1903] Report of the Botanical Branch."] 41 



The fifth meeting was at the residence of Dr. H. M. Ami. 

 The most important item of business was the settling of the 

 division of the Ottawa district with the view of better describing 

 the localities in which plants are to be found. The Flora Ottaiva- 

 ensi's is at present receiving considerable systematic attention, 

 with the object of publishing a revised list of the species to be 

 found in the Ottawa district. In order to facilitate the recording 

 of localities, the four geographical divisions of the district are 

 henceforth \o be recognized by names. 



The Ottawa River naturally separates the Quebec area from 

 the Ontario area. Each is divided into west and east divisions by 

 the Gatineau River and the Ridcau River respectively. In the 

 near future these divisions will probably be subdivided into 

 sections, but it was thought wise to go no further at present than 

 the first step, which may be indicated as follows : 



'A. — The Quebec Area. 

 The I. Quebec West ; 2. Quebec East. 



Ottawa 

 District. B. — The Ontario Area. 



3. Ontario West ; 4. Ontario East. 



Dr. Ami announced that he was preparing a map that will 

 indicate the nature of the surfac of th land of the Ottawa district. 



Several interesting specimens were brought by Dr. Fletcher, 

 among them ; 



(i) A tutt of sweet grass {Hierochloa borealis) in flower. It 

 came from the Experimental Farm, but is to be found growing 

 wild at the Beaver Meadow and near Lake Flora, Hull. This 

 grass is employed by Indians in making baskets, table mats, etc. 



(2.) Vegetable concretions or nodules from Nova Scotia. 

 These were several inches in diameter and almost spherical in 

 shape. They had been formed l)y the matting or felting together 

 of small pieces of grass, ferns, and pine leaves through the action 

 of water in a pool at the foot of a small waterfall on a rivulet. 



(3.) Galls from the roots of rose-bushes. This gall is found 

 on native species and has also attacked a Japanese rose at the 

 Experimental Farm. 



(4.) Radishes in various stages of development. Their in- 

 terest lay in the interpretation of the scale-like appendage adhering 

 to the enlarged stem. It proved to be a remnant of the ruptured 

 sheath of the radicle. A. E. A. 



