1906] Collins,— Lists of New England Plants,— XIX 135 



capsules. All specimens examined have the cylindric capsules of 

 varying lengths, while the gametophyte is usually much less branched 

 than in European specimens of the species which have been examined, 

 and often unbranched. It will be of interest to learn to what extent 

 the species, as briefly characterized above, is known in New England 

 and elsewhere in North America. At present it would seem that the 

 variety is far more common than the species if indeed the latter occurs 

 at all. Although the species has been reported from Maine, New 

 Hampshire, Vermont, and Massachusetts it seems highly probable 

 that these reports were based largely, if not wholly, upon specimens 

 of the var. arciicum as here characterized. For this reason these 

 reports are not recorded in the preceding list. 



No species in the list has been more difficult to interpret than Poly- 

 trichum commune with its many forms and variations. The species, 

 as described by Dillenius, Linnaeus, Bruch and Schimper, Dixon, 

 Limpricht, Roth, Lesquereux and James, and others, appears to be 

 much less common than has been generally supposed. It is impossi- 

 ble at the present time to place satisfactorily some of the forms of 

 this species, yet certain conclusions have been reached which would 

 seem to justify preliminary publication, especially as it is very desira- 

 ble that the attention of collectors be called to the necessity of getting 

 abundant material from various habitats and localities — more par- 

 ticularly perhaps from bogs, swamps, and other wet places. The 

 writer would be very glad to get specimens from any and all parts of 

 the country — especially from New England — with a view of attempt- 

 ing to clear up the uncertainty in regard to several varieties and forms, 

 the identities of which are at present too problematical to appear in 

 the above list. It is quite possible that the interpretation of P. com- 

 mune, as outlined here, may have to be revised when more material 

 is at hand. Briefly, P. commune, as here restricted, is the fairly tall 

 plant of moist shaded places with the gametophyte normally at least 

 10 cm. high, stems mostly simple, leaves remote, the upper free part 

 (blade) about 1 cm. long and appressed when dry but having the apex 

 recurved and the shining leaf-bases conspicuous; seta 6-11 cm. and 

 capsule 5 mm. (4-7) long; calyptra golden brown. 



The var. perigoniale is a smaller plant (4-8 cm. high) of drier and 

 more exposed situations, with leaves smaller and more crowded, so 

 that, when dry and appressed, the leaf-bases are ordinarily not seen; 

 seta and capsule shorter (the latter 3-4 mm. long). As a rule this 



