1923]  Fernald,—4American Variety of Scheuchzeria palustris 177 
mile up the stream. Associated with the cherries is the European 
Spindle Tree, very extensively naturalized along this stream for 
some distance. ; 
The collection near Ivy Mills was made by Dr. F. W. Pennell in 
1909. Dr. Pennell informs me that a single tree was noted, apparently 
wild, along the bank of the West Branch of Chester Creek. "This 
locality is a short distance above Chester Heights, a more familiar 
place-name. 
The Mount Cuba record is based upon material collected by Mr. 
MacElwee, May 6, 1893. Unfortunately the station has not been 
rediscovered and we have no detailed information on the occurrence. 
It may be noted, in summary, that these observations on the 
naturalized condition exhibited by Prunus Padus in the Philadelphia 
region are based upon what may be considered a good score of stations, 
embracing not less than a hundred trees, scattered over a distance of 
more than fifty miles. Furthermore, that collections and field obser- 
vations extend through a period of thirty years. 
ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 
THE AMERICAN VARIETY OF SCHEUCHZERIA PALUSTRIS. 
M. L. FERNALD. 
Upon comparing the American material of Scheuchzeria palustris 
with the typical European plants it at once becomes apparent that 
in the size and shape of the fruit there is a pronounced difference 
between the two. The European plant has the short ovoid follicles 
only 5-7 mm. long and crowned by the strongly decurrent sessile 
stigma; but in the American plant the often narrower follicles are 
7-10 mm. long and tipped by a definite thick style, forming a slightly 
curved beak 0.5-1 mm. long. The seeds of the European plant are 
likewise smaller, 3-4 mm. long, while in the American they are 4-5 
mm. in length and black in maturity. Whether the seeds of the 
European become black I have been unable to make out, neither 
Micheli! nor Buchenau? stating the color, although Syme says, 
“pale olive."? Such seeds of the European plant as have been avail- 
1 Micheli in DC. Mon. iii. 96 (1881). 
? Buchenau in Engler, Pflanzenr. iv. Ab. 14: 15 (1903). 
3 Engl. Bot. ed. Syme, ix. 67 (1873). 
