PAPERS ON BOTANY 153 
8. Mollugo verticillata L. Carpet weed. 
Fairly common in the region of cultivated grounds, especial- 
ly where the soil is somewhat sandy. Current descriptions do 
not give any “minimum” size. Britton & Brown mention it 
as “forming patches sometimes 20’ in diameter” and Britton’s 
Manual mentions 5 dm. as the “maximum” size. Dwarf plants 
were abundant along shore; one measured 12.5 mm. or but 
little more than a half inch entire extent, and bore 6 leaves and 
3 fruits. 
9. Polanisia graveolens Rat. Clammy-weed. 
Common in the vicinity along the railroad in ballast, where 
in spite of the barren dry soil it reaches a fair size. Rather 
uncommon along the river, although it is said to be naturally 
distributed along sandy and gravelly shores. Normal size as 
given in Britton & Brown, 6’ to 18’ high. One minute plant 
found, bearing a few leaves and a single pod. The pod was of 
normal size; it was, indeed, the most conspicuous part of the 
plant, and at first glance was taken for some sort of cocoon 
attached to a slender, delicate plant. It was by an attempt to 
pick up the supposed cocoon that the parent plant was dis- 
covered. 
10. Acalypha virginica L. Three-seeded Mercury. 
Several greatly diminished plants, consisting of only a short 
stem, 2 or 3 leaves, and flowers and fruit were obtained, but 
no comparative measurements taken. 
11. Chamaesyce, probably humistrata (Engelm.) Small. 
Hairy Spreading Spurge. 
A minute spurge, consisting of only a few mm. of stem, 
3 or 4 leaves, and abundance of fruit, was common along part 
of this stretch. The fruits were markedly conspicuous, in 
some cases, indeed, the most conspicuous part of the plant. 
One entire plant measured 13.5 mm., the above-ground por- 
tion from base to tip of terminal blossom 4.4 mm. and it bore 
2 dried cotyledons, 6 functional leaves and 2 fruits. Two 
other plants measured 13 mm. over all. Britton & Brown 
give measured normal size as ‘‘4’-12’ long.”” Robinson & Fer- 
nald give “8-18 mm. long.” 
