90 Rhodora [May 
x. Date of Flowering. All three: Aug.—Oct. 
cordifolius E. Que.— Ia.— Ga.— Mo. 
xi. Range. tardiflorus N. B. — Pa. 
puniceus Nfd.— Man.— Ga. 
To one who examines these points it will, I think, appear that a 
plant more exactly intermediate between two quite distinct species 
could hardly be found. And this would be even more apparent to one 
who should examine in actual specimens the shape of the leaf of A. 
tardiflorus, which is the only natural intermediate that one could 
expect between a cordate petioled leaf and an oblong-lanceolate auri- 
cled one. The supposed parent-species are abundant northeastward, 
hence it is hardly surprising that this hybrid should have appeared at 
various places. Material at the Gray Herbarium, however, does not 
indicate commonness anywhere save perhaps in the vicinity of Lisbon, 
New Hampshire, where it was rather often collected by the late Edwin 
Faxon. But, as the last summer’s experience of the writer shows, 
when once one has learned what this plant looks like he may see it in 
a considerable number of places without finding anywhere more than 
one or two plants in a station, so that the numerous collections by 
Mr. Faxon need not indicate a degree of commonness that might lead 
one to regard Aster tardiflorus as an established and stable species. 
The writer would be glad to learn of the observations of others in 
regard to this somewhat infrequently studied plant. Perhaps some- 
one with facilities for the work might undertake to produce an arti- 
ficial hybrid for comparison with A. tardiflorus. 
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS. 
