1913] The Ottawa Naturalist. 149 



MEETINGS OF THE BOTANICAL BRANCH. 



Dec. 21st, 1912, at the home of Mr. Geo. H. Clark. The 

 following gentlemen ware present: Geo. H. Clark, R. B. Whyte, 

 E. D. Edclv, J. W. Eastham, A. Eastham, H. A. Honeyman, 

 C. J. Tulley, W. Dreher, A. E. Attwood. Dr. M. 0. Malte, L. 

 H. Newman, J.J. Carter and H. Groh. 



The subject of the evening, which was presented by Dr. M. 

 O. Malte, was as follows: "The nature study of plants in relation 

 to their identification." The speaker showed by means of 

 specimens, that certain plants vary in form to a remarkable 

 extent under different conditions of life. Attention must there- 

 fore be paid when identifying plants to the conditions under 

 which the plants are grown, otherwise certain modified specimens 

 of a given species may be regarded as belonging to quite another 

 species. The confusion which the young botanist meets with 

 on account of variations in the post-floral development of 

 certain species was also pointed out and illustrated by specimens 

 of the Ground Cherry (Physal is grandifiora) , Madwort (Asperugo 

 procumbens), Bitter Dock (Rumex obtusijolius) and certain 

 species of Rosaceae. 



The difficulties associated with the identification of species 

 of the genus Salix, (willows) due to variations which appear at 

 different periods of their development were pointed out and 

 illustrated. It was shown to be imperative that species of this 

 genus be studied at different stages throughout the season. 

 Without such a study the student could have little idea of the 

 variations within the species. 



From the discussion there emanated the conclusion that a 

 collection of plants should not be restricted to single individuals 

 within the species, but rather should include typical variations 

 which arise at different stages of development or under different 

 conditions of life. To get a clear idea of a given species, moreover, 

 the plants must be studied in the field. The facilities for doing 

 this, as provided by the excursions of the club during the spring 

 and early summer, were referred to. The speaker believed, 

 however, that plants should not be pulled, taken to the platform 

 of a railway station as is often the case and then studied, 

 but rather should the study be made of the undisturbed specimens 

 in their natural habitat. 



The new "Flora" which is being prepared of plants of the 

 Ottawa Valley is likely to materially facilitate the proper study 

 of plant life. 



A general discussion followed the presentation of the above 

 paper in which such interesting phenomena as the development 



