THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. 17 



of a number of characteristic species, such as the buck bean 

 (Menyanthes trifoliata) , sundew (Drosera rotundifolia), 

 pitcher plant (Sarracenia purpurea), smah cranberry (Vac- 

 ciniuui oxycoccus), marsh rosemary {Andromeda polifolia), 

 leather leaf (Cassandra calyculata), pale laurel (Kalmia 

 glanca), Labrador tea [Ledum Groenlandicum) , creeping 

 snowberry {Chio genes hispiditla) and larch (Larix Ameri- 

 cana). The bogs are regarded as having existed since the 

 glacial period and the flora is supposed to represent the plants 

 of that far-away time. In wet grounds that have originated 

 since the glacial period a very different flora exists. Some 

 of the representative species being cat-tails (Typha latifolia), 

 button-brush (Cephalanfhus occidentalis) , dogwoods {Cor- 

 niis) various sedges (Carex) and smart-weeds (Polygonum). 

 An extended account of the nature and origin of the bogs may 

 be found in the Plant World for February. 



Color of Fern Spores — Fern students seldom trouble 

 themselves about the color of fern spores though familiar 

 with the changes of color that the sporangia go through in the 

 process of ripening. The spores are by no means the rusty- 

 brown objects that some may be led to think they are from a 

 hasty glance at the spoangia or sori, in fact although brown 

 is the prevailing color, there is quite a range of color outside 

 of this that the spores may adopt. According to "The Book 

 of Fern Culture" the spores of the Osmundas are bright 

 green, in Pteris argyrea they are quite black. In most of the 

 Davallias the spores are yellow, in some of the Gymnogram- 

 mas they are nearly black while in a few Adiantums they are 

 pale yellow. The shapes and markings of fern spores are sub- 

 jects that as yet have been practically untouched though in 

 allied plants, as the Isoetes, these points may serve to distin- 

 guish species. A study of fern spores would be a most interest- 

 ing pastime for those who have a compound microscope. — 

 Fern Bulletin. 



