166 Rhodora [SEPTEMBER 
plant has other points of interest. "Throughout its continuous range 
in British America and the northern states P. cilinode has the stems 
always puberulent and the lower surfaces of the leaves densely pilose; 
but the Spruce Knob plant has its stems and leaves quite glabrous, or 
the leaves rarely with a very sparse pubescence on the veins beneath. 
The fruiting calyx is slightly shorter than is common in the northern 
typical form, 3.5-4 mm. long; in the northern plant ordinarily 4—5 
mm. long. And the achenes of the Spruce Knob plant are broadly 
trigonous-obovoid or -subglobose and scarcely 3 mm. long; in the 
northern pubescent plant usually more ellipsoid and from 3-4 mm. 
long. 
These characters, if constant, would indicate that the Spruce Knob 
plant is specifically distinct; but an examination of 86 sheets of true 
Polygonum cilinode shows that the pubescent plant sometimes has the 
calyx and the achene quite as short and plump as in the West Vir- 
ginian material. It seems wisest, then, to designate the southern 
plant as 
POLYGONUM CILINODE Michx., var. laevigatum, n. var., caule 
glabro; foliis glabris vel subtus sparse pilosis: achaeniis late trigonis 
obovoideis vel -subglobosis vix 3 mm. longis — West VIRGINIA: 
Spruce Knob, 14 September, 1904, J. M. Greenman, no. 346 (TYPE in 
Gray Herb.).— M. L. FERNALD, Gray Herbarium. 
AN UNWELCOME INVADER.— Another species of the weedy annual 
brome grasses has entered the Manual region. This is Bromus 
villosus Forsk. (B. maximus Desf.) which has appeared along the 
railway at College Park, Maryland. Specimens were brought to the 
National Herbarium by Mr. S. D. Gray in early June, and more 
sent later by Professor J. B. S. Norton. This is one of the group of 
Mediterranean species that today cover the overgrazed slopes and 
valleys of southern California, often in favorable situations growing as 
thickly as a field of grain. Bromus villosus and its variety Gussonei 
Aschers. & Graebn. like their allies, B. madritensis L. and B. rubens L., 
are injurious to grazing animals, the long scabrous awns of the ripened 
florets, scattered by the wind over the pastures, penetrating the tender 
parts of the nose and mouth, often causing sores. If this species 
spreads as rapidly in the eastern states as has its comparatively in- 
offensive little relative B. tectorum it will probably soon be one of our 
worst annual weeds.— Aanes CrasE, Department of Agriculture. 
