is THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



foliage leaves of land species. However, if grown in flowing 

 water, Sagittaria will produce the submerged ribbon type of 

 leaves only. The plant thus forms a good example of the read- 

 iness with which aquatics adapt themselves to a constantly 

 changing environment. Similarly, a variety of water butter- 

 cup, R. Huitans, found in running streams bears submerged 

 finely segmented leaves only, no aerial leaves being developed. 

 — Botanical Journal. 



A SIX-LEAVED DENTARIA 



By B. O. Wolden. 



/^\NE of the commonest of early spring flowers found in 

 the woods of Iowa is the toothwort or pepper-root 

 (Dcntaria laciniata). Often the snow lies deep near the bare 

 spots when it first pushes out of the ground with stems, 

 leaves and buds all at once. ■ But though it is the first of the 

 wood flowers to greet us with its buds, it does not come into 

 bloom until one or two weeks after the bloodroot has 

 braved the April frosts and several others precede it by a 

 few days. 



It does not take a great deal of observation to learn 

 that this species of Dcntaria is a very variable plant. Some 

 specimens have the divisions remotely and regularly 

 toothed while others' are sharply and irregularly toothed 

 and incised. It is easy to collect half a dozen specimens 

 that vary differently in this respect. 



We have, however, here in our local woods, a form 

 that differs in another respect from the common form de- 

 scribed in the Manuals. The species is described as having 



