42 Kansas Academy of Science. 



species, or varieties. 



For some j'ears past botanists have been inclined to regard forms of plants, which had 

 been considered distinct species, as only varieties of the same. Thus Polygonum eredum 

 has been regarded as only a variety of P. aviculare; Aviarantus blituni of A. albus; Phy- 

 salis lanceolata of P. Pennsylvanica; P. nyclaginea of P. viscosa, and Vitis riparia of V. 

 cordi/olia. I think this tendency arises from studying plants in the herbarium rather than 

 in the field. Some characters of a plant do not always appear in the small portion de- 

 tached for the herbarium. Tint of color, sometimes of no account as a mark, is sometimes 

 constant and characteristic, and yet may not appear in the dried specimen. A leaf which 

 shines when growing may appear dull when dr}'. So of odor or viscidity. The habit or 

 mode of growth of a plant may not appear in a branch. It may require close observation 

 of plants in the field to determine some of these cases. I think that if two forms of the 

 same family grow often near each other without ever graduating into each other, however 

 similar, they should be regarded as distinct species. The botanists, so far as I know, give 

 us but one species of pumpkin, Oucurbita pepo. I have seen the common red pumpkin 

 varying in tint of red ; and flat, round or oblong. I have often seen, in the same field, 

 the cream-colored pumpkin with deei>er-colored flesh, varying in the same way in form, 

 but I never saw an intermediate. I never saw the former with spotted leaves, nor the 

 latter without them. I believe them to be distinct species. But, if an intermediate form 

 is seen, it does not prove the two to be identical, for the intermediate may be a distinct 

 species different from either, or it may be a hybrid that will soon return to its original 

 type. Botanists speak of hybrids between Verbena stricta and V. angustij'oUa. I think I 

 have seen such about half-way between both. 



Polygonum aviculare and P. eredum may be hard to distinguish in hand specimens, but 

 let any one see them growing together, the latter growing up through a patch of the 

 former, and it will be hard to regard them as only varieties. The difference in tint of 

 color, shape of leaf and mode of growth is constant, and I am glad to see that Mr. S. 

 Watson restores P. ered^im to its place. 



Aniarantus blitum had a place in Eaton and in older editions of Wood, but of late has 

 disappeared, and it made me a good deal of trouble to find it out. Dried branches of 

 both are hard to distinguish. Both have a very narrow border of white around the 

 leaves. But A. albus stands or sits erect, sending out stiff branches all the way up. It 

 rots off in the fall, and is to be seen all winter blown against the fences. A. blilum lies 

 flat on the ground like purslane, and, when killed by frost, is soon rotten. This, too, I 

 am glad to see, Mr. S. Watson considers entitled to its old place. 



Physaiis Pennsylvanica and P. lanceolata have leaves and blossoms very similar. But 

 P. lanceolata is puberulent, branching from the ground, ascending, about ten inches high. 

 P. Pennsylvanica has a smooth, clean, erect stem for about a foot, and then branches for 

 about another foot. P. lanceolata has the fruit calyx deeply concave at base, like the 

 inside of a hollow hemisphere. P. Pennsylvanica always has the calyx truncate at base, 

 or the radiating veins curving outward. I cannot believe them identical. 



If I rightly apply the names, P. viscosa and P. .nyclaginea have leaves similar in form, 

 though not in size, and have blossoms very small, three or four lines in diameter, and 

 fruit calyx roundish. But P. viscosa sends out its strong arms almost horizontally, one 

 and one-half feet; the leaves are brownish green, the flowers have a brown center, and 

 the fruit calyx is five-angled. P. nyclaginea forks at every joint, the leaves are yellowish- 

 green, flowers all yellow, and fruit calyx ten-angled. It is visci,d and odorous — points 

 not noticed in the only description I have, that of Wood's Botanist and Florist. 



Another Physaiis grows here, which Dr. Gray and Mr. Watson refer to P. lanceolata, 

 Dr. Gray calling it variety hirta. It branches from the ground like that, and the stem 

 is weak and leaning, but the leaves are always rhombic-oval, entire ; the flowers are all 



