115 



At Ocean Grove, Q 



Nicand?'a f)hvsnJo?df.K f 



At Spring Lake, Eryngium Virginianu?n, Lam. (abundant), Eu- 



vii, L., and Gratioia aurea, Miihl. 



Hie) 



Addison Brown. 

 New York, Oct. 7th, 1880. 



91. Vernation of Botrychium boreale, Milde.— The re-dis-»^ 



covery of Botrychium hor7ale in Unakijska by Mr. L. M. Turner, 

 IS not only a pleasing testimony to the accuracy of that distinguished 

 cryptogamic botanist, Dr. Milde, but has been the means of placing 

 in my hands two very fine root-specimens, and thus given me an 

 opportunity to re-examine the vernation in this species. 



In my paper on '^Vernation in Botrychia,*' published in The 

 Bulletin, January, 1878, it was stated that the description and fig- 

 ures of the bud in this species was based on a single specimen, and 

 that, as the character of the bud-form in the other species had been 

 found to be constant, it was assumed that such would prove to be the 

 case with £, boreale also. But an examination of the present buds 

 renders some modification of the previous description necessary. 



The general character of the bud is the same in all three speci- 

 mens, but the two buds now examined show that the appearance of 

 the apex of the fertile portion outside of the sterile in the original 

 bud, as shown in the published figure on the plate which accompan- 

 ied my paper, was due to the manner in which that particular bud 

 was pressed, the over-pressure having forced it out from its natural 

 position. The oblique arrangement of the sterile segments in that 

 bud, as shown by* the dotted line tlirough the figure cited, may also 

 have been due, in part, at least, to the same cause^ as it is less marked 

 in the present buds. If pressed perfectly flat, however, with the 

 fertile portion forced out of its place, these buds would correspond 

 very well with the published figure. ■ The api)arent difference between 



them may be thus explained. 



Since the publication of my paper, I have examined a large number 



of additional freshly-gathered, as well as dried specimens of B> 

 viatruariaefoIiunidSiCiB. lanceolaiiun, as well as many oi B, simplex, 

 and B. Lunaria — no specimen being allowed to pass through my 

 hands without such an examination — \x\ all stages of growth, and 

 found the bud-form in those species an unvarying test-character. 

 Whether it will prove to be so in B, boreale^ or not, can only be 

 determined by the examination of a larger amount of material; 

 but it appears safe to assume, from analogy, that it will. 



The bud is nearest to that of B. Lunaria but the apex of the sterile 

 portion overlaps, and turns downward over the fertile further; the mid- 

 rib is stouter, and the distinct character of the sterile segments is 

 plainly to be seen. On examining the buds of the two species to- 

 gether, I find no difficulty in separating them. More material is 

 needed before a permanently satisfactory description can be given. 

 My thanks are due to Dr. J. Schneck for so kindly contributing 



