A STRAY PLANT FROM ASIA 



By James M. Bates. 



/^\X April 24, 1914, I observed a deep violet patch of bloom 

 ^^ in the unoccupied spaces of an alfalfa field in Arcadia 

 Valley County, Nebraska. Close inspection showed a crucifer 

 with very small flowers and pods already grown much resem- 

 bling Brassica. It was plainly a winter annual— a habit very 

 common in this family. Search in all botanies accessible to me, 

 including European works in the State University failed to dis- 

 close its identity and first class botanists to whom I sent it also 

 failed to throw any light upon it. At last, after bringing a lot 

 of plants to Red Cloud for growth and getting abundant seed, 

 I learn from Dr. Small of the New York Botanical Garden that 

 they have located it as Chorispora tcnella from Asia. It was 

 unquestionably introduced in cheap alfalfa seed probably raised 

 in Asia Minor. There were probably a thousand plants in 

 bloom where I found it and last year on March 29th, two were 

 already showing color. Its early blooming gives it a quality of 

 value for lovers of nature. It equals the shepherd's purse and 

 is rather more attractive. 



Several years before this was found (1910), I discovered 

 a yellow-flowered crucifer new to the United States in another 

 alfalfa field in Arcadia which I had to send to Washington for 

 identification. This turned out to be Sisymbrium losclli L. It 

 is now well established along the roadsides of the village but 

 has not yet got into Britton and Brown though found now on 

 the Atlantic Coast. 



