10 THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



cated are the feathery fruits it is hard to decide. Clematis 

 ochrolcuca, however, is called curly heads which may throw 

 some light on the subject. Clematis ligustrina, the Western 

 form of our Eastern virgin's bower is known as windflower 

 for no special reason, apparently and C. Americana is called 

 purple virgin's bower and mountain clematis. 



[Additional names, corrections and further observations 

 on this list are desired. In the next issue, the names of the 

 Rosaceae will receive attention. — Ed.] 



A NOTEWORTHY GRASS 



By J. C. Nelson 



PERHAPS some of the readers of The Botanist who 

 have never seen Coleanthus suhtilis, but have been sufii- 

 ciently impressed by the record of its eccentric distribution 

 to wonder what it looks like, might be interested to see a re- 

 cent photograph of this elusive little grass. Its occurrence in 

 the United States seems to be confined to the lower Columbia 

 V'alley in Washington and Oregon, where it appears to haVe 

 been first observed by Thomas Howell on Sauvies Island at 

 the mouth of the Willamette in October, 1875. He collected 

 it again at the same locality in September, 1881 and October, 

 1883. Mrs. liarrett found it at Hood River, Oregon in 1884, 

 and Mr. W. N. Suksdorf at White Salmon, Washington in 

 1880 rmd near I'ingen in October, 1881. Since these early 

 collections it seems to have largely escaped notice — which is 

 not remarkable when we consider that it is confined to the low 

 mud-flats along the river, which do not become exposed and 

 ready to support much vegetation until late in the fall. The 

 casual observer would never see it at all ; it is one of the tini- 

 est of grasses, its isolated moss-like tufts (rarely more than 

 8 cm. in diameter) flattening themselves closely against the 



