270 Rhodora : | [NovEMBER 
The different forms of the sori are technically designated as first, 
linear, or straight (asplenioid) ; second hamate, i. e., like a Bishop’s 
crook, or staff, and third Aippocrepiform, in shape like a horseshoe, 
the two latter forms being a¢hyrioid in character. 
All three of these forms occur in greater or less proportions on 
the same plant, and even on the same frond, but the hamate and 
hippocrepiform sori occur in greater proportion on some forms than 
on others, and it was the preponderance of such forms that led Roth 
to found the genus. 
From all this it will be seen that Athyrium is chiefly characterized 
by the production of Zazie and hippocrepiform sori, and that Athyrium 
Jilix-foemina is its best type. 
‘The only other member of the genus in New England is A//vrzum 
thelyptervides, Desvaux, which may be the subject of another note 
later on. 
MEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS, 
THE NORTH AMERICAN EUPHRASIAS. 
B. L. RoBINSON. 
Ir has long been recognized by New England botanists that the 
attractive little Eyebrights of our northern borders present much 
more diversity than is indicated in current floras. The appearance 
of Prof. von Wettstein's elaborate monograph of the genus Euphrasia, 
published in 1896, was, therefore, a matter of much interest and 
many efforts have been made to bring our forms under the species of 
the New and Old World therein so carefully described. However, 
the results have been only partially successful. It is true that the 
separation of Æ. /atifolia of arctic America and the specific distinc- 
tion of the diminutive Æ. Oakesz of the White Mountains have given 
some relief to the traditional and overcrowded Æ. officinalis, but even 
with the addition of Æ. americana, Wettst. and the later Æ. canadensis, 
Townsend, it has still been impossible to find satisfactory categories 
for several of our forms. ‘This has arisen from no lack of clearness 
in the detailed descriptions and excellent key of the monograph but 
from the evident fact that its author, while able to examine a great 
