BoTRYCHIUM DISSECTUM 115 
probability be answered in various ways by different 
persons, depending upon the writer’s idea as to what 
constitutes a valid species and what a mutant really is. 
To the writer B. dissectum has never seemed to be a 
valid species but merely a variation in the depth of 
the marginal serrations of the ordinary B. obliquum. 
To see typical specimens of each in the herbarium is 
one thing and to see in the field, as any one who cares 
to do so may see, typical specimens of each species and 
a perfect series grading either way almost insensibly 
from one to the other, all growing within a few feet of 
each other, is another, giving an entirely different 
impression as to the validity of the species. 
Before the relative numbers of the two species in any 
. given area can be accurately determined, a definite 
agreement must be had as to just how far the cutting of 
the leaves must go before the plant is placed in the 
dissectum group. Until this is done different observers 
will give widely divergent answers as to the relative 
numbers of each species in the same colony or given 
area under observation. 
To the writer it rather seems that person who made 
the observations in Ohio cited in the JourNAL must have 
selected colonies suited to the particular purpose In 
mind and if this was not done the observer should have 
looked a little farther for there are many places where 
the ratio of the two species to each other is entirely 
different from that quoted, as the dissectum is many 
times more numerous, relatively speaking, than the cita- 
tions would have us believe. 
On Dec. 10 a small colony of plants was counted 
which showed 15 plants of the obliquum type to 13 of 
dissectum. These plants are to be found on a brier 
Kent. The colony does not 
within the city limits of 
han 20 x 30 feet. 
extend over a space of more t 
