1921] Peattie — An Interesting Habitat 71 



Fegatella runs over the grotto. But little else is visible save a Christ- 

 mas fern strayed in by some accident and unhappy in its wet habitat. 



But in March the small bright white blossoms and pinnatifid 

 foliage of Cardaminc parviflora L. may be seen, soon to be followed 

 by the white Saxifraga virginiensis Michx. The fronds of the maiden- 

 hair fern uncoil. Then comes the handsome Saxifraga micranthidi- 

 folia L., growing up in a stalky and succulent way from its big red- 

 dish-green rosette of lettuce-like leaves which may at all seasons be 

 observed in clumps all over the grotto. Chrysosplenium america- 

 num Schwein. is another plant of which the small but extensive 

 stem and foliage system may be seen throughout the moss covering. 

 In May or in April, Trillium grandiflorum (Michx.) Schott. comes 

 into its handsome flower and foliage, followed by Trillium ercctum 

 L. A very beautiful meadow rue, Thalictrum clavatum DC. comes 

 in late spring. By summer the advent of dense shade of the trees 

 overhead precludes the flowering of many species. In June, however, 

 Astilbe biternata (Vent.) Britton and Cimcifuga americana Michx. 

 raise their high stems and dainty foliage. A sterile species of Carex 

 with very long basal leaves is especially noticeable in the niches of 

 the rock. 



The description of the grotto which has just been detailed is not 

 a generality which could be applied to all grottoes. In different 

 soils and climates the plants would differ. Even in the neighbor- 

 hood of the particular grotto which has been mentioned, there are 

 other rocks supporting such interesting elements as Ranunculus 

 sceleratus L., R. septentrionalis Poir., Thalictrum dioicum L., Mitella 

 diphylla L., Stcllaria pubera Michx., Cardamine Clematitis Shuttlw. 

 and often small shrubs of Evonymus americanus L., lodge in the 

 crevices. In the Northern states grottoes are often a favorite hunt- 

 ing ground for arctic-alpine plants which extend their ranges south- 

 ward along such cold wet cliffs. 



Harvard University 



An extended Range for Amelanchier amabilis. — Professor 

 K. M. Wiegand in his "Additional Notes on Amelanchier" published 

 recently in Rhodora, xxii. 146, in speaking of the range of his Amel- 

 anchier grandiflora says: "Its range as far as known at present, is 

 from central and western New York to Ontario." Last summer 



