l A 
108 Rhodora [JUNE 
ing the crowded or subverticillate appearance as in true C. canadensis, 
while the flowers (the true flowers, not the bracts) are pale as in the 
latter species, those of C. suecica being dark purple.— M. L. FERNALD 
and K. M. WIEGAND. 
HOTTONIA INFLATA A WINTER ANNUAL.— Early in December, 1910, 
while passing a brook at West Hingham, Mass., I was surprised to 
discover in the icy waters young plants of Hottonia inflata Ell. reach- 
ing nearly to the surface. The plant would have been easily recog- 
nized by its pectinate submerged leaves, even if I had not seen it there 
in blossom several times in summer. On Dec. 31, 1910, I removed 
an inch of ice, and gathered specimens from water at the temperature 
of 39° Fahrenheit. There were no signs of old plants, and the roots 
of these specimens were soft white cellular fibres, of very recent 
growth. March 26, 1911, I found that the plants in the brook had 
made further growth. 
From these observations I am convinced that this species is a winter 
annual, instead of a perennial, as stated in Gray's Manual, Seventh 
Edition. Britton's Manual and Small’s Southern Flora make no 
reference to the matter. 
Apparently the seeds fall from the decaying stalks in late July and 
August, and soon germinate at the muddy bottom of the stream. 
The young seedlings must grow rapidly at first, with slight progress 
during the winter months. In May the inflated flower-stalks begin 
to grow, and the first flowers appear by the end of the month, reaching 
their fullest development about June 20. After flowering, the old 
plants shed the pectinate leaves and decay as the seeds ripen. 
I have seen the plant growing also in Amesbury, Belmont, Waltham, 
Quincy, Holbrook, and Abington.— CLARENCE K. KNOWLTON, 
Hingham, Massachusetts. 
Vol. 13, no. 149, including pages ?? to 92, was issued 1 May, 1911. 
