NATURAL SCIENCES OP PHILADELPHIA. 17 



extent of country looked over, the result, as shown in the list below, is en- 

 couraging, and leads to the belief that a more extensive exploration would 

 yield further additions to the Northern Flora. 



When our knowledge of the botany of this peninsula becomes more perfect, 

 an interesting comparison might be made of its Flora with that of the lower 

 part of Illinois ; the plants of the Southern Mississippi Valley would probably 

 be found creeping up into the latter, as those of the Southern coast, and Pine 

 Barren region, do into the former. 



Of a considerable number of rare and interesting plants collected, only those 

 not described in the " Manual " of Prof. Gray are given in the list below, 

 with some observations on rare allied species. One or two, detected in locali- 

 ties not in the district under consideration, are also given. 



Desmodium ochkoleucum, M. A. Curtis, in Herb. Gray. {Hedysarum humi- 



fusum, Ell. in Herb. Muhl. ): caule procumbente tereti hirsuto elongato ; foliolis 



ovatis aliquanto rhomboidiis reticulatis ; stipulis et bractiis ovatis acuminatis 



striatis ; tloribus ochroleucis ; lomentorum articulis, (| pollicaribus, ) 



reticulatis ssepius contortis. 



In an open woodland, one mile south of "Public Landing," (on Chingo- 

 teague Bay,) Worcester county, Maryland. Fl. Sept, 4. Fruit. Oct. 2. 



Stems many (6 to 10), 18 inches to 3 ft. long, spreading in every direction 

 from the root, and, with the petioles and pedicels, quite hirsute with spread- 

 ing hairs, as well as pubescent with shorter hooked ones. Flowers ochro- 

 leucus ! Legume (always ?) much contorted. 



There is a specimen of this plant without flowers in Muhlenberg's herba- 

 rium, sent by Elliott from South Carolina under the name of Hedysarum 

 humifusum. The fruit on this presents the same twisted appearance as in all 

 the Maryland specimens. This specimen is not in the general collection, but 

 is contained in a special collection of the genus Hedysarum, which is accom- 

 panied by a numbered list. In this, Elliott's plant is placed in a distinct 

 paper, and far separated from Muhlenberg's humifusum ; the former being No. 



19, the latter (in full), "No. 43 humifusum, Aug. 25, 27, 12" (the 



latter number probably intended for the year 1812). Thus it would appear, 

 that Muhlenberg, at the time of making up this monographic collection, con- 

 sidered them distinct, as they certainly are. But afterwards, in his descrip- 

 tion in the MSS., Plant. Amer. Sept., and in the printed work, he con- 

 founds them, and in the latter the locality of Hedysarum humifusum is given, 

 "Mass. to Penna. and Carolina." The last is to be excluded, as the species 

 has been found only near* Waltham, Mass. (Bigelow) and Lancaster, Penna. 



Hydrocotyle vulgaris, L. ? In a swamp one mile east of Snow Hill, Mary- 

 land. Umbels, or rather verticils, two to five. Sept. to Oct. 



Hydrocotyle repanda, Pers. A glabrate form, found in meadows border- 

 ing Chingoteague Bay, Worcester county, Maryland. Oct. 



* The Mass. locality is now supposed to be destroyed. In Muhlenberg's MSS. in the library 

 of the Academy, he gives the date of collection and locality of his plant, viz., " Aug. 28, 12, 

 (1812), upon Montgomery Island." This may be in the River Susquehanna. The attention of 

 botanists in the neighborhood is requested to this point. The plant may yet be identified and 

 specimens furnished from the original locality. The descriptions in Torrey and Gray, Gray's 

 Manual, Ac, appear to be sufficient, except that the character, stem angled or striated, should 

 be added to distinguish it from the round stem of D. ochroleucum. 



The three allied species may be thus compared: 



D. rotumdifolicm. Stem hirsute and augled ; leaflets orbicular; bracts and stipules broadly 

 ovate ; flowers purple ; joints of the legume large. 



D. humifusum. Stem angled, nearly smooth ; loaflets ovate ; stipules and braots lanceolate ; 

 flowers purple ; joints of the legume small. 



D. ocnioLEUouM Stani terete, hirsute; leaflets ovate reticulated ; stipules aud bracts ovate acu 

 minate; flowers ochroleucus ; joints of the twisted pod large. 



1864.] 



