1899] Three plants of Berkshire County, Massachusetts ^ 229 
species. In Europe the broad-leaved form has generally been treated 
as a species or at least a subspecies of Æ. acris under Andrzejowski's name 
R. Steveni or the earlier name A. syvaticus, Thuill. It is so treated by 
Reichenbach, who gives excellent plates of this and of true A. acris 
(Reichb. Ic. iii. t. 16 bis., 17). 
By some recent authors, as Lange and Blytt, Æ. S/eveni is treated 
as a variety of A. acris (var. Sfeveni, Lange, Haandbog Danske Fl, 
380), and this disposition of the plant seems from its behavior in 
America to be the just one. 
As already stated, in northern New England, Ranunculus acris, var. 
Stevent, Lange, is generally more abundant than the true A. acrıs. It 
has not been seen, however, from South of Hull, Massachusetts (Miss 
M. P. Cook), and Northampton (Mrs. E. H. Terry), but, as it is the 
predominant form at these places, it may be expected to extend over a 
broader range than we yet know. The true A. acrís with many linear 
leaf-segments has been examined from Maine, New Hampshire, and 
Massachusetts, while from Rhode Island and Connecticut that form 
alone has been seen. 
It is suggested that, as both forms of leaves are sometimes found on 
a single plant, the broad-leaved var. Steven? may be a seasonal state of 
the narrow-leaved A. acris. That this is not the case, however, seems 
probable from the fact that in late summer, when the foliage of var. 
Stevent was conspicuous in the fields, well developed plants of the true 
KR. acris were also found; and, furthermore, if these two forms were 
seasonal developments of one plant, it seems improbable that they 
should have been so long distinguished abroad by such men as Thuillier, 
- Andrzejowski, Reichenbach, Lange, Blytt, Hartman, Nyman, and many 
others. 
GRAY HERBARIUM. 
THREE PLANTS OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY, MassacHusETTS. — For 
several years I have noticed in a peat bog, in Stockbridge, Mass., a 
handsome willow, growing as a shrub fifteen feet or less in height. 
The persistence, or late ripening of the fruit is particularly characteris- 
tic; a branch collected September 24, still retains its half opened 
capsules, The willow grows plentifully in beds of sphagnum, in com- 
pany with Betula pumila L. and Sarracenia purpurea L. Mr. C. E. 
Faxon, who has kindly examined a branch, pronounces it Sa/ix amyg- 
