254 hitchcock: STUDY of the local flora 



complex genus in our flora needs further elaboration. Among 

 such may be mentioned Aster, Carex, Cyperus, Meibomia, 

 Panicum, Quercus, Rosa, Rubus, and Viola. There are many 

 others. In fact there is scarcely a genus of the flora that is 

 satisfactorily known; scarcely a genus but which on critical 

 investigation presents surprises. Species have been misunder- 

 stood; strange species from the outside are found in our midst; 

 even distinct undescribed species are not rarely brought to view. 

 The genus Panicum has received much attention for many 

 years, but every fresh investigation brings new and interesting 

 facts to light. Botanists may turn to good account intermit- 

 tent field trips by the accumulation of data however isolated 

 or disconnected. There is a high probability that interesting 

 facts concerning almost any of our species await discovery. 

 These facts may have an important taxonomic bearing. Few 

 of us can recognize in fruit all the species that we know in 

 flower. More should be brought to light about the winter condi- 

 tion of our herbaceous perennials. What are their underground 

 parts and how do they propagate? How many of our annuals 

 are winter annuals and what is their winter phase? A study 

 of the trees, shrubs, and woody vines in winter is a prolific 

 source of enjoyment and botanical profit. Only recently was 

 it discovered that in Danthonia cleistogamous spikelets are 

 produced at the base of the foliage leaf-sheaths, these cleisto- 

 genes being strikingly different from the spikelets on the ordinary 

 inflorescence. Yet species of Danthonia have been under ob- 

 servation a hundred years and one species, D. spicata, is very 

 common throughout this region, its curly tufts to be seen on 

 every sterile hill. The chickadees showed us that the spikelets 

 of Panicum clandestinum hidden in the sheaths are fertile and 

 hence edible, while those of the exserted panicles are sterile and 

 hence have no attraction for them. A keen observer can scarce- 

 ly walk for an hour through field or forest without gleaning im- 

 portant information for his fellow workers. The accumulation 

 of unrelated data of this kind not only trains the person making 

 the observations but, when placed upon record, also becomes of 

 service to botanical science. The willing worker will find 



