38 

 CALLUNA, Salisb. 



C. vulgaris, Salisb. LING. HEATHER. 



A single plant discovered in 1880 by Charles Thomas, Jr. and 

 Lawrence Coffin, both school boys at the time. It is on the 

 open common far from cultivated ground, and its introduc- 

 tion by human agency seems highly improbable. Mr. J. H. 

 Redfield, who has visited the island on purpose to examine its 

 three heaths, thinks that the appearance of the plant and the 

 size of the stock indicate a very considerable age. In 1886 a 

 second plant was detected by Lawrence Coffin, but this one in 

 a nursery belonging to Mr. Henry Coffin, amongst imported 

 pine trees (Pinus sylvestris, L. ) brought probably from Scot- 

 land. Other specimens were found the next year in the same 

 lot, and many vigorous young seedlings, so that the plant 

 seems likely to become established. 



ERICA, L. HEATH. 



E. cinerea, L. BELL HEATHER. 



A single plant discovered in 1868 by Mrs. E. E. Atwater of 

 Chicago, a visitor to the island. Its location and even its ex- 

 istence were unknown in Nantucket until 1878, when it was 

 re-discovered by Mrs. Wm. A. Spinney. As in the case of 

 the Calluna, there is nothing in its surroundings, the usual 

 and characteristic vegetation of that part of the island, to 

 indicate intentional introduction. It is desirable to keep the 

 locality of this rare plant from idle curiosity, but Mrs. Spin- 

 ney and her family have always taken botanists to it with 

 pleasure. The place is also known now to several persons who 

 have come across it by good fortune, as its first discoverer did. 

 Some of these are residents of the island, some are summer 

 visitors, but they have kept the secret they have surprised, as 

 bound by honor, and from true regard for the beautiful little 

 thing whose place would soon know it no more, but for their 

 kindly reticence. They have the hearty thanks of all bota- 

 nists, present and future, for whom they save it. 



