1906] Knight, — New Variety of Carex trisperma 185 



A New Variety of Carex trisperma. — During the recent 

 meeting of the Josselyn Botanical Society of Maine at Rowe Ponds- 

 Camps a party, inehuiing Edward B. Chamberlain, John Murdoch, 

 Jr., Robert A. Ware, and myself with Sam Rollins as guide, visited 

 Jewett Brook Bog, some distance below Jewett Pond of which it 

 forms a part of the outlet. While on this trip a peculiar little sedge,, 

 growing at the foot of a small shrub in Sphagnum moss in the direct 

 sunlight, attracted my attention. The setaceous or filiform appear- 

 ance of the foliage and the very few scattered perigynia, mostly only 

 one to a spikelet and not more than two spikelets to a plant, made its 

 appearance very distinct from any other Carex with which I was 

 acquainted. Other small clusters of the plant were collected in 

 similar situations, and finally specimens were seen showing all stages 

 of transition to typical Carex trisperma which grew abundantly some 

 distance back under the trees, thus showing conclusively that the 

 j)lant in question was only a very distinct form of Carex trisperma. 



It seems fitting that this new variety should be recognized by a 

 name, and I propose to dedicate it to one who has been my companion 

 on many a woodland tram]), one who has shown the greatest enthu- 

 siasm in seeking to increase our knowledge of the occurrence and 

 distribution of the plants of the Penobscot Valley, and whose per- 

 sistent seeking has resulted in many additions to the flora of this 

 region. It is with great ])leasure on my part that ojiportunity is given 

 me to name this new plant for my friend, Mr. Francis M. Billings 

 of Bangor. I would therefore call it. 



Cakex tri.spekma Dewey, var. Billingsii, new var. 



Culms filiform, 1 to 2 dm. long; leaves 0.3 to 0.5 mm. wide, usually 

 much overtopping the culm; s])ikelets one or two in number, usually 

 one- but sometimes two-fiowei-ed ; the finely many-nerved ])erigynia 

 from 2.5 to 3.3 mm. long, l.G to 1.8 mm. broad, exceeding the scale 

 by one-fourth to one-third its length. Habitat — Sunny s{)ots in a 

 mossy bog, Jewett Brook Bog, about a mile below Jewett Pond, 

 (presumably in Pleasant Ridge Plantation) Maine, collected July 5, 

 190G {Chamberlain, Miirdorli, Rollins, Ware & Knight); type No. 

 500G O. W. K.— O. W. KxicriT, Bancjor, Maine. 



