BRIEFER ARTICLES. 
Notes upon Tradescantia micrantha.—With Plate XX.—I have 
been much interested in the rediscovery of this pretty little spider- 
wort, Although not uncommon in its native haunts it was not col- 
lected again for forty years after its discovery. Until recently it has 
not been represented in any of our larger herbaria except by the single 
ype specimen in the Torrey herbarium at Columbia College. 
The history of the plant is as follows: A single specimen was collected 
about 1854 near the mouth of the Rio Grande by A. Schott, who was 
then one of the collectors of the Mexican Boundary Survey. In 1859 
itwas described by Dr. John Torrey in the Report of the Mexican 
Boundary Survey. All the descriptions since then have been based on 
this short account. The plant was rediscovered by A. A. Heller at 
Corpus Christi, Texas, in the spring of 1894. He wrote me that the 
plant was very plentiful near the Oso, growing among and under thorny 
bushes, Only a very few specimens were obtained owing to the diffi- 
culty of getting at the plants. The material came into my hands 
August 28th, 1894. Since April rath, a period of four and one-half 
Tonths, the plants had been either in press or in a bundle of porous 
Papers, and yet they still showed some signs of life. Two joints were 
Planted in the green house where they soon took root and grew so 
“apidly that in a very short time we had some 4oo plants. Some of 
s Material has been distributed to the leading botanical gardens in 
the United States, In this connection I might state that the Division 
of Botany, Department of Agriculture, will gladly send cuttings to any 
one who would like to grow the plant. It is, perhaps, of little horti- 
cultural value, although we have not experimented very much with it. 
It might be used in hanging baskets with good effect in connection 
mth other plants having dense foliage, but its elongated internodes 
ind short stiff leaves will prevent its use alone. The plant naturally 
ay Close to the ground, rooting at every joint and forming quite a 
wck carpet. It might be used to advantage in clumps or masses. 
. ® flowers are produced in great abundance and though ae ses 
) Pretty and quite persistent for this order. Although the he 
— a Single day, they remain open until late in the bp “ 
an little care plants will flower for several months. Inno case hav 
Y of our plants set seed. 
ggg Tradescantia is very unlike any of the o 
Tn habit it most resembles 7: floridana, 
73—Vol. XXI.—No. 5 
ther United States spe- 
from which it is easily 
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