22g BOTANICAL GAZETTE. 



forms a propagule, and then these with puny leaves ; (2) strkta, 

 found on the borders of the lake or in the old alluvial, therefore in 

 less sterile quarters than the preceding; leaves more numerous, stout, 

 but still of small size ; (3) inteniifdia, growing on ground formed of a 

 mixture of mud and clay, either on the borders of the lake or at a 

 depth of from one to two metres ; leaves quite intermediate in character 

 between the previous variety and the next ; (4) elatior, growing on the 

 clayey depths, with long leaves. The first form is always found isolated, 

 and as to its asexual reproduction there is nothing more to be said ; 

 but the other three, according as they are subject to more or less 

 heat, present each three varieties characterized by the mode of repro- 

 duction. I. Sporjfera, isolated individuals, mostly furnished with well- 

 developed sporangia, stem large, roots numerous, leaves large. 2. 

 Gemmifera, few fertile sporangia, but most of the leaves are furnished 

 with propagLila, and these well furnished with leaves, generally dex- 

 tral, stem fairly developed. 3. Stcrilis, indviduals growing in com- 

 pact masses, stems and roots slender, leaves not numerous, long and 

 narrow, fertile sporangia very rare, and more often undeveloped masses 

 of cells or abortive propagula. It would seem as if these facts had a 

 practical interest to the collector, who may find in them a guide as to 

 where to look tor fertile specimens. 



Bebb's Herbarinni Salicum.— We are in receipt of the 

 first fasciculus of Mr. M. S. Bebb's Herb. Salicum. Any one who has 

 ever seen Mr. Bebb's specimens knows just how perfect and complete 

 this bundle is. In his work towards a monograph of North American 

 Willows, Mr. Bebb has shown rai e judgment and still rarer patience. 

 How else could he have undertaken to let a little light through that 

 dark maze of forms which meets the eye of every botanist who has 

 dared to look at willows? Nowhere do lines between species run so 

 indistinctly, in fact it can hardly be said that there are such lines. 

 Now Mr. Bebb proposes to help us just where we so much need help, 

 and every botanist should make it a point to contribute notes and 

 specimens that this monograph may be as exhaustive as possible. Ac- 

 companying the very complete specimens of this fasciculus are full 

 descriptions and very many drawings of leaves and capsules, the lat- 

 ter enlarged to a uniform scale of twelve diameters. 



We can note but a few of the many things that catch a botanist's 

 eye in looking through the bundle. One of the most satisfactory re- 

 sults IS the settling of Muhlenberg's 6". myricoidcs. Botanists have been 

 inclined to give it specific rank, or to make it a variety of 5. cordata, 

 but Mr. Bebb shows conclusively that it is a hybrid from S. cordata 

 and S. sericea. 



Another very interesting hybrid is that from 6". petiolaris and 

 S. Candida, species so dissimilar that a cross was hardly to be ex- 

 pected. In case it should become the custom to give distinct names 

 to such hybrids, Mr. Bebb desires to call this beautiful willow S. 

 Clarkei. 



A new species is proposed under the name S. glaucophylla and 

 there seems to be no reason why it should not stand. Mr. Bebb has 



