78 MINNESOTA BOTANICAL STUDIES. 



dm. in length; inflorescence racemiform, the heads simply ter- 

 minating the slender, erect-spreading, often leafy branches, 

 which are from 5 to 15 cm. in length; heads 2.5 to 3 cm. 

 high and wide; involucral bracts broadly obovate, dark purple, 

 either herbaceous or slightly scarious, rounded and laciniate 

 toothed at the summit; achene and papints minutely barbellate 

 upwards. 



This variety was first found by Mr. John. B. Leiberg in a bog 

 near Mankato and was noted by Mr. Upham as a remarkable 

 form. 8 



Recent study has proved it to be the prevailing form in bogs 

 and low grounds throughout the central and southern portions 

 of Minnesota. 



Typical specimens of Laciniaria scariosa are found always to 

 prefer dry, sandy or gravelly hillsides. 



Minnesota specimens in herb: Sheldon 3862, Dal ton, Otter 

 Tail county; Sheldon 7429, Wheaton, Traverse county; Ballard 

 1166, Zumbrota, Goodhue county; Taylor 1070, Alexandria; 

 Leiberg 27, Mankato, Blue Earth county; MacMillan and Shel- 

 don 36, Brainerd; Sheldon 1270, Lake Benton; Taylor 1027, 

 Glenwood; Wicker sheim 60, Idle wild, Lincoln county; Herrick 

 139, Minneapolis; Sheldon 1813, Ramsey county; Kassube 120, 

 Minneapolis; Sheldon 7159, Brown's Valley; Sheldon 3379, lake 

 Clitheral, Otter Tail county; Sheldon Q07 4:, Minneapolis; Sheldon 

 1364, Verdi, Lincoln county; Sheldon 1586, Lake Benton; Shel- 

 don 3674, Fergus Falls; Oesilund 84, Minneapolis. 



Solidago mollis Bartl. Ind. Sem. Hort. Gott. 5. 1836. 



Solidago incana T. & G. Fl. 2 : 221. 1841. excl. sya. 



S. nemoralis Ait. var. wjcana Gray. Proc. Am. Acad. 17:197. 1882. 



S. nemoralis Ait. var. molhsMAcM.. Metasp. Minn. Val. 510. 1892 



A peculiar form of this species has been found which has the 

 stem much branched above, each branch is densely foliate with 

 small, obovate leaves 3 to 5 mm. in length, and surmounted by 

 the dense oblong-conical thyrsus. It was at first thought that 

 this phenomenon was teratological, but further study of a 

 series of Minnesota, Dakota and Kansas specimens has shown 

 the above character to be constant. Intermediate forms occur 

 connecting it with the typical specimens. 



The species in its varying forms is abundant on the dry prai- 

 ries near Brown's Valley, Graceville and Wheaton, Minn., and 



8. Upham, Cat. Fl. Minn. 69. 1884. 



