452 Bicknell: Fekns and flowering plants of Nantucket 



« 



in herb. New York Botanical Garden. This plant may be at once 



4 



distinguished by the flowering calyx, which is small, 2,5 mm. 

 long and wide, and deltoid- ovate from a broad subcordate base, 

 the segments much compressed basally and becoming conspicu- 

 ously carinate or even auricled. The achenes are much smaller 

 than in P, ramosissimnm^ broadly ovoid with abruptly rounded 

 base, shining as if pohshed and deep reddish brown in color. 



Fersicarl\ pennsylvanica (L.) Small 



The common erect form of this plant with lanceolate tapering 

 leaves and cylindric spikes of rather pale pink ovoid-oblong flowers 

 is uncommon on Nantucket and was met with only twice — at 



+ 



Wauwinet and in Quaise. The prevailing form is mostly pros- 

 trate or ascending and is confined almost exclusively to the sandy 

 shores of ponds near the ocean on the south and east sides of the 

 island. In its extreme development it is notably different from 

 the erect narrow-spiked form but appears to be a state of the 

 latter, rather than an intrinsically diverse plant. By comparison 

 it is characterized by short-oblong or even subglobose more 

 densely flowered spikes, usually of a bright rose-color or carmine- 

 red, although sometimes pale, the flowers shorter and almost 



r 



orbicular in outline, the achenes rather larger, thicker, and more 

 broadly orbicular, often more abruptly narrowed to a rather 

 shorter style ; the leaves are often marked above by a dark 

 chevron and are commonly shorter, broader and less attenuate 

 to a blunt or rounded apex and on shorter petioles, the upper 

 most often sessile. The plant is often firmly prostrate and is 

 sometimes v^ery small, stems bearing mature spikes being sometimes 

 only I dm. long. 



Persicaria incarnata (EIL) Small 



Common along the shores of Sachacha Pond back of the beach 

 and about the ocean ends of Hummock and Miacomet Ponds ; 

 sparingly on the sandy shore of Gibbs' Pond. In full flower 

 August and September. Frequently semi-prostrate in the sand, 

 or dwarfed and strictly prostrate. 



* Persicaria lapathifolia (L.) S. F. Gray. 



Sparingly in waste ground by stables in the town near Mill 

 Street, Sept. i6, 1907. 



