BICKNELL: FERNS AND FLOWERING PLANTS OF NANTUCKET 609 
It is, however, confined to the eastern side of the island, where it 
is locally common from Wauwinet to Quidnet, extending west to 
Beechwood and south to beyond Sachacha Pond. In full flower 
Aug. 7, 1906; continues to bloom until late in September. It 
often spreads out into patches of considerable size, which become 
noticeable from their light green color as early as the middle of 
June: 
HYPERICUM ADPRESSUM Bart. 
Common about several ponds in Polpis and Saul’s Hills; 
west of Sachacha Pond; Waqutuquaib Pond; Miacomet Pond; 
a single early flower July 11, 1912; in full flower Aug. 7, 1906; 
Sept. I, 1904; some flowers remaining Sept. 18, 1907. The young 
plants have become several inches high by the middle of June. 
Early in the season this St. John’s-wort may be seen in small 
ponds either wholly submerged or showing emersed leafy tips. 
Later, when the waters have fallen, such plants often develop with 
unusual vigor, becoming fully two feet high with the leaves pro- 
portionately enlarged and the submerged portion of the stem 
greatly thickened with spongy tissue (var. spongiosum Robinson). 
Where colonies of the plant extend back from a flooded shore a 
complete gradation may be traced from this spongiose aquatic 
condition to the more usual terrestrial state. The latter comes 
earliest into bloom, the most dwarfed examples of the driest 
Situations flowering first and often precociously. 
The spongiose tissue is doubtless homologous with the aeren- 
chyma produced on the floating stems of Decodon verticillatus. 
A slight but evident spongiose enlargement of the lower part of 
the stem is sometimes seen in Hypericum canadense and in Hyperi- 
cum boreale when these low ground plants grow in very wet places. 
HYPERICUM PERFORATUM L. 
One of the bright-flowered weeds of fields and waysides, and 
Scattered widely over the plains and commons. First flowers 
June 27, 1910; June 29, 1912. 
Hypericum punctratum Lam. 
Not common but found sparingly at a number of widely 
Separated stations, mainly on the eastern side of the island; not 
