Botanical Bulletin. 



Vol. 1. 



NOVEMBER, 1875. 



JVo. L 



OuH Object. — With a good deal of diffidence we present this tirst copy of the 

 Bulletin to our botanical friends. Wiien the science of Natural History in all its 

 departments has so many able journals devoted to its advancement, it would appear like 

 presumption in us to make what may seem a u,se]css addition to the li.sl. Our aim at 

 pre.sent, however, is by no means so lofty, but is simply to at!brd a convenient and rapid 

 means of communication amf>ng botanists. Our little sheet is intended to be devoted to 

 botanical discoveries and observations, and it is hoped that botanists will make use of it. 

 The New England States and New York are well supplied with such means of commu- 

 nication, but we do not doubt that there are many interesting tinds and notes west of 

 those States that are only waiting some such opportunity as this to be presented to the 

 botanical world. We do not wish, tlicrefore, to 1)e considered as setting up ourselves 

 Jlgainst our Eastern friends, but rather as supplementinj: tlieir good work and aiding 

 them, as far as is in our power, in the discovery of truth, after whicli wc are all strivino-. 

 We will assure our friends, who desire to make use of this sheet, of a wide circulation 

 among botanists of such notes as they may .send us. We shall welcome notes from all 

 botanists and urge them to send us at once such articles as they wish published that 

 they may appear in as early a number as possible. The Bulletin will be published every 

 month and will be enlarged as necessity may demand. Hoping botanists will heartily 

 ap])rove of our undertaking and show appreciation of our efforts by a contribution of 

 not.;.s, we leave the Bulletin in their hands. — Editor. 



GKNTr.\.NA QuiNQUEFi.ORA, Lam. — In my near neighborhood there is a .steep hill- 

 side, facing the northwest and partly shaded by trees, where this beautiful gentian 

 grows in great abundance and blooms jirofusely in the months of September and Octo- 

 bc)-. As observed for j-^ears past, it exhibits one feature worthy of special note — Its diver- 

 sity in size. Many of the larger plants, more or less branched, with branches usually 

 short and strict, but occasionally elongated and spreading, terminated by cymose clusters 

 of 2-5 flowers, frequently attain a height of full 20 inches. From these it descends by 

 every gradation down to simple dwarfs of scarce 2 inches, which, with their siu^le pair 

 of leaves and 1-2 terminal flowers, remind the botanist of the pretty little alpines of the 

 genus. This diminutive .stature cannot result from sterility of soil, which sometimes 

 dwarfs all vegetation, as on the serpentine-barrens of Southeastern Pennsylvania, nor 

 from lack of moisture, for the Lilliputians are scattered amongst the Brobdignagians in 

 such a way as to show that they enjoy just as favorable conditions for development. 

 The cause of their dwarfing may lie in the fact of their later germination, or in the con- 

 stitution of the plant, or in both. At all events, the diversity should be recorded in the 

 description of the species, and, for its complete representation in the herbarium, all the 

 forms .should be collected. We have also some other annuals, which possess the same 

 peculiarity in a marked degree. Prominent amongst them are Erigeron Cnnademe, L., 

 Dihelia syphilitica, L., Campanula Americana, L., Spemlaria prvfoliata, A. DC. and Mimn- 

 lus hi.tem. L. The last is a striking example. Along the water-courses, high up in the 



All eommunicatiomt aMrenHPcl to John M. Coitltet\ Hanorer, f///f. 

 Terms:— Suhscriptioti $1.00 a year. Single Jfumher 10 cents. 



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