494 



segments ovate, rather obtuse; rays yellow, elliptic-oblong, 10-14 

 mm. long, undulately 3-toothed at the apex ; achenes obovate, 

 more or less constricted at both ends, about 6 mm. long, winged 

 (Plate 3i5> 



In dry or rocky soil, Cullman, Alabama, October, 1885. 



A very distinct species of the confused genus Silphiuvi, related 

 to^what I take to be S. asperrimum Hook., hitherto usually called 

 5". scabernmum. It is at once distinguished by the copious shaggy 

 pubescence of its foliage as against the short retrorse pubescence 

 of its relative. The peculiarly toothed leaves with their less 

 rounded bases, and the smaller heads with their narrower bracts 

 and shorter rays are additional distinguishing characters. 



The species is named in honor of the veteran botanist of Ala- 

 bama, Dr. Charles Mohr, who for many years has furnished bur 

 collections with rare and unique plants from that interesting re- 

 gion. 



III. The True Position of Viola tripartita Ell. 



The record of the occurrence of Viola hastata in Florida has al- 

 ways been a puzzle to me, for that plant is as typical an Alle- 

 ghenian species as our flora affords. 



During my field work in the Southern States I have had oppor- 

 tunity to study the forms under consideration in their native habi- 

 tats and have been led to the following conclusions, namely : 

 That V. tripartita is specifically distinct from its relatives, and that 

 it is closely related to V. pubescens and V. scabriiiscula and not to 

 V. hastata. It seems strange that Dr. Gray, and even the saga- 

 cious Le Conte failed to observe the latter fact, for a casual glance 

 at the foliage and flowers is sufficient to prove this position cor- 

 rect, the sepals and petals of V. tripartita being much more 

 similar to those of V. pubescens than to those of V. hastata. 



The question that naturally arises is : How was V. tripartita 

 ever confounded with V. hastata? As far as I can see this was 

 brought about through observations on simple-leaved plants of 

 V. tripartita; it is on simple-leaved specimens of this plant that 

 V. hastata is admitted to the flora of Florida. The leaf form of 

 the latter species is so distinct and unique that it need not be fur- 

 ther considered in this connection. On the other hand the leaf 

 form of V. tripartita in its simple state, which is quite frequent, 



