THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 45 



goiia and Diapensia lapponica. Most of the shrubs belong to 

 the great heath family (Ericaceae) and several other members 

 of this family extend nearly to the Arctic Circle notably marsh 

 rosemary (Andromeda polifoUa), Mountain heath (Phyllo- 

 docc coendca), Labrador tea (Ledum decumbens), Lapland 

 rose bay (Rhodendron lapponicum) , trailing azalea (Chamae- 

 cistus procumbens) and Cassiope hypnoides. More than three 

 fifths of the plants are circumpolar, that is. they are found in 

 all lands that extend into Arctic regions. 



New Conception of a Sub-species. — If one is not too 



intimately concerned in the battles of the species-makers, there 

 is not a little amusement to be obtained from the curious 

 claims that are often made to bolster up shaky "species." All 

 such will be interested in the following note from Muhlen- 

 bergia in reference to a prairie sunflower. "An Illinois botan- 

 ist, some years ago, finding some differences in pubescence and 

 intranodal separation among the sunflowers referred to 

 Helianthiis occidentalis, considered these of sufficient import- 

 ance to require the segregation of a part under the name of 

 Helianthiis Illinoensis. Quite recently, another student, by 

 careful observation, was able to demonstrate that this segre- 

 gate was simply a condition, due mainly to hydrodynamic 

 causes. He discovered that plants, which in spring and early 

 summer were H. Illinoensis, were at the time of blooming and 

 fruiting, simply H. occidentalis. Most botanists, having es- 

 tablished this fact, would have contented themselves with re- 

 ducing the segregate to synonomy and noting under the spe- 

 cies its variations under certain conditions. In the present 

 case, however, the investigator 'proposes that these plants 

 should bear the name Helianthiis occidentalis illinoensis, comb, 

 nov.' It would be more in accordance with the facts that they 

 should bear that name 'in the spring and early summer' but 



