1886. ] BOTANICAL GAZETTE. 37 
Silphiam compositum was observed near Swift ereek, about 
six miles north of Petersburg, and became abundant on Stony 
ereek and between the Nottaway and the Meherrin. As this 
species has not been previously reported north of the southern 
boundary of Virginia this constitutes a considerable addition to 
its northward range. It is so abundant all through the southern 
alf of Virginia that it is strange that this fact should have re- 
mained so long unknown, and this and many other things indi- 
¢ate that very little botanical work has been done in this region. 
Polygala Curtisii, var. pycnostachya was found at various 
points ; near Swift creek, at Jarrat’s, below the Nottaway (where 
good albinos were collected), on Three creek, ete. It proves: to 
be a very common form and to range far southward. I have a 
specimen from Capt. John Donnell Smith, collected at Buck For- 
est, Transylvania county, North Carolina, and another from Dr. 
Chas. Mohr, collected by E. A. Smith, at Mobile, which, though 
labeled “ P, fastigiata??,” can be none other than our plant. Dr. 
Mohr suspected as much and wrote on the label “ caruncle sparsely 
hairy, as long as the stalk, but different in the persistent bracts. 
Is it Curtisii ? ” 
Aster gracilis was seen five miles north of Petersburg, and at 
several points between the Appomattox and the Roanoake. It 
grows in sandy, open ground in small dense patches, its habit 
gineus, except in its blue flowers. It agrees perfectly with Mar- 
tindale’s specimen from the New Jersey pine barrens, which is 
Paspalum Floridanum was found at points a few miles both 
above and below the Appomatox, and also on the Nottaway grow- 
ing very tall (five to six feet) and stout. It seems to follow the 
eotton and pea-nut (“ goober”) belt of low sandy country. 
Spirsea tomentosa was collected near Jarrat’s below the Not- 
_ taway, and not elsewhere seen 
Parthenium integrifolium was common from above Rowanty 
Creek to the Roanoake. 
Sarracenia flava was found and pitchers brought to me by 
