6 TRA]SrSACTIO]SrS OF THE [oCT. 7, 



had received an apjiointment on this expedition. Prof. Todd, 

 of Amherst, who addressed the Academy last spring on the re- 

 sults of observations on the eclipse of January 1st of this year, 

 is in charge of tiie party, and proposes to take out not only as- 

 tronomical observers, but a number of scientific men eminent in 

 various departments. Among these are such honored names as 

 Prof. Cleveland Abbe, in meteorology, Prof. Alexander 

 Agassiz, in zoology, and others in botany, geology, etc. ; so 

 that the expedition promises to be exceedingly rich in scientific 

 results. 



The following paper was offered and read by title : it is here 

 presented in full: 



NEW OR noteworthy NORTH AMERICAN PHANEROGAMS, II.* 

 BY N. L, BRITTON. 



Caltha flabellifolia, Parsh, Fl. Amer. Sept. ii. 390, t. 17 



(1814) ; Torr. Compend. 224 (1826); Noll, Flora Penn. 8 



(1851). 

 C. palnstris, L. var. flabellifolia, T. & G.. Fl. N. A. i. 27 



(1838). 

 0. pahistris, L. var. SiMrica, Watson, Bibl. Index, i. 9 in part, 



(1878), not of Kegel. 

 C. dentata, Muhl. Cat. 55 (1813) ? 



This very good species, and exceedingly interesting one, has 

 suffered unmerited exclusion from our American handbooks, 

 probably caused by its limited geographical range and somewhat 

 inaccessible habitat on the higher mountains of Pennsylvania 

 and New Jersey, so that it has been observed in situ by very 

 few botanists ; all who have actually seen it growing have had 

 but one opinion as to its specific validity. My acquaintance with 

 the plant was first made some five years since on the Shawan- 

 gunk Mountains in Sussex County, N. J., where I found it grow- 

 ing in a deep swamp near the elevation known as High Point, 

 and collected it in fruit only. In last June, however, through 

 the guidance of Professor Porter, I was introduced to it in its 

 typical locality on the Pocono plateau in Pennsylvania, in which 

 region it was first found by Pursh, and had an opportunity to 

 study the plant in flower. Dr. Porter has long been of the 

 opinion that it is a valid species, and I am glad of an opportu- 



^ The first part of these notes appeared in the Bulletin of the Torrey 

 Botanical Club, xv. 97 et seq. 



