104 
CoNTRIBUTIONS TO THE Fiora oF InprAna. VI. 
By SranLeEy COULTER. 
In view of the publication in the near future of a catalogue of the 
phanerogamic flora of the State, this contribution is limited to a diseus- 
sion of a few families, concerning which we have need of further knowl- 
edge. Each of these families, despite its familiarity, presents especial 
difficulties in the discrimination of species, difficulties which, as a rule, are 
not appreciated by the botanist who works remote from herbaria. Scant 
material and all too brief descriptions are responsible for a large propor- 
tion of the errors which have found their way into local lists. 
POLYGONACEZ. 
Perhaps the greatest uncertainty exists in regard to the species of 
Rumex within the State. Of the eight species reported in the State, the 
following are undoubted: R. Acetosella L., R. Britannica L., R. crispus L., 
R. obtusifolius L., and R. verticillatus 1. 
Rumex altissimus Wood, reported from Jay, Delaware, Randolph and 
Wayne counties by Dr. Phinney, and from Dearborn County by Dr. 
Collins, is probably R. Britannica L., under mesophytie conditions. I have 
had several collections of the form referred to, R. altissimus Wood, for 
examination, and they take their place so naturally in a series of R. 
Britannica 1.., collected to show the effect of differing conditions upon the 
species, that it is impossible to avoid the suspicion that in many cases, at 
least, the forms referred to altissimus are really Britannica. I am un- 
willing to exclude the form from the State flora, not having seen the 
specimens of Dr. Phinney. I request, however, that if in any of the her- 
baria in the State there are forms referred to altissimus, they be examined 
with care and report made to me before the publication of the flora, in- 
stead of after its appearance. 
R. occidentalis S. Wats. Reported from Jefferson County by J. M. 
Coulter, and from Clark County by Baird and Taylor, is probably to be 
excluded from the State list. There are no verifying specimens, and in 
fairly full collections of the genus made from those counties during two 
seasons the form does not appear. There is no especial reason why it 
should not be a member of our flora so far as its geographical distribution 
