1902J Cheney, — Rare Plants in Centreville, Massachusetts 245 



ties are not so rare with us as is usually supposed but are simply 

 overlooked I have been led to believe by my observations on bifid 

 and trifid fronds. This latter form of development is quite frequent 

 although not generally considered so. Where I find a species in 

 abundance it is seldom that a careful search fails to disclose at least 

 one frond of this character. 



1 was on just such a search among Polypoditttn vulgarc when my 

 attention was arrested by a peculiar plant of Nephrodium marginale, 

 Richard and on closer inspection I found every frond was crested. 

 Evidently the plant was quite young for the fronds were few and of 

 medium size and the crown was small. 1 was unable, after a care- 

 ful examination, to detect anything in the environment of the plant 

 that would account for its assuming this peculiarity. It grows, sur- 

 rounded by its fellows, apparently under similar conditions. 



When the plant was discovered the season of 1901 was well 

 advanced, but several of the fronds of previous years persisted about 

 the base showing unmistakably that they were cristate. The station 

 was again visited this year (1902) and another crop of similar fronds 

 found. As the variation appears to be permanent it seems advisable 

 to give the fern formal recognition and I take pleasure in naming it 

 in honor of our well-known pteridologist, Mr. George Edward 

 Davenport. 



Nephrodium marginale, Richard, forma Davenportii. Eronds 

 similar to those of the species in outline and lobation. The apex 

 and tips of lower pinnae bearing tassel-like enlargements produced 

 by the dividing of the rachis into two or more parts; these being 

 again parted and these segments once or twice cleft, thus forming 

 a series of short, overlapping, crowded and somewhat spreading parts. 



The plant was found in Milton, Massachusetts, in an unfrequented 

 part of the Blue Hills Reservation. Specimens are deposited in the 

 Herbarium of the New' England Botanical Club, the herbarium of 

 Geo. E. Davenport and in my own herbarium. 

 West Roxhury, Massachusetts. 



RARE PLANTS IN CENTREVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Clara Imogene Cheney. 



Verbena hastata, forma rosea. Habit, stature, foliage, etc., as 

 in the typical form ; corolla bright rose-colored. — Centreville, 

 Massachusetts. 



