THE HEATHER IN AMERICA. 



Calluna Vulgaris in Newfoundland 



Mr. Murray, late of the Geographical Survey of 

 Canada, and now engaged in a survey of Newfound- 

 land, has brought to Montreal specimens of this plant, 

 which were collected by Judge Robinson on the east 

 coast of Newfoundland (near Ferryland, lat. 47, long. 

 52 50'), and which are stated to be from a small patch 

 of the plant not more than three yards square. 



The question whether Calluna is or is not indi- 

 genous to the New World, which during several years 

 past has been repeatedly referred to in this journal, as 

 additional facts come to our notice, has now taken a 

 new turn, Dr. Seemann in his Journal of Botany for 

 October last having published and neatly figured "the 

 Newfoundland Heather as a distinct species Calluna 

 atlantica." He founds it upon specimens originally 

 from Newfoundland which have been for some years 

 cultivated by Dr. Moore in the Glasnevin Gardens, 

 Dublin, side by side with the common European 

 Heather. The diagnosis attempted Dr. Seemann ad- 

 mits to be as yet far from satisfactory, except as to a 

 biological distinction observed by Dr. Moore, viz. : 

 "that whilst the Newfoundland one always suffered 

 from frost and turned brown during the mild Irish win- 

 ter, the common British form growing by its side was 

 unaffected by cold, and retained its usual green color." 

 Although "no argument can possibly set aside" this 

 fact, yet its value as a character has to be considered. 

 Probably in the station from which these specimens 

 were lately transferred, as well as in Iceland and the 

 higher Alps, whence Dr. Seemann has the same form, 



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