270 lihodora [December 



species from Grand Marais, Minnesota {Uohinger), but this record 

 proves incorrect, the specimens in question representing a large form 

 of H. scuiatus (Web. f. & Mohr) Spruce. In 1906^ he reported a 

 new station for the plant from British Columbia, namely: Comox, 

 Vancouver Island {J. Macotm). These scanty records seem to ex- 

 haust the list, and it will be seen that the stations from Greenland, 

 Labrador, and New Hampshire are the only ones definitely known 

 from eastern North America. 



The genus Harpanthus, according to our present knowledge, is 

 composed of only two species, //. Flotoivianits and H. scutatvs, the 

 latter being widely distributed in northern regions and reaching a 

 much lower latitude than //. Flotowianus. The genus is characterized 

 by succubous, bifid leaves; large, lanceolate underleaves, usually 

 undivided although sometimes sparingly toothed; ventral, inter- 

 calary branches, those bearing the sexual organs being very short; 

 a rudimentary, erect perigynium, the sporophyte being partially 

 imbedded in the swollen tip of the female branch; small involucral 

 leaves and a short perianth, terete in the lower part. In H. scutatns 

 the ventral position of the branches seems to be constant; in H. 

 Flotowianus an occasional lateral branch of the Fndlania type is 

 produced.- In its general habit the genus bears a strong resemblance 

 to Lophocolea and Chiloscyphus. Its systematic position is inter- 

 mediate between Heteroscyphus and Gcocalyx, both of which have 

 bifid succubous leaves and short sexual branches, ventral in position. 

 In Heteroscyphus, however, there is a well-developed perianth and no 

 perigynium (just as in Lophocolea and Cliiloscyphus), whereas in 

 Geocalyx there is no perianth and a well-developed perigynium. 



Sporoph^'tes are rare in H. Flotowianus, but it is usually not diffi- 

 cult to determine sterile material. The conspicuous lanceolate 

 underleaves at once indicate the genus Harpanthus, while the some- 

 what larger size and the blunt lobes of the leaves will serve to separate 

 it from //. scutatns. The leaves, to be sure, are subject to considerable 

 variation. The apical sinus, although usually distinct, is sometimes 

 scarcely apparent, while the lobes vary from rounded to more or less 

 acute. Even if acute lobes are present, however, they are in the 

 minority, while the lobes of the leaves in H. scutatns seem to be con- 

 stantly acute. The latter species is further distinguished by the fact 



' Postebia 1906: 225. 



2 See Evans, Ann. Bot. 26: 12. /. 13. 1912. 



