1904J Graves, — Undescribed Variety of Goldenrod 183 



account of its smooth stem and its general resemblance to Solidago 

 riigosa, Mill., that it was the nearly allied S. uhnifolia, Muhl., and so 

 considered it up to two years ago. At that time good material of 

 undoubted .5. ubnifolia was collected on dry rocky ground in the 

 north part of the county, and a careful comparison with the Water- 

 ford plant disclosed several marked points of difference. Further 

 study of this swamp plant during the past two seasons has made evi- 

 dent that its closest affinity is with 6". rugosa rather than ^. ubnifolia. 



As to whether it should be looked upon as specifically distinct 

 from S. rugosa there might be an honest difference of opinion, but 

 on account of the discovery of a few plants showing intermediate 

 characters it seems best to regard it as a well marked variety of that 

 species. In 1903 I found the same form in two sphagnum swamps 

 of Voluntown, Connecticut. 



Mr. Fernald who has carefully studied the early descriptions and 

 types in Solidago kindly informs me that so far as he can discover 

 this form has not before been described. 



It may be characterized as follows: 



Solidago rugosa, Miller, var. sphagnophila, n. var. Stems from 

 horizontal rootstocks, 9 to 15 dm. tall, simple or occasionally branched 

 above, angular-striate, very smooth, usually dark red or purple but 

 sometimes green. 



Leaves numerous, ascending, rather thin, moderately or slightly 

 rugose, pinnately veined, above smooth except near the very rough 

 margin, below somewhat pubescent mostly on the veins with short 

 white hairs, sharply serrate above the proximal third or quarter ; 

 leaves of midstem the largest, 7 to 10 cm. long, i^ to 2 or rarely 3 

 cm. broad, oblong- or elliptical-lanceolate, somewhat acuminate, 

 gradually narrowed to the sessile base; lower stem-leaves smaller, 

 narrowly oblanceolate, tapering into margined petioles ; leaves of 

 upper stem and branches much smaller, oval or narrowly oblong, 

 acute ; basal and radical leaves absent at flowering time and not 

 seen. 



Inflorescence very variable, from simple to compound corymbose- 

 or racemose-paniculate, often large and open with long recurved 

 branches ; racemes secund, rather densely flowered, more or less 

 pubescent; pedicels i to 3 mm. long; heads and rays small, involucre 

 3I mm. high, its bracts in about three rows, linear-subulate to oblong- 

 linear, acute or obtuse, firm, smooth or the outer puberulent ; rays 6 

 to II, disc-flowers 4 to 8 ; akenes greenish gray i^ to \\ mm. or very 

 rarely slightly more in length, narrowly oblong-obovate, cuneate at 

 base, angular-striate and flattened, hirsute with short ascending stiff 

 white hairs. 



