARIETINUM ON Mr. Tosy, MASSACHUSETTS. — In the list of New England plants published by Mr. E. T. Williams in the January number of RHODORA, Cypripedium arietinum, R. Br. has been omitted from the Massachusetts column, but it still grows on Mt. Toby where it was first reported by Clark as recorded in Tuck- erman's Amherst Flora. I found the plant growing there in 1874; and apparently its numbers have not decreased from that day to this. i So far as I know, the only species that should now be stricken from Tuckerman’s Amherst list is Lysimachia punctata, L. It grew in South Amherst near a roadside fence that has since been removed and the ground plowed up. Perhaps it now grows elsewhere in the Amherst region, but it is no longer found in the locality where it was first reported. — L. H. ELWELL, Amherst, Massachusetts.

LIPARIS LOESELII IN MASSACHUSETTS.—After the January issue of Ruopora had been mailed it was found that the plate of page 19 had been damaged during the press-work and that in all the later copies the plus sign, indicating in the tabular matter the occurrence of Liparis Loeselii in Massachusetts, was completely obliterated. The species is, of course, well known in Massachusetts, and was duly recorded for the state by Mr. Williams in his very full and critical list. of our New England orchids.

THE JOssELYN BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF MAINE, — MID-WINTER MEETING. — The meeting of the Josselyn Botanical Society of Maine, held at the rooms of the Portland Society of Natural History,

1902 | Moulton,— Josselyn Botanical Society 63

December 28, 1901, was attended by many members and friends from different towns in the state. In the absence of the President, A. L. Lane, the meeting was called to order by Dr. Dana W. Fellows, chairman of the committee of arrangements, and Prof. Leslie A. Lee of Bowdoin College was made Chairman of the meeting.

During the afternoon four announced papers and many brief informal reports at roll-call were presented. Mr. Edward B. Cham- berlain, of Vassalboro described in detail a large peat bog in Cum- berland, discussing the ecological and physiological relations of the plants of the different belts of vegetation from the pond at the centre to the wooded margin of the bog. Miss Kate Furbish of Brunswick summarized much of the present knowledge of useful native plants of the State, and furthermore enumerated many species which are justly winning recognition as ornamental plants. Mr. Merritt L. Fernald of Cambridge, Massachusetts, exhibited about fifty of the recently discovered plants of Maine, calling attention to the specific peculiarities of the plants, and emphasizing the relation of these discoveries to our general understanding of laws of plant geography. Rev. B. P. Snow of Yarmouth discussed the functions and work of foliage.

After the announced papers there was a roll-call of members at which each responded by a brief note or by some suggestion or ques- tion. These responses contained much of interest to the members, that of Dr. D. W. Fellows being specially interesting to readers of Ruopora. Dr. Fellows has corresponded with Mr. Hall, formerly of Shapleigh, Maine, in regard to the occurrence of Camptosorus rhizophyllus in York County; and it is now established that the specimen of Camptosorus at the University of Maine, supposed to have been found at Shapleigh, grew in western Massachusetts. It is probable, also, that Anemonella thalictroides, reported on the author- ity of the same collection from Shapleigh, was not originally gathered in Maine.

In the evening Mr. Austin Carey, Forester for the Berlin Lumber Company, and formerly of the Maine Forestry Commission, gave an instructive and encouraging lecture on forestry, with especial refer- ence to the conditions in Maine, though illustrated also by compara- tive scenes in the forests of the Pacific Slope, the Great Lake Region and the Black Forest of Germany.— Dora H. MoutrTon, Secretary, Portland, Maine.

64 Rhodora [Marcu

THE SEVENTH ANNUAL WINTER MEETING OF THE VERMONT BoranicaL CLUB held at the University of Vermont, Burlington, on the 24th and 25th of January, was the most successful of any in the history of the Club. More than fifty botanists were present, and fifteen names were added to the membership. The program included twenty-three papers, representing a wide range of taxonomic, morpho- logical, physiological, and economic subjects. Among cryptogams thirteen species of mosses and seven of algae new to the State were listed. Mrs. Frances B. Horton reported finding Dryopteris simulata: Dav. at. Brattleboro’, the first record for Vermont, and Zygodium paimatum Swartz only twelve miles distant in New Hampshire. A large number of flowering plants has been added to the local flora of Burlington, and sixty-four species new to the state have been reported since the publication of the Flora a little over a year ago. The problems of forestry aroused much interest, and the need of enlightenment in this field for the purpose of awakening general action and influencing legislation was emphasized. Nature study and the botanical work of secondary schools received attention in several papers. President Brainerd suggested as the chief problems for the next season the careful study of such critical groups as Viola, Rubus and Crataegus. The address by Professor B. L. Robinson on Some Recent Advances in the Classification of the Flowering Plants, in which an outline of the history of taxonomic systems was followed by a most lucid exposition of the Eichlerian principles as developed by Engler and Prantl, was listened to with great interest by a num- ber of persons outside the ranks of working botanists as well as by the members of the Club. The officers were re-elected as follows: President Ezra Brainerd of Middlebury.College, president; Mr. C. G. Pringle, vice-president; Professor L. R. Jones, secretary. The field meeting next summer will take the form of an excursion to the islands and shores of Lake Champlain. — T. E. Hazen.

Vol. 4, No. 38, including pages 23 fo 42 was issued ro February, 1902.

IRbodora

JOURNAL OF

THE NEW ENGLAND BOTANICAL CLUB

Vol. 4 April, 1902 No. 40

THE NEW ENGLAND POLYGONUMS OF THE SECTION AVICULARIA.

B. L. Ropnison.

(Plate 35.)

Ir has long been known to several careful observers that our Polygonums of the Section Avicularia (Bird's Knotgrasses) still offer many perplexing problems. Even some of the commoner forms of this group fail to find recognition or adequate characterization in current manuals, and the section is rendered difficult alike by a gen- eral habital similarity, inconspicuous flowers without very striking differences, and by the puzzling seasonal changes through which the individual often passes from spring to autumn. Thus, at the outset nearly all forms of this section tend to be suberect, and, if the condi- tions of growth are at all favorable, produce upon the main stem lanceolate or more often elliptical leaves, which are relatively large (often 2 to 4 cm. long). With the successive branching, which in P. aviculare commonly starts at the very base, the plants in many cases quickly derive a different habit, since the branches are often quite prostrate and always bear leaves of smaller and smaller size. It thus comes about that an old sprawling specimen which has shed all its earlier foliage and retains only the much reduced leaves of the ultimate branchlets possesses so little likeness to the earlier stages of the same plant as to be easily taken for a distinct species, The difference is frequently heightened by changes of color and by the degeneration of the stipules, which are at first whole and white or often silvery, but later turn to brown bristle-formed shreds. To these matters which, however perplexing to the beginner, should not long mislead the careful student, there are added more serious diffi-

66 Rhodora [APRIL

culties, which are especially apt to be shown by annuals, namely those which arise from the very unequal nourishment of the different individuals. This especially affects a group of plants which, while quite ready to luxuriate in the best of soil, are equally capable of a hardy advance into the packed earth of foot-paths or sterile sands, where they suffer every degree of inanition. Crowding also affects their manner of growth; thus the typical P. aviculare is normally a prostrate plant, but when crowded the individuals are often perfectly erect. Finally, the Polygonums of this section show a fondness for brackish marshes and tidal flats, where they become as one may say maritimized, taking on very gradually the thicker leaves and more fleshy character so common in halophytes. It is easy to see, there- fore, why these species are confused in most herbaria.

In interpreting the maritime forms I have been especially assisted by Mr. W. P. Rich, who has devoted much attention to the group and brought together an interesting suite of specimens. I am also indebted to Prof. N. L. Britton and Dr. J. K. Small for the privilege of examining and discussing with them many specimens in the herbarium of the New York Botanical Garden, and to Mr. F. V. Coville and Dr. J. N. Rose for the loan of many sheets from the government collections at Washington. I have been kindly per- mitted to examine also the Polygonums in the herbaria of Brown University (including the recently acquired herbarium of Prof. W. W. Bailey), the University of Vermont, and Middlebury College, and in the private collections of Dr. E. H. Eames and Messrs. Walter Deane, E. F. Williams, E. L. Rand, and J. F. Collins. Plate 35, illustrating nearly all the forms here discussed, has been drawn with great care by Mr. F. Schuyler Matthews.

The section Avicularia, Meisn. Prodr. Gen. Polyg. 43, 85, is characterized by incumbent cotyledons, triquetrous achenes, axillary flowers, and 2-parted or 2-lobed stipules. None of these characters separates the section sharply from other groups in the genus, but in the case of our own northeastern species there never need be doubt in recognizing the section, the axillary flowers alone being a sufficient guide, except in P. arenarium, found only once on our coast.

* Achenes at maturity conspicuously exserted beyond the inclosing calyx.

a— Prostrate, maritime ; achenes broadly ovate ; flowers relatively large, 2to4 mm. in length.

P. MARITIMUM, L. Foliage very pale and glaucous, often nearly white: leaves of the branches small, narrowly oblong, very thick,

1902] Robinson, — Polygonums of Section Avicularia 67

usually exceeding the short thick internodes; stipules silvery, con- spicuous: sepals 5, broadly obovate, petaloid, contracted at the base, the broad roseate tips inclining to spread in fruit. — Spec. PI. i. 361 (1753); Meisn. Prodr. Gen. Polyg. 89, & in DC. Prodr. xiv. 88 ; Eng. Bot. t. 2805; Gray, Man. ed. 6, 439; Small, Monog. Gen. Polyg. 100, t. 37. P. marinum, var. roseum, Pursh, Fl. 269 (1814). P. glau- cum, Nutt. Gen. i. 254 (1818).— Sea beaches. MASSACHUSETTS : Woods Hole, 1872, Æ. Palmer; Falmouth, 1 Sept. 1894, 7. R. Churchill, Sept. 1901, Miss E. C. Bridge; Nantucket, Sconset, Aug. 1875, Z. Z. Dame; Marthas Vineyard, 1865, J. W. Robbins; Gay Head, S. Harris; Edgartown, 11 Sept. 1901, M. L. Fernald. Ruope Istanp; Newport, 7. W. Bailey; Block Island, S. 7: Olney. New York, Hook Point, Long Island, 12 Aug. 1878, Æ. S. Miller. New JERSEY, 4. Gray. NomrH CAROLINA, Carolina Beach, £ V. Coville, no. 155. SOUTH CAROLINA, Sullivans Island, Æ. JW. Ravenel. FLORIDA, Chapman, (Eu.) PLATE 35, FIGS. 17—19.

P. Fowleri, nov. sp. Prostratum glabrum ramosum subcarnosum pallidi-viride; foliis caulinis anguste ellipticis internodia paullo superantibus saepissime obtusis 1.2—3 cm. longis 6-9 mm. latis sub- tiliter venosis, eis ramorum ramulorumque gradatim minoribus ; floribus subsessilibus solitariis vel binis; calice profunde 5-partito, lobis oblongis obtusis subaequalibus albescentibus vel rubescentibus basi non angustatis; achenio olivaceo 4 mm. longo a basi late ovato in rostrum acuminatum attenuato saepissime a calyce arcte amplect- ente valde exserto. — P. maritimum, Fowler, Prelim. List Pl. N. Bruns. 53; Macoun, Cat. Canad. 408 (excl. synon.); Small, Bull. Torr. Club, xix. 362, as to pl. Mt. Desert; not L.. P. Rayi, Small, Monog. Gen. Polyg. 98, at least as to northern part of range; not Meisn. 7. Rati, Rand & Redfield, Fl. Mt. Desert Isl. 141, 142; not Babingt.— Sandy shores. New Brunswick, 1869, J. Fowler (type, in hb. Gray). Anticosti, Salt Lake, ro Aug. 1883, J. Macoun. QueEBEC, Riviere du Loup, 4 Aug. 1896, E. Brainerd. MAINE: Mt. Desert Island, Aug. 1891, Æ. Furbish; Southwest Harbor, 24 Sept. 1893, &. L. Rand; Great Cranberry Isle, 29 Aug. 1892, E. Z. Rand; Broad Cove, 13 Sept. 1894, E. £L. Rand; shore of Little Cranberry Isle, 24 July, 1899, Æ. F. Williams; Cape Newagen, Southport, 7 Aug. 1894, M. Z. Fernald. PLATE 35, FIGS. 14, IS.

This plant, which I take pleasure in naming for its discoverer, Prof. James Fowler of Kingston, Ontario, bears such a close resem- blance to P. Raii (or better P. Roberti) of the Old World that it is by no means remarkable that it has of late been confused with that species. It differs, however, in several features. The leaves are more obtuse and are not nigrescent in drying, the achenes are smaller and much more sharply beaked and the less petaloid calyx lobes are oblong, not oval.

P. RoBzRTI, Loisel. Mém. Soc. Linn. Par. vi. 409 (1827); Hook.

68 Rhodora © [Aprin

f. & Jacks, Ind. Kew. ii. 598. P. Rat, Babington, Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. xvii. 458 (1836), & Man. Brit. Bot. first six editions. P. Rayi, Meisn. in DC. Prodr. xiv. 88 (a mistaken orthography adopted by several American botanists but not employed by Babington notwith- standing reference to 2d ed. of his Man. by Hook. f. & Jacks. l. c.).— This species, which may be distinguished from P. Fowleri by the characters given above, may occur upon the coast of our middle states, There is a specimen rather closely simulating it in the her- barium of the New York Botanical Garden, collected at Portsmouth, Virginia, by Rugel, which without a re-examination I cannot pro- nounce upon more definitely. The name Roderti was according to Meisner used to cover mixed material but when previously described elements have been excluded must stand for this species. PLATE 35, FIG. 16.

+ + Erect; achenes lanceolate.

P. EXSERTUM, Small. Tall, much branched: leaves lanceolate, acutish: flowers borne on slender at length exserted pedicels: calyx small, greenish, inconspicuous, much shorter than the lanceolate attenuate olivaceous much exerted achenes.— Bull. Torr. Bot. Club, xxi. 172 (1894), & Monog. Gen. Polyg. 112, t. 43. — Brackish meadows. Maine, York Harbor, Æ. P. Bicknell, acc. to Small. RuopE Istanp, Barrington, S. 7: Olney. CONNECTICUT: Orange, beach at Savin Rock, 11 Sept. 1895, C. H. Bissell, no. 1239; East Haven, A. Z. Winton. New York, New York City, 24 Sept. 1894, E. P. Bicknell, New Jersey, Absecom, W. Boott. Also in the interior from Illinois to the Saskatchewan. PLATE 35, FIGS. 12, 13.

* * Achenes nearly or quite included. + Branches terete or nearly so.

++ Flowers small; sepals (normally 5) greenish white mostly with a roseate tinge, 1.3 to 1.8 mm. long.

= Pedicels included in the sheaths; flowers distinctly axillary.

P. prolificum. Erectum 3-5 dm. altum ramosum vel ramosis- simum ; foliis lineari-oblongis crassiusculis obtusis vel plus minusve acutis in speciminibus siccatis rugulosi-venosis 1-2 cm. longis 1-4 mm. latis; stipularum laciniis setiformibus flores subsessiles valde superantibus; calyce s-partito, lobis oblongis apice rotundatis 3 exterioribus viridibus albo-marginatis saepissime rubescentibus, in maturitate reticulati-venosis interioribus duos tenuiores albos paullo superantibus leviter cucullatis 2 mm. longis; staminibus 3; achenio triquetro brunneo acuto 2 mm. longo, faciebus lanceolati-deltoideis leviter concavis lucidis minutissime punctatis.—/. maritimum, Young, Cat. Fl. Oak Isl. 14 (1883), not L. P. ramosissimum, var. prolificum, Small, Bull. Torr. Club, xxi. 271 (1894), & Monog. Gen. Polyg. 114.

1902] Robinson, — Polygonums of Section Avicularia 69

— Maing, York Harbor, 16 Aug. 1893, E. P. Bicknell. New HAMP- SHIRE: Rye Beach, open grassy field, 16 Aug. 1886, W. Deane, on salt marsh, 19 Sept. 1901, W. P. Rich & E. F. Williams ; Hampton Falls, on salt marsh, 22 Sept. 1901, Æ. F. Williams. MASSACHU- SETTS: Plum Island, on sand dunes, 4 Aug. 1899, E. F. Williams; Oak Island, Aug. 1877, 20 Sept. and 1 Oct. 1882, Hf. A. Young, in sand, 14 Sept. 1900, W. Deane (pl. 1 m. in diameter), salt marsh, 16 Sept. 1899, W. P. Rich; Cambridgeport, on flats of the Charles River, Oct. 1901, B. LZ. Robinson & M. L. Fernald; Dorchester, Cedar Grove, on salt marsh, 14 Sept. 1888, W. Deane; Milton, on salt marsh near Neponset River, 1 Sept. 1883, W. Deane; Plymouth Road, 11 Aug. 1878, Z. & C. E. Faxon: Sea View, Marshfield, on shore of salt creek, 13 Oct. 1895, Æ. Z Williams; Marthas Vine- yard, 20 Aug. 1865,/. W. Robbins; North Scituate, 6 Sept. 1897, S. Harris. RHODE ISLAND; Providence, 30 Aug. 1893, J. F. Col- lins; Kast Providence, 1879, W. W. Bailey. CoNNECTICUT: Fair- field, 26 Sept. 1897, and 4 Sept. 1898, E. HM. Eames; Bridgeport, banks of Cedar Creek (salt), 18 Aug. 1898, Æ. H. Eames; Orange, C. H. Bissell, nos. 985, 1214, 1240; Cos Cob, C. Z. Bisse//, no. 5416; Norwalk, C. Z. Bissell, no. 5171. NEw YorRK, Peconic River, L. I., 26 Aug. 1878, 2. S. Miller. VIRGINIA, Eastville, Northampton Co., Sept. 1878, W. M. Canby. Also in Kansas and Nebraska, where quite indistinguishable from the Atlantic form. PLATE 35, FIG. 4.

This is one of several plants which are often confused in her- baria with P. ramosissimum. It differs from that species constantly in its smaller subsessile flowers and in the shape of the leaves. As found on our sea coast it does not have the yellow green color of P. ramosissimum but is bluish green although often whitened by a parasitic fungus. Z. prolificum shows close affinity to P. rurivagum, Jord. of Europe, but differs from it in the habitually obtusish leaves, included achenes, and more robust habit.

P. AvICULARE, L. Prostrate or, especially when young or crowded, erect: leaves lanceolate, acute, acutish, or obtuse, not at all rigid or fleshy, bluish green; flowers much as in the preceding but surpassing the more hyaline remnants of the stipules ; calyx rubescent sometimes deep crimson ; achenes dark brown, dull, minutely granular-striate. — Spec. Pl. i. 362 (1753); Meisn. in DC. Prodr. xiv. 97; Small, Monog. Gen. Polyg. 104, t. 39. P. Bellardi, Small, l. c. 106, t. 4o (effuse form); Britt. & Brown, Illustr. Fl. i. 562; Britt. Man. 363; not All.— Common weed of dooryards and beaten paths, very tough, persistent, and tenacious of life. PLATE 35, FIG. 5. As noted by Meisner the species is polymorphous; with us occur the following varieties, all freely intergrading.

Var. LITTORALE, Koch. Prostrate; stems stouter, somewhat fleshy and a little lignescent towards the base: leaves oblong, thick-

70 Rhodora [APRIL

ish, sometimes acute but with us more often obtuse or rounded at the apex.— Synop. Fl. Germ. 618 (1837). 7. littorale, Link, Enum. Hort. Berol. i. 385 (1821); Meisn. in DC. Prodr. xiv. 98 ; Small, Monog. Gen. Polyg. 102, t. 38. The place of publication of the species is traditionally but incorrectly cited as Schrader’s Journ. i. 54 (1799), although the name littorale appears for the first time as P. maritimum * littorale, Link in Pers. Syn. i. 439 (1805).— Sea coast. New Brunswick, Carleton, 7 Aug. 1877, J. Fowler. New HAMPSHIRE, New Castle, on sandy wayside near beach, 19 Sept. 1901, W. P. Rich. Massacuuserts: Revere, Oak Island, 29 July, 1900, W. P. Rich; South Boston, waste land, 20 Aug. 1899, W. P. Rich ; Scituate, gravel near beach, 8 Sept. 19or, W. P. Rich. RuopE IsLAND, Providence, on cove land, 18 Sept. 1899, 7. F. Collins. Connecticut: Æ. S. Clark, no. 8; Black Rock, 5 Aug. 1898, Æ. H. Eames. Also southward and in the interior, but less well marked. Repeated efforts to substantiate in a suite of specimens the very different characters adduced for the distinction of 7 Zora/e by Koch (Linnaea, xxii. 204), Meisner (l. c.), and Small (1. c.), have failed to show them constant as distinctions or even concomitant as variables. PLATE 35, FIG. 8.

Var. VEGETUM, Ledeb. Luxuriant, more or less erect, lighter green than the typical form : leaves large, elliptical, 3 to 4 cm. in length, somewhat petioled, the margins crisped.— Fl. Ross. iii. 532 (1849); Meisn. (l. c.) 97.— Rich soil, especially in shade. NEWFOUNDLAND, Quiddy Viddy, 2 Aug. 1894, Robinson & von Schrenk. MAINE, Yarmouth on salt flats, 26 July, 1901, Æ. B. Chamberlain. VERMONT, Manchester, 4 July, 1898, M. A. Day. ‘This variety seems scarcely more than a rich-soil form; it is doubtless widely distributed in America. (Eu.) PLATE 35, FIG. 6.

The opposite tendency is shown by Var. ANGUSTISSIMUM, Meisn. l. c. (P. neglectum, Bess. Enum. Fl. Volh. 45, 1821; P. aviculare, var. neglectum, Aschers. Fl. Brandenb. 51, 1864; and? P. aviculare, var. laxum, Ledeb. l. c.) with leaves very narrowly lanceolate or linear. This narrow-leaved form is by no means rare in America but it is poorly marked and shows no constancy in the length of the leaves, degree of diffuseness, etc. PLATE 35, FIG. 7.

— — Filiform pedicels exserted; flowers equalling or exceeding their sub- tending bracts and together forming rather definite terminal racemes.

P. ARENARIUM, Waldst. & Kit. Decumbent, branched from the base: leaves lance-linear, thickish and veiny: flowers campanulate: calyx lobes s, oval, green with thin petaloid red margins.— Pl. Rar. Hung. i. 69, 6. 67 (1802).— RHODE ISLAND, Providence, on cove land, 5 July, 1892, W. W. Bailey & J. F. Collins. A waif from the Mediterranean Region to be recognized by its narrow slightly rigid leaves, much reduced bracts, and small but attractive flowers in terminal almost naked racemes.

| 1902] Robinson, — Polygonums of Section Avicularia 71

+ ++ Flowers larger ; sepals 2 to 3 mm. long; the pedicels exserted; foliage yellowish green.

= Leaves elliptical, large for this section of the genus,

P. EREcTUM, L. Erect or decumbent, bright yellowish green, 1 to 6 dm. high; stems rather stout, much branched: leaves elliptical to obovate, 2 to 4 cm. long, 5 to 15 mm. broad: flowers yellowish green: achene often slightly exserted.— Spec. Pl. i. 363 (1753); Wats. & Coult. in Gray, Man. ed. 6, 440; Small, Monog. Gen. Polyg. 110, t. 42. P. aviculare, var. erectum, Am. auth., not Ledeb. P. ramosissimum, Meisn. in DC. Prodr. xiv. 97, not Michx. — Dry sunny rich soil, roadsides and especially on rubbish heaps, local. MAINE, Mechanic Falls, in streets, 19 Sept. 1897, J. A. Allen. VER- MONT, Pownal, 8—11 Sept. 1899, W. W. Eggleston. MASSACHUSETTS : South Boston, waste ground, 25 Sept. 1878, Æ. A. Young; Tewks- bury, 24 Sept. 1899, Æ. /: Williams; Cambridge, 30 Sept. 1884, W. Deane, 28 Aug. 1897, W. P. Rich, E. F. Williams; Watertown, 12 Sept. 1879, C. E. Perkins; Williamstown, 5 Sept. 1897, 7. X. Churchill, RHODE ISLAND: East Providence, 26 Aug. 1878, W. W. Bailey; Providence, Cat Swamp, 2 Sept. 1894 and 15 July, 1898, J. F. Collins; Newport, on sandy roadside, 21 Sept. 1901, IW. 7. Rich, CONNECTICUT: Fairfield, 27 Aug. 1892, and 3 Sept. 1901, E. H. Eames; Bridgeport, in sandy soil, 7 Sept. 1895, Æ. H. Lames ; Southington, waste ground, 1 Sept. 1897, C. ZZ. Bissell; Rocky Hill, roadside in rich soil, 3 Sept. 1901, C. ZZ. Bissell, no. 5458. PLATE 35; FIG. 9.

— — Leaves lanceolate, narrowed at both ends.

P. RAMOSISSIMUM, Michx. Erect, tall, paniculately branched, 3 to 10 dm. high, yellowish green: stem leaves lanceolate, mostly acute, 3 to 5 cm. long, 5 to 8 mm. broad; the rameal considerably smaller ; flowers 3 to 4 mm. long, yellowish green, not at all rubescent, borne on slender mostly exserted pedicels: sepals 6, the 3 outer sharply carinate, somewhat cucullate, green with yellow margins, the 3 inner smaller, thinner, yellow or yellowish white: achene included.— Fl. i. 237 (1803); Wats. & Comt. in Gray, Man. ed. 6, 440, as to char. and western part of range; Small, Monog. Gen. Polyg. 114 in part, t. 44 (where the figure of the calyx shows but five lobes and fails to bring out their characteristic inequality).— MASSACHUSETTS, Truro, sandy bank on border of salt marsh, 30 Aug. 1899, W. P. Rich. PENNSYLVANIA, Allegheny County, Zeigler. ILLINOIS: Ring- wood, Vasey; Fountaindale and Ogle County, Bebb; Bloomington, Robinson. lowa: Guthrie, 7. A. Allen; Ames, Pammel & Combs, no. 201. WISCONSIN, Prairie du Chien, Z. J. Hale. MISSOURI, Atchison County, Bush, no. 329. Okra4HoMa, Huntsville, Z. 4. Blankinship (distributed as P. camporum). Kansas, Reno County,

72. Rhodora [APRIL

Hitchcock, no. 1095 at least in part. NrxnRAsKA: Rock County, Clements, no. 287b; Cody, Sherry County, 7. M. Bates, no. 568 (dis- tributed as P. camporum); Hooker County, Rydberg, no. 1579, and no. 1763 (distributed as P. camporum), also no. 1771 (distributed as P. litorale). MINNESOTA: Pipestone, Aug. 1895, M. Menzel. NORTH Dakota, Leeds, /. Zunne//, nos. 62, 63. WvowiNG, Blue Grass Creek, A. Nelson, no. 364 (distributed as P. erectum). Oregon, Hall, no. 448. Washington, Bingen, Suksdorf, no. 1406. PLATE 35, FIGS. 1—3.

Many more specimens might be cited but these will be sufficient to illustrate the species. It is noteworthy that of this typical form only one specimen (Mr. Rich's plant from Truro on Cape Cod) has been seen east of western Pennsylvania. Other eastern mate- rial referred here has on examination invariably proved to be P. prolificum or luxuriant and diffuse P. aviculare, or the following readily distinguishable color form.

Forma atlanticum, n. f. . Calyce nullo modo flavescente, lobis 5 vel 6, exterioribus albo-marginatis plus minusve rubescentibus, inter oribus albidis.— Marine: Cumberland, in a hen yard, 31 Aug. 1901, E. B. Chamberlain; Old Orchard Beach, 29 Aug. 1898, M. Z. Fernald, no. 2729. MassacHusETrTS: Edgartown, margin of salt marsh, r1 Sept. rgo1, M. Z. Fernald (type of form); West Fal- mouth, 16 Sept. 1894, 7. R. Churchill; North Scituate, on brackish meadow, 6 Sept. 1897, W. P. Rich & E. F. Williams; Cambridge, marshes of the Charles River, 4 Aug. 1901, W. P. Rich, RmopkÉ IstAND, Providence, on cove land, ro July, 1892, 7. 7. Collins. Connecticut: Milford, on brackish marsh, 28 Aug. 1895, Æ. H. Eames; Bridgeport, salt meadow bordering Ash Creek (stems very brittle), 8 Sept. 1901, Æ. 77. Hames. This form, although always recognizable by the color of its flowers, shows no constant morpho- logical difference from the western typical form, which as stated above has been found at one station on Cape Cod. It bears also a very striking resemblance to the true P. Bellardi, All., of the Old World, which scarcely differs save in its more reduced subulate and slightly rigid floral leaves.

P. BELLARDI, All. Closely like the preceding form, but the upper leaves reduced to very acute short and slightly rigid bracts scarcely or not at all surpassing the flowers in their axils.—Fl. Piedm. ii. 205, t. go, f. 2 (1785).—Of this species, which appears to be frequent and rather widely distributed in Europe and Asia, I have seen only one satisfactory American specimen. That was collected on the South Boston dumping grounds, 3 July, 1879, by Æ. & C. E. Faxon. It was probably a temporarily established waif, as it has not been found during the last twenty years. PLATE 35, FIGS. 10-11.

+ + Branches rather sharply 3-4-angled ; leaves lanceolate to linear, pointed at each end, subulate at the apex, of rather firm texture.

1902] Robinson, — Polygonums of Section Avicularia 73

P. Doucrasrt, Greene. Leaves revolute at the margins, otherwise nearly flat, obscurely or not at all plicate: flowers soon deflexed.— Bull. Calif. Acad. Sci. i. 125 (1884); Small, Monog. Gen. Polyg. 118, t. 46— VERMONT, Snake Mountain, in thin soil on sand rock, 14 Sept. 1878, and 22 Aug. 1900, Æ. Brainerd; Castleton, 22 Aug. and 12 Sept. 1897, 4. J. Grout & W. W. Eggleston. Also westward along the Great Lakes to Rocky Mountains and Pacific Slope. PLATE 35, FIG. 21.

P. TENUE, Michx. Leaves strongly plicate lengthwise, furrowed on each side of the midnerve: flowers erect or nearly so.— Fl. i. 238 (1803); Meisn. in DC. Prodr. xiv. 100; Small, Monog. Gen. Polyg. 122, t. 48.— Dry sandy soil, mostly in open places. Massa- CHUSETTS: Melrose, 28 Sept. 1878, Æ. A. Young; Malden, 25 Oct. 1886, F. S. Collins; Medford, 14 Oct. 1853, W. Boott; Arlington, 15 Aug. 1869, W. Boott; Cambridge, 4 Sept. 1891, M. L. Fernald: Weston, Summit of Doublet Hill, r4 Oct. 1894, E. F. Williams: Milton, on Blue Hill, 14 Aug. 1884, C. Æ. Faxon, 11 Aug. 1895, E. F. Williams. RHoDE IsrAND, Providence, ro Aug. 1877, J. W. Congdon; near Apponaug, 18 Aug. 1886, 7. F. Collins. || CONNECTI- cut: New Haven, 2. C. Zaton; Stratford, on dry exposed sands, 29 Aug. 1892, and 14 Sept. 1895, Æ. H. Eames; Fairfield, 14 Aug. 1891, JE. M. Hames; Southington, in dry fields, 28 Sept. 1898, Z. Andrews, no. 256, and C. ZZ. Bissell. Also frequent and locally abundant southward and west to Minnesota. PLATE 35, FIG. 20.

Gray HERBARIUM, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

EXPLANATION OF PLATE 35.— Polygonum ramosissimum; fig. 1, fruiting calyx ; fig. 2, a part of the inflorescence; fig. 3, a stem leaf. P. prolificum: fig. 4, upper part of a branch. P. aviculare: fig. 5, end of a branch. P., aviculare, var. vegefum: fig. 6, leaf. P. aviculare, var. angustissimum : fig. 7, leaf. P. aviculare, var. littorale: fig. 8, a part of the stem and branches. P. erectum: fig 9, end of a branch. P. Bellardi: fig. 10, inflorescence; fig. 11,a stem leaf. P. exsertum: fig. 12, fruiting calyx and mature achene ; fig. 13, a stem leaf. P. Fowleri: fig. 14, a part of the stem; fig. 15, fruiting calyx and achene. P. Roberti: fig. 16, fruiting calyx and achene (drawn from English material). P. maritimum: fig. 17, branch; fig. 18, fruiting calyx and achene; fig. 19, a stem leaf. P. tenue: fig. 20, a stem leaf (cut transversely to show plicate character). P. Douglasii : fig. 21, a stem leaf.

Figs. 1, 12, 15, 16, and 18, are magnified to 5 diameters; the others are natural size.

74 Rhodora [APRIL

A FEW PLANTS OF THE BLUE HILLS RESERVATION. ARTHUR CLARK.

Tur Metropolitan Park Commissioners have published a Flora prepared under the direction of Mr. Walter Deane, in which most of the species noticed below are mentioned. Personal observations on the occurrence of these plants may, however, be of interest. Several additions to this list will also be made.!

Liparis liliifolia is found growing upon a clayey plateau at an ele- vation of about 400 feet, accompanied by Anemone virginiana and Asclepias quadrifolia, while a little farther on are large plants of Geranium robertianum with innumerable seedlings.

Pogonia verticillata is represented by three large patches, one of which is at the very top of a high hill, near the edge of a water hole.

I have thus far discovered in the Reservation only four species of Habenaria; namely, Æ. tridentata in a maple swamp, ZZ. /acera bor- dering the edge of a pond, Æ. /sycodes in three different places, and H. blephariglottis in a dry neglected cranberry meadow.

While tracing a brook one day I found CoraZoerAiza innata grow- ing upon hummocks of Sphagnum under low alders, birches, and pines. There were about forty plants some of which were not more than two inches high.

Polygala polygama is quite common and grows along the park roads in the dry sand, exposed to the full rays of the burning sun. Very often the cleistogamous flowers rest upon the top of the ground and are plainly visible. Z. paucifolia is found in rich springy woods surrounded by ferns and several species of Lycopodium. Veratrum viride was also found in these woods, as well as Clintonia borealis and Cornus canadensis.

Calla palustris, in a muddy swamp and shaded by a sharp hill, reaches a very unusual size.

Half way up Great Blue Hill under red cedars are several shrubs of Ligustrum vulgare. This is quite remarkable, so far away from

1 When this territory was first taken as a reservation a special permit was nec- essary before one could botanize here. At the present time, however, one is allowed to collect flowers and fruits of specimens, but in order to obtain roots the permit is still necessary. It might be well to state, also, that the Park Commissioners have issued maps of the roads, foot-paths, brooks, etc., of the Reservation, which are of great assistance to those desiring to botanize in this vicinity.

1902] Clark, — Plants of the Blue Hills Reservation 75

any dwelling. The shrubs were six or eight feet high and nearly perfect in form, and when I last saw them they were completely cov- ered with a mass of white flowers.

Higher up on this hill Pycnanthemum linifolium grows in large patches, and near the top Dvervil/a trifida borders the paths upon the north side, while along the road-sides at the foot of the hill a few plants of Z»zosteum perfoliatum may be seen, thickly covered with dust.

Houstonia purpurea, var. longifolia is not uncommon, being found in dry sandy soil in much the same surroundings as Polygala poły- gama.

One field well worthy of mention is covered with Houstonia caerulea growing in its perfection. When the plants are in flower the field is a mass of Houstonia blue, visible for a long distance.

A narrow but interesting strip of woods covering a portion of a small hill-side furnishes some of the most desirable plants of the whole section. ConopAolis americana, not found elsewhere in the Reservation, and possibly now reported for the first time this side of Boston, here lifts its fleshy spikes of yellow flowers above the dried oak leaves that cover the ground on the sunny slope of this hill. Seventy-one spikes were counted here last year — a decided increase over those of 1900. Aralia racemosa is found sparingly here, and also Corallorhiza multiflora, Goodyera pubescens, Actaea alba, Desmo- dium paniculatum, D. rotundifolium, Chimaphila maculata, Cornus canadensis and Lobelia spicata.

This hill abruptly ends in a maple swamp, where a small brook winding in and out and bordered with graceful ferns, makes one of the most picturesque spots in this vicinity. Along this brook at one place, growing in deep Sphagnum, there were in 1899 seven small plants of Microstylis ophioglossoides; in 1g00 only five were left. After careful search last season three very small specimens were all that could be found there, but upon exploring farther up the brook a collection of about one hundred plants was discovered, some of which measured more than seven inches above the Sphagnum in which they grew. I have found this species in Warquoit, Massachusetts, (a part of Falmouth) growing always under oaks and pitch pines in the grass in sandy soil. It also grows in Holbrook, Mass., in dry oak woods. I have compared the plants found in Sphagnum with those that have grown in sand, and it seems to me that Microstylis fur-

76 Rhodora | APRIL

nishes a parallel to Spiranthes cernua, one form of which grows in meadows, another very slightly different, on uplands.

Following down the brook we come to a pond just on the line of the Reservation, where numerous species of aquatic plants are well represented. Lodelia dortmanna grows here in the shallow water, accompanied by unusually large plants of Xyris caroliniana, some of which are more than 4 feet high. Ona sunny morning the blossoms of Xyris form a solid mass of yellow, from the sparkling water to the edge of the dark woods. In the grass on the bog Utricularia cornuta may be found, together with Arethusa bulbosa, and in the fall Coreopsis trichosperma. Utricularia purpurea, U. inflata, Brasenia peltata, Limnanthemum lacunosum, Nymphaea odorata, var. minor, and also the type are abundant in the deeper water.

A few plants of /ottonia inflata still linger in one of the brooks of the Reservation, while in another Ranunculus aguatilis, var. tri- chophyllus, with its long trailing branches, finely dissected leaves, and creamy white flowers, grows luxuriantly in the dark shaded spots.

Aphyllon uniflorum struggles for existence in the crevices of a ledge in one place. Lupinus perennis is also found here, although not in such numbers as in a place some distance away by the road- side, not far outside the Reservation.

Anemonella thalictroides and Viola pubescens grow together on a rocky, rather barren slope. | |

Eupatorium aromaticum, one of the most delicate of the Eupatoriums, is scattered over a hillside under stunted oaks, where is also Ceano- thus americanus, which is rather common along the sandy roads. A few plants of Smilacina stellata were found growing upon a moist bank in 1899, but have not been visited since.

The following species which I have collected in the Reservation are not recorded in the Flora above mentioned :

Ranuuculus recurvatus Veratrum viride Geum rivale Clintonia borealis Chrysoplenium americanum Hottonia inflata Gratiola aurea Conopholis americana Utricularia vulgaris Similacina stellata Polygala paucifolia

Ames BOTANICAL LABORATORY, North Easton, Massachusetts.

1902 | Webster, — Certain Eaters of Mushrooms 77

CERTAIN EATERS OF MUSHROOMS.

HorrLis WEBSTER.

WirH three feet of snow under foot in the woods one hardly has an eye out for mushrooms. Nothing was farther from my thoughts, one bright day last February, as I was laboring up one of the hills in Jackson, New Hampshire. As I caught the end of a convenient fir branch a little a head of me to pull myself a step or two higher up the slope, I noticed something familiar fixed in a fork. Scramb- ling up to it, I recognized — or thought I did —the remnant of a Tricholoma, a fragment of stem and pileus, nibbled at the edges, and dry as a chip. “Squirrels,” I said to myself; for I had often seen red squirrels laying up bits of mushrooms in this way. In the late autumn they are often very busy cutting and carrying off stores of mushroom food to neighboring trees and bushes, where they lodge them under protecting ends of bark, or in convenient forks. Just the object of this bestowal of the food I have been unable to make out. They leave it exposed, and, as my bit of Tricholoma showed, sometimes abandon it altogether. ‘To stay their appetite while working, they often take a mushroom lunch, seated on a convenient stump or tussock, leaving behind them scattered crumbs, and dis- carded stems. I have watched them making havoc with a fine clump of Tricholoma portentosum which I might not have seen had they not scratched away the pine needles under which it was hidden. Has anyone ever seen gray squirrels similarly busy, or engaged in eating fungi ?

Though the larvae of insects are no doubt the most confirmed mushroom-eaters, there must be many other animals that feed upon them. It would be interesting to know how many. One would sup- pose that rabbits might find them toothsome. Mr. Peck suggests that deer feed upon certain kinds — for instance, 4rmillaria mellea, Cattle are said to browse occasionally on Agaricus campestris — and perhaps on other kinds — as, for instance, a heavy, fleshy Armil- laria, about which there is a tale from Maine. I know that cattle are not afraid to eat even a poisonous species, as the following instance will show.

Two summers ago in Alstead, New Hampshire, as I was passing among the scattered bushes in an upland pasture, I was escorted by

78 Rhodora [APRIL

a troop of yearling heifers, that watched me inquisitively. From admiting them my eyes strayed to the ground and fell on some truly superb buttons —they can be superb — of Amanita muscaria. I dug one up, cut it, pointed out its characteristics to a companion, and tossed it to the ground again — right under the nose of a black heifer, that had come closer than the others — no doubt hoping for salt. She sniffed at the Amanita, put her tongue to it and then to my surprise ate it as she would an apple. I was a little alarmed, but on second thought, seeing that the mischief was done, it seemed a pity not to make the experiment more conclusive. So I tossed her a second button, which she ate as readily as she had the first. Noth- ing remained but to wait, or to look for a dead heifer next day. Meanwhile her companions, would serve as a “control.” Next day the black heifer was as well as ever, and again sniffing for salt — or for more Amanita. It was perhaps neglectful not to have stayed by her during the hours immediately following her luncheon. "Then I should have been able to say whether she suffered any inconvenience. But she certainly was unharmed. If any one wishes to repeat this experiment, I may remark, for his guidance, that mine was made without the knowledge of the owner of the heifer.

Other animals are known to eat fungi. In Gentry's * Intelligence in Plants and Animals" — not a profoundly scientific work — is an excellent photograph (opposite page 200) of a box turtle that has been feeding on what looks like a Boletus. ‘The picture is a counter- part of what I once saw somewhere on Cape Cod. At the edge of some low woods, I came suddenly on a box turtle that had just taken a bite from the pileus of a fresh Amanitopsis vaginata. At least I so inferred from the shape of the bite, and from the attitude of the turtle. In the hope that he would take another mouthful, I watched him for some time, but in vain. My patience was exhausted before he stirred, or even altered the pose of his extended head. Numer- ous observers can, I believe, attest the fact, and one has told me that he has seen these turtles eat poisonous species.

Whether any use of fungi is made by birds I cannot say from personal observation; but I am told by an ornithologist of experience that he has never seen birds eating toadstools. Yet I have seen toadstools with the marks of the bills of birds, but they may have been after insects. I have, however, a record of one instance given me by an observer who vouches for the truth of it. His curiosity

1902] Andrews, — Habenaria hyperborea and its Allies — 79

was excited early one autumn morning by the noisy activity of a flock of crows in a field within sight of his bedroom window. He perhaps would have thought no more of the matter had not the same thing occurred on the following day. This stimulated him to investigate. On reaching the spot he found that the crows had been feeding on Agaricus campestris which was growing there in abundance. The evidence was unmistakable. Amused at their careless betrayal of their plunder — so unlike the usual behavior of mycophagists — he took measures to anticipate and disappoint the crows thereafter. CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

A NOTE UPON RECENT TREATMENT OF HABENARIA HYPERBOREA AND ITS ALLIES.

A. LE Roy ANDREWS.

Dr. Rypsero’s elaboration of this puzzling section of the genus Habenaria in the Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club, for Novem- ber, rgo1 (pp. 605-632) recalls notes which I have been accumula- ting for several years which seem to find their explanation in it. The section has been subject to a variety of treatment, from that of Kraenzlin on the one hand, who reduces its American representatives to two species including as varieties of /aftantAera hyperborea such distinct forms as Lindley's PZatanthera dilatata, P. convallariaefolia and P. Zucostachys, to that of Dr. Rydberg, who, maintaining the other extreme, restores the species of Lindley and other authors and adds a number of new ones until the two have become twenty-three. For these he institutes a new genus Limnorchis.

The portion of his key including the six species to which he definitely assigns stations in New England is as follows.—

Flowers green.

Spur decidedly clavate, thickened and obtuse at apex, shorter than lip. I. L. major (Lange) Rydb. Spur slender, scarcely thickened toward apex, often acutish, equalling or

slightly exceeding lip. Plant tall and stout; flowers comparatively large ; sepals 4-6 mm. long. 2. L. media Rydb. Plant slender, flowers small; sepals 2.5-4 mm. long. Flowers almost erect in rather lax spike.

3. L. Huronensis (Nutt.) Rydb.

80 | Rhodora [APRIL

Flowers lateral in dense spike. 4. L. hyperborea (L.) Rydb. Flowers white or nearly so. Petals broadly lanceolate ; flowers inodorous or nearly so. 5. L. dilatata (Pursh) Rydb. Petals narrowly linear-lanceolate ; flowers very fragrant. 6. L. fragrans Rydb. Without discussing the new genus or the general treatment which is clear and illustrated throughout with drawings of the flowers, I should not be greatly surprised if our New England specimens would show forms fitting more or less well into the above classification. My own observations, of which I spoke, are these. In a cold swamp in Pownal, Vt., grows a plant, which could only be assigned to Habe- naria hyperborea, of enormous size, frequently reaching a height of two feet and upwards, with long, densely-flowered spikes. In woods below a spring, on the lower slopes of Mt. Greylock in Williamstown, Mass., by wooded roadsides in Pownal and at other points in the vicinity is to be found a very distinct form which must also be Æ. Ayper- borea, the latter slender, rarely a foot in height, with fewer leaves, shorter spikes, and few flowers, so much smaller in every way as to attract one's attention at once. On closer examination a decided difference was evident in the spur, that of the larger specimens being slender, filiform, acute at apex, but slightly curved, and a little longer than the lip, resembling that of Æ. dilatata, while that of the small form was shorter, more curved, seemingly thicker and more blunt. Another point of difference not mentioned in Dr. Rydberg's article, making the two almost impossible of identity, is the date of flowering. The large type as noted for several consecutive years blooms regularly in early June and by first of July has ordinarily completely passed, the smaller not beginning before*late July, few flowers being open the past summer on July 21, while in 1898 they were in fresh condition, . some yet unopened, on August 6. There is not such difference in condition of habitat as to explain this fact if the plants were the same. The large form from Pownal corresponds perfectly with the descrip- tion and illustration of Zimnorchis media. ‘The name refers to the fact that the form is intermediate between Ayferborea and dilatata types, not at all to size, as Rydberg calls it the largest of the Ayperborea group. The small type may agree with the original Zimnorchis or Habenaria hyperborea. What I have taken as Habenaria dilatata, occurring in a peat-bog in Pownal, is plainly in its narrow petals and sepalsand very sweet fragrance his Z. fragrans. Specimens are cited

1902] Robinson, — Plants Mentioned in Young's Chronicles 81

of Z. major from Maine, of Z. media from Vermont, of Z. Huronensis from Vermont. Massachusetts, and Connecticut, of Z. Ayperborea f om Vermont; and of Z. fragrans from Vermont.

Mr. PLEASANT, PENNSYLVANIA.

CONCERNING THE PLANTS MENTIONED IN YOUNG’S CHRONICLES.— In going through the numbers of the RHODORA to record the notices of Essex County plants in my card catalog, I found the article by Mr. S. B. Parish, ** Vegetation in Plymouth Three Hundred Years Ago," where the writer quotes * Young's Chronicles of the Pilgrim Fathers 1602-1625," as follows:—.... “vines everywhere, cherry trees, plum trees,.... Many kinds of herbs we found here in winter, as strawberry leaves innumerable, sorrel, yarrow, carval, brooklime, liverwort, water cresses, great store of leak and onions and an excel- lent kind of flax or hemp” (Ruopona, Jan. 1901, p. 17).

Referring to this often quoted paragraph, the late Dr. Charles Pickering, in a letter to me dated November 10, 1875, writes: —'* My attention has recently been directed to Mourt's Relation of the Land- ing at Plymouth, from his having borrowed Higgeson's account of the plants around Salem, pretending that at Plymouth although *in winter' there were growing around the landing place

‘sorrel, yarrow, carvel, brooklime, liverwort, watercresses,’ etc.

‘sorrel, brooklime, liverwort, carvell, and watercresses ’ were found in 1630 by Higgeson around Salem (Hist. col. I. p. 121.) ; ‘carvell’ (chervil) is pretty clearly Osmorrhiza longistylis, observed by myself in Paradise a local name for a formerly lovely region near Salem] in the broken rocky place in front of Gen. Devereux's resi- dence; perhaps the very spot where it was seen by Higgeson. * brookime, Veronica beccabunga, has been observed by myself in the cedar-margined outlet of Mineral-spring pond, and may have been seen there by Higgeson, especially as he describes the ‘ Giant's battle-field’ [the scattered boulders: near there].

Higgeson also mentions ‘two kinds of flowers very sweet, which they say are good to make cordage’ (Apocynum androsaemifolium, and the depressed form of A. cannabinum growing around Middleton pond and pointed out to me by Oakes)."

I think that the quotation from Dr. Pickering's letter requires no comment of mine, but it is evident that the region about Salem not

82 Rhodora [APRIL

Plymouth is the one which should be credited with the plants referred to in the old account.— Jonn ROBINSON, Peabody Academy of Sciences, Salem, Massachusetts.

HEMICARPHA IN EASTERN MassACHUSETTS. — The occurrence of Hemicarpha subsquarrosa, Nees, in the town of Framingham, Massachusetts, was reported by the Rev. Ernest C. Smith (RHODORA, i. 98), — the first record of its discovery in Middlesex County. On October 13th, 1901, while examining with Mr. E. F. Williams the peculiar flora about Winter Pond in Winchester, eight miles northwest of Boston, I discovered several minute plants of Hemicarpha growing on a gravelly bank of the Pond at about high water mark. A week later the plant was again found, this time by Mr. Williams, growing on a sandy shore at another part of the same pond. These latter plants were of a much larger size. This discovery of the plant is of interest as adding another station in Middlesex County, — a station which also appears to be the most northern yet recorded in Massa- chusetts. — E. L. Ranp, Boston, Massachusetts.

A CorTON-GRASS NEW TO NORTH AMERICA.— While examining some Cyperaceae in the Herbarium of Dr. Dana W. Fellows of Port- land, Maine, I was surprised to see a strange Eriophorum, superfi- cially resembling Æ. virginicum, but quite lacking the brown scales so characteristic of that plant. An examination of Dr. Fellows’s speci- men shows it to be Æriophorum polystachyon, var. Vaillantii, Duby in DC. & Duby, Bot. Gal. pt. 1, 487. From the common Æ. polystachyon with umbels of long-peduncled spikelets, var. Vaillantii, which is apparently rare in Europe, is distinguished by the sessile or very short-peduncled spikelets. From Æ. virginicum, which it habitally resembles, it is quickly separated by its lead-colored scales, silvery- white straight bristles, narrowly cuneate-obovoid obtuse achenes, and the very early fruiting season ; Æ. polystachyon and its variety fruiting in June, while the rusty-scaled Æ. virginicum fruits in late summer and autumn. Dr. Fellows’s material was collected June 16, 1901, on Peaks Island in Portland Harbor, where the dense-headed var. Vail- Jantii is as common as the true Eriophorum polystachyon.— M. L. FERNALD.

1902] Smith, — Pogonatum capillare on Mt. Greylock 83

PoGoNATUM CAPILLARE ON Mr. GREYLOCK.— In the February number of RHopora the article by A. LeRoy Andrews giving a list of the bryophytes of the Mt. Greylock region caught my attention as I once spent a summer in that vicinity and collected on the moun- tain. I can add Pogonatum capillare Brid. to the list. A specimen, determined by Mrs. E. G. Britton and the collector, has been sent to the Herbarium of Harvard University. — ANNIE MORRILL SMITH, Brooklyn, New York.

THE CLIMBING Fern IN NEw HAMPSHIRE. — Some years ago fronds of ZLygodium palmatum were brought me by friends from Winchester, New Hampshire. In September last I visited Winchester with some others who wished to see the plant growing. As we entered the village we stopped at the first house and inquired if Zygo- dium palmatum was to be found in Winchester ; and we were imme- diately directed to a meadow beside a small stream where on a certain knoll we should find it. There were many knolls all with similar vegetation, but on only one was Lygodium found. "There it grew luxuriantly over an area ten by fifteen feet, twining over small trees and shrubs and an abundance of Osmunda regalis. It was extremely difficult to obtain any of the roots, as they were intertwined with those of the other plants, especially the Osmunda. — Mrs. R. E. METCALF, Hinsdale, New Hampshire.

A CUT-LEAVED CHERRY Bircu. — The tendency in the birches to produce “cut” leaves is often shown in the cultivated form of the White Birch (Betula pendula, var. dalecarlica), but such leaves are very rarely seen in the native trees of New England: In August last, however, the writer found a small tree of Betula lenta exhibiting this tendency. Since such a form was unknown at the Arnold Arboretum and at the Gray Herbarium, a description of the specimen may be of interest to the readers of RHODORA.

The tree in question was about r2 feet tall, and grew at an alti- tude of 1200 feet, near the town of New Boston, New Hampshire. The outline was very symmetrical, although touching leaves with its neighbors, and the general aspect, including the color, marking and even odor of the bark, was that of the Cherry Birch (Betula lenta.) The important variation, however, was shown in the leaves, which

84 Rhodora [APRIL

were oblong-ovate, slightly cordate at the base, tapering, deeply serrate, each segment in turn being sharply toothed. This fringed appearance of the leaves, and the gracefully horizontal “set” of the branches gave the tree a very ornamental effect. The tree was not in fruit.

Only one tree was found at the time, but further investigation may bring to light other specimens in the same locality, and in this way it will be determined whether the tree is a mere freak — to which the birch is subject — or a well established variety. — SAMUEL N. F. SANFORD, Fall River, Massachusetts.

NOTEWORTHY PLANTS OF CONNECTICUT.

E. B. HARGER.

SOME twenty years ago my father and myself had Symphytum asperrimum, Sims, and Vincetoxicum nigrum, Moench, growing in our garden at Oxford. "Twelve years ago we left the house and it went into the hands of persons who paid no attention to the preservation of these species. In the summer of 1900, however, I found both growing by the roadside, the former opposite the garden and the latter about two hundred feet distant. As both had increased some- what last summer, they may probably be regarded as established.

In May, rgor, I found growing in a meadow in Oxford a clump of Narcissus poeticus, L., with seven flowering stalks. There is an old cellar in the same field but the house is said to have been in ruins sixty years ago so that the plant has probably maintained itself for that length of time.

A single tree of Abies balsamea, Miller, stands in an old pasture in Middlebury. It is nearly a quarter of a mile from the nearest house and until five years ago was as far from the nearest highway. It can hardly be native or planted but is possibly an escape from cultivation,

The preceding are, so far as I know, not previously reported from ; this state. The following stations for rare species may be of in- terest : —

Nephrodium simulatum, Davenp. In a deep swamp at Moose Hill, Oxford.

Carex pedunculata, Muhl. F airly abundant at two stations in Ox- ford, about two miles apart, growing on steep wooded banks; in one

1902] Leavitt’s Outlines of Botany 85

case beside the Housatonic River and in the other beside one of its tributaries.

Silene Armeria, L. A frequent escape at Seymour.

Lychnis Chatcedonica, L. Southbury.

Draba Caroliniana, Walt. Dry sandy soil near the Housatonic River, 14 miles above Zoar Bridge, Oxford.

Arabis confinis, Wats. Lisbon. Bankofthe Quinebaug River about r mile below Jewett City. Here are found also Juncus Greene’, Oakes & Tuckerm., Antennaria Canadensis, Greene, and what appeared to be Polygala Nuttallii, Torr. & Gray, but the material was too scanty for certain determination.

Agrimonia parviflora, Soland. Southbury. ‘This species should be credited to Mr. C. H. Bissell who was first to discover it.

Euphorbia corollata, L. Two plants in grass-land, Oxford.

Hottonia inflata, Ell. Orange. One-fourth mile northeast of the village. Previously discovered by Mr. C. K. Averill.

Stachys palustris, L. Oxford. One mile south of the village.

OXFORD, CONNECTICUT.

In his OurLINES or Botany! Mr. Leavitt has produced a textbook of more than ordinary interest. The work is based upon Dr. Gray's Lessons in Botany, a book which in its several editions has enjoyed great popularity and a continuous usefulness for more than sixty years. This unparalleled success of the Lessons has doubtless been due to its scientific accuracy, remarkable terseness, and unex- celled lucidity, rather than to its pedagogical method. ‘This method was essentially dogmatic throughout. Indeed, the Lessons were prepared at a time when this form of teaching was the approved one, and when it was still possible to state dogmatically many points in morphology, which now in the light of more recent investigation have to be qualified by restriction and exceptions. During the last three decades there has been a great change in the methods of presenting botany in our better high schools. The memorizing of definitions from a book is no longer the aim. ‘There is less study of abstract morphology and less attention to external form. Classifica-

‘Outlines of Botany for the High School Laboratory and Class-room by R. G. Leavitt, A. M. 8vo, 272, pp. Prepared at the request of the Botanical Depart- ment of Harvard University, American Book Co., New York.

86 Rhodora [APRIL

tion is no longer the chief end in view. Much more attention is devoted to the vital aspects of plant-life, and the different phases of this broad subject are developed largely by laboratory exercises in which the pupil is led to observe for himself.

The superiority of these more recent methods cannot be questioned. In any such change, however, there is a natural tendency to go too far, and in the enthusiasm of a good movement to pass somewhat beyond the bounds of expediency. The new methods of instructing by practical exercises and laboratory experiments, although far more effective, are much slower than the old one of memorizing. They require much more equipment and better teachers. It thus happens that recent text-books prepared as they have been with the highest ideals and very largely by university professors, have in most instances proved too comprehensive and difficult for practical application in secondary schools. Furthermore, it has been found that the results of the newer teaching in its more extreme form, are not altogether satisfactory, and that the old-fashioned study of plant members is to some extent a requisite for intelligent work in physiology, histology, and ecology.

Mr, Leavitt has combined in his Outlines the best features of the new methods of presentation while retaining what is most important in the old. Moreover, he has presented the whole with remarkable | conciseness and clearness. With personal experience in high-school work he has treated his subject in full sympathy with the ambitions and limitations of high school instruction.

Many of the unexcelled illustrations of Isaac Sprague have been wisely retained from the Lessons, but these are supplemented through- out the book by many new and excellent text-figures by Messrs. C. E. Faxon and F. Schuyler Mathews.

Vol. 4, no. 39, including pages 43 to 64, was issued 6 March, 1902.

Rhodora. Plate 35.

F. Schuyler Mathews del. POLYGONUMS OF SECTION AVICULARIA.

Rbodora

JOURNAL OF

THE NEW ENGLAND BOTANICAL CLUB

Vol. 4 May, 1902 No. 41

OAK ISLAND AND ITS FLORA. WM. P. RICH.

RisiNG out of the salt marsh, but a few hundred feet back from the beach, in the town of Revere, Massachusetts, is a little tract of woodland known as Oak Island. The Eastern Division of the Bos- ton and Maine Railway passes through it, dividing it into two sec- tions, the eastern and the western parts. The Island was, however, originally divided into two parts, between which was a low marshy space, but as the changes in topography that have been wrought in recent years, by the building of a road, race-course, hotel and other accretions to a summer resort, have somewhat obliterated the former lines of division, and as by far the richest flora is found in the grove beyond the railway, it is more convenient botanically to make the ` railway a dividing line between the two sections.

The eastern part as thus understood contains an area of about eleven acres and the ground is mostly higher and drier than in the western part, and by reason of its frequent use as an excursion resort, the ground covering, excepting around the edges has been pretty much destroyed. The western: part comprising about ten acres is a damp open grove and in its rich, black soil grow such a number of interesting plants that for a period of seventy-five years it has been a well-known collecting ground for botanists.

Many similar marsh islands are found along the coasts of Massa- chusetts and New Hampshire, but in none of them exist such a vari- ety and abundance of notable plants as at Oak Island. Very nearly four hundred species have been recorded growing naturally here. Should there be another tract of land in New England of twenty acres in extent which supports a flora equaling in number of species

88 Rhodora | [Mav

that of Oak Island, RuopoRA would be pleased to chronicle the fact. Surrounded on three sides by numerous cities and towns, from whose aggressions the intervening marshes have hitherto protected it, and a popular seaside resort close at hand, here the plants which once doubtless spread over a much larger area have been driven and are making a last stand against the encroachments of an ever increasing population and the destructive results to the native flora which necessarily attend it.

From May until October a constant succession of wild flowers fills the damp wood growing in such profusion at times as to produce conspicuous masses of color. One month the ground covering will be tinted with the pale yellow of the Szeironema ciliatum and the Gerardia quercifolia. The next month the scene changes and the flaming yellow of two species of Helianthus, strumosus and divari- catus, will fill the grove with their splendid display, and again as one visits the place a month later, bluish-white masses of Aster cordifolius form the prevailing color, and tall plants of silvery Ewpaforium pur- pureum and giant stalks of Zephanthus rise above the tangled vege- tation claiming recognition in this Nature's horticultural show. In smaller volume but hardly less interesting are the very many less self-assertive plants. Humble species, overshadowed by their more conspicuous companions, they fill every inch of intervening space and must be searched for by the careful observer.

In May the yellow violet (Viola pubescens), the adder's tongue (Erythronium Americanum) and the anemone (Anemone quinguefolia) are usually plentiful, although the school-children of the neighboring towns make serious incursions upon them.

In this month also the shadbush whitens the borders of the grove while the Geranium maculatum, Uvularia perfoliata, U. sessilifolia, Ranunculus abortivus, R. Allegheniensis, R. recurvatus and the Trios- teum aurantiacum are all abundant, extending their flowering time well into June. j

The Lousewort (Pedicularis Canadensis) as it grows here in com- pact masses in drier parts of the wood is when in its prime an exceed- ingly attractive plant.

The white lace-like inflorescences of Cryptotaenia, Osmorrhiza and Actaea are always pleasing and the Actaea is even more showy in fruit with its racemes of cherry-red berries.

Two species of Snake-root grow abundantly, the Sanicula Mary-

1902] Rich, — Oak Island and its Flora 89

landica and S. gregaria, flowering at about the same time, the former with greenish and the latter with yellowish flowers. Now that Mr. Bicknell has pointed out the differences between these two plants it is a constant wonder that they went unrecognized for so many years.

Around the borders abundance of the purple-flowered Zy/Arum fLyssopifolia grows and the slender-leaved blue iris (Zrzs prismatica) ; and amidst the salt-marsh grasses is found the Potentilla Anserina, its yellow flowers hardly more handsome than the silvery under surface of its leaves. In June Cornus paniculata and Viburnum dentatum, the | most common flowering shrubs to be found, are conspicuous with their dense masses of white flowers, and a month or more later are hardly less so in fruit, the Cornus with clusters of pearly white berries on pink pedicels and the Viburnum in dark blue.

Many salt-marsh species are of course to be found, among which may be noted Zriglochin maritima, Plantago decipiens, Iva frutescens and Zeuwerzum Canadense.

In July the Zum Canadense is sometimes very abundant, and Lilium Philadelphicum is also found. — Cireaea lutetiana and Desmo- dium acuminatum occur in great quantities and the noticeable grass Asprella Hystrix lifts its straw-colored racemes high above the sur- rounding vegetation. During August and September numerous plants of Scrophularia Marylandica most conspicuous in fruit attract attention, and tall plants of Lophanthus scrophulariaefolius tower above the herbage to a height of six and even eight feet, while its near rela- tive Monarda mollis, a most attractive species, is occasionally met with. ‘There is also a numerous colony of Co//insonia Canadensis.

With the advent of the Asters, Solidagos and Prenanthes, new ele- ments of botanical interest are introduced.

The seaside golden-rod (Solidago sempervirens) forms lines of gold around the borders which are not wholly dulled until December ; and Solidago asperula, Desf., a species with an interesting history, and S. arguta are to be found here.

The handsome Aster Novae-Angliae forms dense clumps of purple on the marshy margins, and Aster salicifolius, an uncommon species in Eastern Massachusetts, grows in a restricted colony in damp shade and is one of the latest plants to flower, October first being its date of appearance in blossom.

Two species of Prenanthes, trifoliolata and alba, are also conspicu- ous at this season and easily separated by the difference in the color

of the pappus.

go & Rhodora [May

It would, however, exceed the limits of this article to call attention to all the wild flowers that bloom in this seaside garden, many of which are not to be found again within a radius of many miles.

In the year 1882 the late Herbert A. Young, then a resident of Revere, made a careful: and very complete catalogue of the plants of Oak Island which was published in the Bulletin of the Essex Institute, 1883, and to that publication the writer is indebted for much of the information herewith presented. Mr. Young's list enumerates 336 species of flowering and fern-plants and 28 species of mosses. In the twenty years which have elapsed since that publi- cation some changes must necessarily have taken place in the flora of the Island and it is gratifying to note at this date that but few plants have disappeared from the record, and these missing species are more than offset by the numerous accessions to the flora that have come in during recent years.

Dr. Jacob Bigelow in the Florula Bostoniensis, 1824 and 1840, noted thirteen species from Oak Island or as it was then often called, * Chelsea Beach Island."

In 1882 Mr. Young stated that all of these with the exception of Phryma Leptostachya, L. had been collected that season, although he omitted from his own list Desmodium cuspidatum, Torr., which had been noted from the Island by Bigelow (as Hedysarum cuspidatum). In 19o1 all of these thirteen species were still in existence with the same exceptions.

The following is a list of additions to Young's Catalogue that have been collected by the writer and others since the date of that publi- cation (1883). Many of them, as will be observed, are segregations made by botanists since that date and some are plants of a migratory