42 Rhodora [February 



more variable, ranging from two to six, instead of from four to five as 

 in var. srtosus. The color of the achenes, running from almost black 

 to almost white in S. Smithii and its variety with barbed bristles, 

 darker toward the base of the spikelet (a matter, doubtless, of degree 

 of maturity), in this case varied greatly, but seemed to average 

 lighter than in the other forms of the species, the deep brown never 

 reaching the almost ebony shades of the common types. 



This condition of smooth-bristled varieties in the Cyperaceac 

 frequently occurs, as for example in Rynchospora capitcUutu (Michx.) 

 Vahl., var. discuiiens (Clarke) Blake, and in R. eapillacca Torr., var. 

 leviseta E. J. Hill. Eleoeharis Kngelmanni Steud., var. dctonsa Gray 

 has the bristles absent, or when present smooth and reduced to mere 

 rudiments, but they are variable and may even in some cases exceed 

 the achene, in this variability being more closely parallel with the 

 estuarian Seirpus than are the two Rynchosporas. 



This new plant exhibiting these characters comes from a locality 

 which has already produced some remarkable species. 1 Many of 

 the rivers of Sagadahoc County have their mouths drowned twice a 

 day by the rising tide, producing muddy estuaries. Merrymeeting 

 Bay, a few miles above Bath, has no salt water, but has a strong tide 

 which extends far up the five rivers which enter it, including the 

 Kennebec, the Androscoggin, and the Cathance. Thus along their 

 banks there is left uncovered twice a day a wide stretch of mud, upon 

 which a rank vegetation flourishes. Then, when the muddy and 

 somewhat brackish water is forced back by the rising tide, these 

 flats are covered to a depth of several feet. Baek River Creek, a 

 stream which has a similar estuary on a much smaller scale, is sep- 

 arated from this system by a short stretch of salt water, but it is 

 not surprising to find this little sedge there also. Indeed there is 

 another estuarian plant whicli is apparently confined to these same 

 localities: Bidc7is Katoni Fernald, var. knm ebeccn. tit Fernald was col- 

 lected at Cathance River and at Back River Creek by Professor 

 Fernald and Mr. Bayard Long in 191G, and has not been observed 

 anywhere else. 



This new phase of Scirjms Smithii may well take the name of: 



Scirpus Smithii Gray, var. levisetus, n. var., setis 2-6, levibus 

 vel rare subscabris, 0.5-2 mm. longis, achenio castaneo plerumque 

 brevioribus. 



i See Rhodora 19:91. 1917. 



