1910] Deane,— Desmodium canescens and Hyoscyamus niger 215 
late a search in the field and herbarium for new stations for plants 
cited. l 
Desmodium canescens (L.) DC. grows freely on the southeastern 
slope of Prospect Hill, Waltham, Massachusetts. Mr. Henry A. 
Purdie, an enthusiastic observer of our local flora, showed me the 
location on August 13, 1910. The plant grows in dense patches some 
4 meters in diameter and 1.1 meters in height in dry, more or less 
rocky soil. The large ovate leaflets are very handsome, and on 
examination show the large persistent, ovate, pointed stipules. 
The flowering period was nearly past and the young fruit was begin- 
ning to appear. The robust and vigorous rootstocks ensure the 
continuance of the species if the perhaps necessarily heroic treatment 
of the Park Commissioners does not destroy it. The low growth 
had been cut off on the hill-side some time before, as was shown by 
the mutilated tips of many of the plants which had, nevertheless, 
sent up a fresh supply of stems. 
This species, rare in eastern Massachusetts, was growing in company 
with several of its near relatives, which covered the ground under the 
light foliage of the trees and in more open spaces. Indeed, I never 
saw such a display of Desmodium, and the blending of so many 
species on the beautiful hill-slope amid the glancing shadows was an 
exquisite sight. Desmodium rotundifolium (Michx.) DC. grew in 
dense patches from 12 to 20 decimeters across, close to the ground. 
D. Dillenii Darl. was very abundant in flower, while D. paniculatum 
(L.) DC. was in large continuous areas, making a fine display with 
its glossy foliage and brilliant flowers. D. rigidum (Ell) DC. was 
represented by a single clump near the entrance to the park, and D. 
marilandicum (L.) DC. was extremely abundant and nearly past 
flower: Other species would doubtless have rewarded a longer 
search. Specimens of D. canescens are in my herbarium. 
An examination of my collection shows a specimen of Hyoscyamus 
niger L. that I collected on my father's place on Sparks St., Cam- 
bridge, Massachusetts, in 1888. It was growing spontaneously in 
the garden as a weed, and, on September 2, I took from it a specimen 
in flower and young fruit, besides pressing and pocketing dissected 
flowers. Later, on November 14, I took the remainder of the plant 
in full fruit with ripe seeds. The tap root is forked, and is 4.1 deci- 
meters in length. I did not quite reach the tip. 
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS. 
