120 Rhodora [May 



S. acaulis L., var. exscapa (All.) DC. Fl. Fr. iv. 749 (1805). 

 8. exscapa All. Fl. Pedem. ii. 83, t. 79, fig. 2 (1785); Jordan, Obs. 

 Fl. PI. Fr. v. 36, t. 1, fig. C (1847). 8. acaulis, 8. parriflora Otth. 

 in DC. Prodr. i. 367 (1824). S. poly trie hoi (Ira Zumaglini, Fl. Pedem. 

 ii. 269 (1860). S. acaulis, lusus 2, Rohrb. Gatt. Silen. 144 (1868). 



The calyx of var. exscapa, as it occurs in northern regions of Amer- 

 ica, south to New Hampshire and Montana, is 4-6 mm. long and 

 the barely exserted capsule is ovoid. In the Rocky Mountains, 

 from Wyoming to New Mexico and Arizona, however, there occurs 

 another variety with the slender tubular calyx 7-11 mm. long, as 

 in typical 8. acaulis of Europe, but with the cylindric capsule only 

 slightly if at all exserted. This is 



8. acaulis, var. subacaulescens (F. N. Williams), n. comb. S. 

 acaulis, forma subacaxdescens F. N. Williams, Journ. Linn. Soc 

 xxxii. 101 (1896). 



In defining this variety as a form, Williams merely said: "sub- 

 acaulescens, foliis anguste linearibus 25-35 mm.," thus implying that 

 the plant is only a trivial form; but since it has more important 

 characters of its calyx and capsule — the long calyx as in typical 

 8. acaulis, the capsule essentially as in var. exscapa — and a distinct 

 range it is evident that it is a well-defined geographic variety. 

 Var. subacaulescens may be densely cespitose, with leaves only 6 mm. 

 long. — M. L. Ferxald and Harold St. John, Gray Herbarium. 



Vol. 23, no. 266, including pages 29 to 48, was issued 5 April, 1921; and no. 

 267, including pages 49 to 72, was issued 20 April, 1921. 



