IRbofcora 



JOURNAL OF 



THE NEW ENGLAND BOTANICAL CLUB 



Vol. 23. September, 1921. No. 273. 



CIMICIFUGA RACEMOSA IN MASSACHUSETTS. 

 J. R. Churchill. 

 (Plate 132) 



In October, 1919, I found in Sheffield, Berkshire County, Massa- 

 chusetts, the withered stalk of a plant which I identified as Cimici- 

 fuga raccmosa (L.) Nutt. It was in wild, steep rocky woods, across 

 the river, and about two miles from the village. In the following 

 year, on July 19, I came upon the plant about a mile from the first 

 station growing scattered in beautiful open woods which sloped 

 steeply down to a brook. It was then in full bloom, and the tall 

 slender plants with the long spikes of white flowers lit up the sombre 

 landscape and were very attractive. Ten days later I visited the 

 first station, where I found the plants now growing vigorously and 

 in great profusion. A photograph here reproduced illustrates the 

 extent of the colony, the height of the plants and their environment. 

 Both localities are quite remote from habitations and the plants 

 appear to be indigenous. 



Cimicifuga raccmosa has rarely, if ever, been found in New England 

 north of Connecticut, exeept in cultivation or as a garden escape. 

 It is not in the Flora of Vermont (1915). In the Catalogue of Plants 

 of Connecticut (1910) its occurrence is mentioned at "Norfolk, 

 plentiful at one locality but probably introduced; at Oxford common; 

 and frequent throughout the southwestern part of the state." The 

 Sheffield stations are about five miles north of the Connecticut state 



