Jan., 1902.] Minor Plant Notes, No. 4. 179 



MINOR PLANT NOTES, No. 4. 



W. A. KELLERMAN. 



Br ACTED Racemes of Lappula Virginiana. — In his de- 

 scription of the Virginia Stickseed, Lappula virginiana (L. ) 

 Green (given in Gray's Manual as Echinospermnm virginianuni 

 Lehm. ), Britton says (111. Flora, 3:55) of the racemes that they 

 are " braded at the base.'' Gray (Man, , 362 ) includes this species 

 in a section which has the racemes '' leafy-braceteate at base.'' 

 Mr. F. H. Burglehaus calls our attention to the fact that the plants 

 growing about Toledo have racemes bracteate almost to the apex. 

 Specimens in the State Herbarium from the counties of Clermont, 

 Fairfield, Franklin, Huron and Union also exhibit bracts, not 



Fig. I. A Raceme of Lappula Virginiana, Showing Bracts. 



only at the base, but these are continued, though much reduced 

 upwardly, well toward the tip of the raceme. Specimens in the 

 General Herbarium from Oklahoma and Tennessee are similar in 

 this respect. A slight emendation of the printed description 

 seems desirable. A sketch, natural size, is here appended (Fig. i) 

 to show the bracted raceme, taken from one of the Ohio speci- 

 mens. 



A New SunfeowER.— A few ^-ears ago roots of the native 

 species of Helianthus were brought from the vicinity of Columbus 

 and planted on the college campus south of the Botanical building, 

 Ohio State University. In 1897 ^ form was noticed that differed 

 materially from the enumerated species of the state. L,ater it 

 was observed more carefully, and finally specimens were sub- 

 mitted to Britton of the New York Botanical Garden. 



The accompam'ing plate will give some idea of this elegant 

 sunflower. It is not coarse and weedy in habit as so many of 

 the other species, though rather tall. It is a good bloomer and 

 would doubtless be desirable for ornamental planting. Roots 

 will be furnished gratis to botanic gardens and to all who may 

 wish to grow this form for observation or for ornamental pur- 

 poses. Herbarium specimens are likewise on hand for those 

 wishing the same. 



