1905] Fernald, North American Species of Eriophorum 129 
nance of oaks, has in fifty years been nearly attained. Probably the 
conditions are too severe to permit the eventual appearance of the 
climax formation (maple-beech), except in the more sheltered parts 
of the area. This study also shows what may be accomplished by a 
determined man in covering a naked area with beautiful and useful 
trees. The best way to utilize much of the unproductive land in 
this state is to plant suitable trees and treat them in accordance 
with the accepted principles of forestry. 
HARVARD UNIVERSITY. 
EXPLANATION OF PLATE 62, Fig. 1. Woods Hole about 1850, from east 
side of Little Harbor. Outline copy of an old water-color in the possession 
of Miss Sarah B. Fay. Fig. 2. Photograph taken in 1897 from the same 
point as in figure 1. 
PLATE 63, Fig. 1. Krummholz on shore of Buzzards Bay, viewed from 
the south. Fig. 2. A rather open part of the forest, showing the unhealth y 
Scotch pines, and young oaks replacing them. 
THE NORTH AMERICAN SPECIES OF ERIOPHORUM. 
M. L. FERNALD. 
PART 2. NOTES ON THE PRECEDING SYNOPSIS} 
GENERIC STATUS OF ERIOPHORUM. 
LINNAEUS, in first defining the genus Lriophorum,? referred to a 
figure of Micheli's Zinagrostis.3 This figure, although a convention- 
alized drawing, represents an ovoid spikelet with very numerous 
scales, and dissections of the spikelet, showing a perianth of numer- 
ous bristles. From this old figure one may safely infer that the 
original Æriophorum as interpreted by Linnaeus in his Genera 
Plantarum was a plant very near if not the European Æ. vaginatum. 
Later, in the Species Plantarum,‘ Linnaeus distinguished four species 
of Eriophorum, the European Æ. vaginatum and Æ. Polystachion, the 
American Æ. virginicum, and the European Æ. alpinum, species which 
have subsequently stood as typical of Eriophorum, although, in 1772, 
1 RHODORA, vii. 81-92. 2 L. Gen. 12 (1737). 
3 Micheli, Nov. Gen. 53, t. 31 (1729). * L. Sp. 52, 53 (1753). 
