108 Rhodora [June 
this record. On enquiring of Mr. Bassett during the autumn of 1917 
whether he could throw any light on this record, it was gratifying 
to learn that G. Saponaria was known to him at Herman—which 
is within a very short distance of Weekstown, on the opposite side 
of the Mullica River, and in the same floristic area. Exploration 
shortly thereafter under the guidance of Mr. Bassett showed the 
Soapwort Gentian to be frequent at this locality. At Crowleytown, 
about a mile above Herman, it was seen again. From the additional 
evidence of material collected along the Mullica at Pleasant Mills 
by C. A. Gross and at Port Republic by M. L. Johnson (for the ex- 
amination of which specimen at the New York Botanical Garden I 
am indebted to Mr. K. K. Mackenzie) it seems reasonable to conclude 
that the “Wecksville” record of G. Andrewsii was based upon G. 
Saponaria. 
Through correspondence with Mr. Macy Carhart of Keyport 
(whose list of ferns will be recalled as particularly interesting for 
Keyport)’ I learn that he has been collecting for ten years in Mon- 
mouth County and is of the opinion that Gentiana Andrewsii does not 
occur in the region. He has kindly sent me material of G. Sapon- 
aria which is the only species of this type which he knows in the 
vicinity of Keyport. 
Up to 1917, all gentians of this group from the area, in my own 
experience, had proved conclusively to be G. Saponaria. During 
that year Mr. Mackenzie and myself had detected G. clausa in Burl- 
ington County in low woods along Crosswicks Creek above Borden- 
town. This was apparently a species new to this portion of the state 
and another of the numerous Alleghanian types that are found to 
enter the Coastal Plain at this point. But of equal interest was the 
possible solution to be found therein of the old Shark River record. 
This dates back to 1856 to Knieskern's Catalogue of Plants Growing 
in the Counties of Monmouth and Ocean. The troublesome point 
lies in the fact that while recording G. Andrewsii from Shark River 
as “not rare" he notes G. Saponaria from the same locality as " rare!" 
It is not clear whether the records refer to the village formerly called 
Shark River or to the river itself. Accordingly the most readily 
accessible spot along the river near the village was selected for ex- 
ploration and in the autumn of 1919, a day was occupied in endeav- 
oring to solve the supposed frequence of G. Andrewsii in this local- 
! Carhart, Am. Fern Journ. vi. 51 (1916). 
