Notes on Minnesota Species of Laciniaria. 55 



slower than it ought to be if the results of the uses of organs, 

 are seized directly by evolution. 

 February 2, 1892. 



[Paper jB.] 



NOTES ON THE MINNESOTA SPECIES OF 

 LACINIARIA. 



*E. P. Sheldon. 



The genus Laciniaria is used to designate certain peren- 

 nial North American herbs belonging to the natural order 

 Compositse. So far as has been determined this genus has 

 fifteen living species and attains its greatest predominance 

 in the South Atlantic states. 



Speaking somewhat more minutely, they are character- 

 ized as follows : Perennial herbs with simple, wand-shaped, 

 very leafy stems, from a tuberous or corm-like root-stock; 

 they bear reversely racemose or spicate heads of handsome 

 rose-purple flowers in late summer or autumn ; the leaves 

 are all alternate, entire, rigid and mostly glabrous. 



The species usually inhabit dry, open, uncultivated 

 grounds, although certain of them seem to prefer moist, low 

 grounds or wet edges of pine barrens. Most noticeable in 

 this regard are L. spicata (L) O. K., and the peculiar bog- 

 inhabiting form's of L. scariosa (L.) Hill. 



In general it may be said that Laciniaria is found from 

 Ontario and the Saskatchewan on the north to Florida and 

 northern Mexico on the south, and fiom the Atlantic ocean 

 on the east to the Rocky mountains on the west. 



Laciniaria scariosa (L.) Hill is by far the more common 

 species, as it is found throughout the range; and considering 

 its extreme variability and its close relationship to a large 

 number of the other species, it may be taken as a centre 

 around which the rest may be grouped. 



In genetic relationship Laciniaria is near to Brickellia 

 aud Kuhnia, on the one hand, and Garberia and Carphep- 

 horus, on the other. 



It is to be noted that these all belong to the section 



