THE SifLAGINcLLA RUPESTRIS GROJ?. 149 



was recently discovered in northwestern Washington by 

 Mr. ]. B. Flctt, was supposed to grow in Oregon only. 



Although its stems are less than a sixteenth of an inch 

 in diameter, they are said occasionally to reach a length of 

 six feet. As a consequence it is a pendent species, 

 growing with mosses on the trunks of trees and emitting 

 copious roots, from both stem and branches, that strike 

 into the bark and hold the plant in place. 



The stems are pinnately branched like those of Selagi- 

 nella Bigclovii, though the lateral branches are longer 

 and farther apart, with fewer branchlets. The stems are 

 light brown in colour, and so sparingly covered with 

 leaves as to be noticeable, especially in the older parts of 

 the plant. The leaves are narrow, about a twelfth of an 

 inch long, with a short white awn at apex and occasional 

 cilia on the margin. Those on the branchlets are dark 

 green and loosely spreading; on old branches they are 

 light brown and half appressed. Some of the leaves 

 early lose their terminal awns, and, in consequence, in 

 some books this species has been described as awnless. 

 The fruiting-spikes are slender, four-angled, and appar- 

 ently not very abundant. 



This species is found in the dense forests near the 

 Pacific coast and grows in tangled mats. Mr. Thomas 

 Ho well, author of a " Flora of Northwest America," 

 writes that he found it growing from the branches and 

 prostrate trunks of maple trees, from which it hung to a 

 length of from six inches to three feet. It often grows 

 among mosses, one of which, Hypnum lorcum, might be 

 mistaken for it at first glance. Mr. Howell is of the 

 opinion that its season of growth is from September to 

 June. The plant has always been spoken of as Selagi- 

 nella Oregana and will be found in most books under 



