60 DENTARIA LACINIATA. CUT- LEAVED TOOTH-WORT. 



species." What we have quoted is a very good lesson on leaves, 

 for modern botanists, in distinguishing species, do not place near 

 as much dependence on characters drawn from them, as those 

 botanists did who lived in more ancient times. 



Dsntaria laciniata does not seem to have been found by the 

 earlier botanists who examined the flora of our country. Muhlen- 

 berg, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, sent specimens, and proposed 

 this name to Willdenow, who so describes it in Willdenow's 

 "Species Plantarum," in 1800. Michaux, the French Botanist, 

 published his work on the "Flora of North America" in 1803, 

 and apparently not identifying it with Willdenow's plant, named 

 it Dentaria concatenata, and which being a later name is carried 

 to the list of synonyms. 



Our cut-leaved Tooth-wort is peculiar in not being found 

 abundant in any one place, and yet being scattered over a wide 

 extent of country. It is seldom found in sufficient quantity at 

 one time to have any material effect on the character of the 

 wild scenery ; and it has therefore to be sought for and enjoyed 

 for its own individual interest and beauty. Along the Wissa- 

 hickon, from whence our specimen was taken, it occurs sparingly 

 among rather damp rocks, or under the partial shade of hem- 

 lock spruce trees; and in almost all localities it has trees for its 

 most intimate companions. It does not produce seeds very 

 freely, and, as it has therefore to depend mainly on its roots for 

 continued existence, it has not the same chance for a liberal dis- 

 tribution as if aided by seeds. 



It extends across the continent in northern latitudes, and 

 through most of the Adantic portions of the United States. 



