136 BOTANICAL GAZETTE. [ June, 
In characterizing T. aureum, Nuttall has laid some stress 
upon ‘lateral divisions of the upper leaves subsessile,” a 
character which means nothing, as these divisions may be 
sessile, subsessile, or petioled on the same plant, either mT. 
aureum or the T. trifoliatum of Gray. So far as foliage char- 
acters are concerned, serrate leaflets point to Nuttall’s form, 
while crenately toothed leaflets stand for Gray’s T. trifoli- 
atum, exclusive of his vars. apterum and atropurpureum. 
Further confusion in leaf characters has arisen by includ: 
ing the so-called apterous varieties, which we have trans- 
ferred to Zizia. An extreme variation in leaf characters, but 
merging completely into the type through intermediate forms, 
is presented by 
Var. trifoliatum, in which all the leaves or leaflets are cre- 
nate or crenately toothed. 7. érifoliatum Gray, Manual, 
195, in part.—Ohio to Illinois and westward to Oregon. This 
seems to be the common western form of the species, as our 
Pacific coast specimens are all distinctly var. trifoliatum. 
From Ohio to Illinois there is an interminable intermixing of 
the species and the variety, while in Pennsylvania the spe- 
cific form is well represented. 
ar. atropurpureum. Petalsdark-purple. 7. atropurpur- 
eum Nutt. 7: trifoliatum var. atropurpureum Gray, Man- 
ual.—With the preceding forms. is variety has the 
leaf characters of the species, and if var. trifoliatum had 
been retained as a species, var. atropurpureum would have 
been transferred to T. aureum. 
In giving the range of the above group of forms it has 
been impossible to use published ranges owing to the grea 
confusion as to what forms were intended. Discarding the 
apterous varieties, the true Thaspiums of this group are t 
’ p . 
ably too often satisfied collectors that they had already sé- 
cured good material of forms which only appeared in co lect- 
ing condition in late summer and autumn. Therefore we 
Trang W. this 
point, that the true range of T. aureum and its var. trifolia- 
tum may be obtained. | 
2. T. barbinode Nutt. Genera, i. 196. Loosely branched, 
pubescent on the joints, sometimes puberulent in the umbels: 
