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G. trifidum var. pusillum Gray, should be considered the type 
rather than the larger more southern plant. That these two 
American forms are distinct every one must admit after an exam- 
ination of numerous specimens. The habit, inflorescence and na- 
ture of the floral pedicels afford abundant characters for their sep- 
aration. The G. C/aytoni of Michaux, although somewhat am- 
biguous, refers without much doubt to this southern form, as may 
be inferred from his description, “ fascicles of the branches ter- 
minal, etc.” The writer has therefore adopted this as the oldest 
name for the species. Does the G. “ifidum of Linnaeus refer to 
the slender bog plant with scabrous pedicels? This can be at 
once decided in the affirmative by a careful analysis of his descrip- 
tion; “stem procumbent, peduncles often in threes, very slender, 
as long as the leaves, one-flowered, flower 3-parted.” Willdenow 
says “habitat in Dania, Canada, Kalm,” which makes it all the 
more probable that this was Linnaeus’ plant, since Kalm collected 
_ only in the North. It also shows that even Willdenow considered 
‘ the slender American form identical with the European. This is 
without doubt correct. After studying several specimens from 
Germany and Lapland, and inspecting OEder’s plate in the Flora 
Danica no other conclusion can be entertained ; they are identical 
in every essential feature. Very good descriptions are given by 
Wahlenburg, Roemer and Schultes and Ledebour. 
Two varieties of G. trifidum are here described as new. Var. 
facificum, the more distinct, at first sight seems quite different 
from our eastern plant. Close examination, however, shows that 
the essential characters of the two are the same. Both have the 
diffuse habit, scabrous stems, trifid corolla and slender scabrous 
Pedicels which in this variety are almost always axillary and 
lateral. The difference is mostly in the leaf. Var. Pacificum is 
the extreme of the “rifidum series. While the type has but few 
lateral pedicels, this variety has those only. Somewhat intermedi- 
ate between these two forms, and having a wider range than the 
last variety, is the var. subdiflorum, including western forms with 
narrower leaves and stouter more often glabrous pedicels than 
var. Pacificum. These pedicels often show a tendency to become 
2+ or 3-flowered. It has affinities on the one hand with G. C/ay- 
Zoni, and on the other in its smaller forms with G. Brandegeet. 
