1902] Nye, — The Blooming of Hepaticas 127 



Main branches long, nearly bare of secondary branches ; joints 

 longer than iti the type, nodes not constricted. 



Habit quite different from the type, but otherwise similar. Found 

 at Gloucester, Mass., and at Long Point, N. J., at which latter local- 

 ity it is connected with the type by intermediate forms. 

 Malden, Massachusetts. 



Explanation of Plate 36. — Cladophora arcta: fig. I, part of filament 

 with descending rhizoids. C. Hystrix: fig. 2. tip of filament. C. spinescens: 

 fig. 3, filament with recurved branch. C. albida : fig. 4. C. Rudolphiana : 

 fig- 5. C glaucescens : fig. 6. Cflexuosa : fig. 7. C. gracilis : fig. 8. C. 

 hirta: fig. 9. C. refracta : fig. 10. C. expansa: fig. 11. C.fracta\ tig. 12. 

 C. rupestris : fig. 13. C. Hutchinsia* : fig. 14. C. laettvirens: tig. 15. 



THE BLOOMING OF HEPATICAS. 



Harriet A. Nye. 



The question which of our early spring flowers is entitled to the 

 honor of leading the floral procession is one which has been fre- 

 quently discussed in various parts of New England. I am not aware, 

 however, that there have been printed records regarding the actual 

 dates at which the Hepatica and other early flowers bloom in central 

 Maine. I submit, therefore, the following memoranda for compari- 

 son with the notes of other observers interested in the first appear- 

 ance each year of these fore-runners of spring. 



There is upon our farm a small, sunny opening, somewhat sheltered 

 upon the north and west by woods. It is overgrown by scattered 

 sumachs and blackberries and throughout the season yields numer- 

 ous treasures to the botanist. In early spring it is a veritable flower 

 garden and it is here that we find our earliest Hepaticas and Erythro- 

 niums. We are obliged, however, to go some distance from home 

 for Arbutus. 



The first spring flowers to greet us in 1893 were the Hepaticas, in 

 full bloom April 19. I fail to And dates recorded in the year 1894 

 but in that year both the Hepatica and the Arbutus were rivaled in 

 earliness by a dainty flower much less familiar because quite rare. 

 While searching for Arbutus by the Messalonskee in Waterville the 

 latter part of April, I unexpectedly came upon a few clusters of deli- 

 cately fragrant whitish flowers the like of which I had never seen 

 before nor have I since. It was plainly a member of the numerous 

 and puzzling order Compositae but the absence of leaves baffled all 



