74 BICKNELL: FERNS AND FLOWERING PLANTS OF NANTUCKET 
MELASTOMACEAE 
RHEXIA VIRGINICA L. 
Common in sandy swamps and along pond shores. In fresh 
flower Aug. 12, 1906; continues to bloom into September. The 
leaves show considerable variation in form, from lanceolate-oblong 
and acute, to ovate or, on small plants, even quite orbicular. 
ONAGRACEAE 
ISNARDIA PALUSTRIS L. 
Very common in muddy pond holes and ditches. 
* LUDWIGIA ALTERNIFOLIA L. 
Another one-locality plant of Nantucket, It was found Aug. 
‘ 29, 1904, well established about one of the small ponds at Shimmo 
Valley farm, bearing abundant fruit and some late flowers. 
* CHAMAENERION ANGUSTIFOLIUM (L.) Scop. 
This tall herb, so conspicuous when in bloom from midsummer 
till autumn, is not included in Mrs. Owen’s catalogue of 1888 
although it had become frequent not many years later. It seems 
to have been first collected as far back as 1886 by Mrs. Cornelia 
L’Hommédieu near the Agricultural Grounds. Two years later 
it was found by Mrs. Owen in Polpis, and again, in 1892, by Mrs. 
Mabel P. Robinson. There is no record that it was anywhere 
common before 1895, when Mr. Dame reported it as abundant 
at Gibbs Swamp ‘‘appearing after an extensive brush fire,’’ and 
Mr. Floyd found it well established on the “‘commons.’’ For 
these records I am indebted to.Mr. Floyd’s manuscript notes. 
Today the plant is rather common, even locally abundant, on 
the eastern side of the island from Polpis and about Sauls Hills 
to Tom Nevers Swamp, and along the railroad in the southeast 
quarter. It does not yet appear to have spread into Shawkemo, 
Quaise, Pocomo or Squam. Further west it occurs at a few sta- 
tions in the South Pasture, in Taupawshas Swamp, and near the 
state road not far beyond the town. On the western side of the 
island I have met with it near Miacomet Pond (1899), the 
“Woods” (1904), and Trots Swamp (1912). First flowers July 3, 
1912; it sometimes continues to bloom until late in September. 
