VOLUME XXXVI NUMBER 5 
BOTANICAL (GAZETTE 
NOVEMBER, 19037 
ODONTOSCHISMA MACOUNII AND ITS NORTH 
AMERICAN ALLIES. 
ALEXANDER W. EVANS. 
(WITH PLATES XVII-XX) 
HISTORICAL. 
AmoncG the hepaticae recently collected by Professor John 
Macoun in the Yukon Territory are several fruiting specimens of 
Odontoschisma Macounii, a species confined to the higher latitudes 
and hitherto known in sterile condition only. The species has 
had a rather varied history. It was first described by Austin,’ in 
1872, as Sphagnoecetis Macounit, the original specimens having 
been collected in the Lake Superior region of Ontario in 1869. 
A portion of this original material has been kindly furnished me 
by Professor Macoun, but unfortunately it does not appear to be 
altogether homogeneous. Some of the specimens are gemmip- 
arous and are pale green in color, while others are without 
gemmae and are more or less tinged with yellow or brown. It 
is evident that Austin’s description is drawn almost entirely from 
the pale specimens, which may therefore be regarded as the type 
of the species. It is very probable also that the darker speci- 
mens are not specifically distinct from the others, and that their 
coloration is due simply to exposure to the sun. Nevertheless, 
on account of their incomplete character, this question can hardly 
be settled definitely at present. O. Macounit is either men- 
tioned or briefly described by Underwood,? by Pearson,} and by 
*Bull, Torrey Bot. Club 3:13. 1872. 
? Bull, Illinois State Lab. Nat. Hist. 2:92. 1884. Bot. Gaz. 17:312. 1892. 
3 List of Canadian Hepaticae 10. 1890. 
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