1Rbo6ora 



JOURNAL OF 



THE NEW ENGLAND BOTANICAL CLUB 



Vol. 8. December, 1906. 



No. 96. 



BLUMExNBACHIA INSIGNIS A CASUAL PLANT AT 

 SOUTHBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Lucius E. Ammidown. 



The town of Southbridge, Ma.s.sachusctts, seems to be a very prolific 

 field for the botanist. For a number of years the writer has made 

 botany a recreation, and has found 874 species and varieties growing 

 in Southbridge. Mr. Fred. W. Rowley, a classmate and friend of 

 the writer, has found in the same way 900 species and varieties within 

 the limits of the town, not including 13 garden escapes, and 47 found 

 along the border of adjoining towns. Each has found manv that the 

 other has not seen, so that together we have over 1000 species and 

 varieties as growing within the limits of Southbridge. Each has kept 

 a list of his plants. This inc-ludes several of which only a single plant 

 has been seen; also several adventive plants brought here through 

 one means or another. Mr. Rowley is foreman of tlie wool-sorting 

 department of the Hamilton Woolen Com})any. This company buys 

 large quantities of wool from Australia, South America, our Western 

 States, and wherever good wool can be obtained. This wool brings 

 with it from other countries many seeds, especially such as are pro- 

 vided with hooks, or are enclosed in burs that cling to the wool. Of 

 course some of these seeds get scattered about the mill vard, and thus 

 plants unknown to this section are produced. Last spring, or early 

 summer, Mr. Rowley called my attention to a plant that had made 

 Its appearance near the mill. In due time he announced that it had 

 blossomed, but that he could not find it in our botanies. I went to 

 the place, and there it was, a curiosity surely, the flower a little white 

 star, with red and yellow center. But woe to him who would examine 

 the plant too closely, for it produced a shock that exceeded any nettle 



