1903] Fernald,— Linum catharticum on Cape Breton IIO 
WESTERN PLANTS AT CUMBERLAND, MariNE.-— In the summer of 
1902 three western plants, Solanum rostratum, Dunal, Rumex mariti- 
mus, L., and Verbena bracteosa, Michx., made their appearance in 
sandy waste soil at Cumberland Center, Maine. The first has been 
reported several times from other parts of Maine, and has been spon- 
taneous around buildings at Cumberland for the last two or three 
years. Rumex maritimus, L., was collected on a salt marsh at Old 
Orchard, Maine, a few years ago by Mr. J. C. Parlin. The present 
station extends the range slightly further northward and inland. 
The third plant, Verbena bracteosa, Michx., has not, to my knowledge, 
been reported previously from Maine. All three species were doubt- 
less introduced from the West by impurities in grain.— EDWARD 
B. CHAMBERLAIN, Washington, D. C. 
LINUM CATHARTICUM ON CAPE BRETON.— In August last, while 
examining the excellent sketches of Cape Breton plants made by 
Mrs. John S. McLennan, I was much interested in the drawing of 
a delicate little flax-like plant with opposite leaves and white flowers. 
The plant was so'unlike anything with which I was familiar that 
Mrs. McLennan kindly guided me to the spot near her home in Syd- 
ney where she had found the plant. There it abounded in damp 
spots in an open field, and sufficient flowering and fruiting material 
was secured for later identification. Comparison of the plant with 
European specimens shows it to be the Old World Zzwm catharti- 
cum, L., the Fairy Flax of English pastures, which has been once 
before reported in Nova Scotia — on waste ground at Pictou,' 120 
miles in direct line and more than twice that distance around the 
coast from Sydney. 
At Sydney the Fairy Flax is not in waste ground, but grows 
thoroughly wild, suggesting to the casual observer the Bluet (ZZous- 
tonia caerulea) of our New England fields. It may, however, have 
been first introduced in ballast, as a small colony of ballast-weeds 
occurs on the wharf not far away ; or it was more probably first intro- 
duced into the region in imported seed. Unlike our native species of 
flax, Linum catharticum has opposite leaves and white flowers, and 
by these characters it may be readily distinguished should it appear 
in other portions of eastern America.— M. L. FERNALD. 
1 Macoun, Cat. Can. Pl. i. gor. 
