RICE: SPERGULARIA 75 



The following table shows some comparisons of the Muenscher and Clausen 

 collections. The data were obtained from plants grown in the greenhouse from 

 seeds of these collections. 



Muenscher 16953 Clausen 4026 



S. media S. alata 



Ave. no. seeds per capsule 137 60 



Variation in no. seeds per capsule 119-155 48-76 



Percent seeds winged, all capsules 100 35 



Percent seeds not winged, all capsules 65 



Ave. number stamens per flower 9-10 4 



Variation in no. stamens per flower 9-10 3-6 



Rossbach (1940) holds to the view that 5". alata, as described by Wiegand 

 (1920), should be included in 6". media and does not consider that the former 

 species has sufficient taxonomic distinctiveness to warrant a separate identity. 

 Muenscher 16953 from Cayuga Bridge, now regarded as 5. media, and Clausen 

 4026 from Savannah Township, judged to be 5. alata, supply evidence in sup- 

 port of the maintenance of the separation. 



The writer is much indebted to Dr. W. C. Muenscher, who first suggested 

 the study of Spergularia to him, and who has provided materials, facilities, ad- 

 vice, and guidance. 



Department of Botany, Cornell University 

 Ithaca, New York 



Literature Cited 



Rossbach, Ruth P. 1940. Spergularia in North and South America. Dhodora 42: 

 57-83; 105-143; 158-193; 203-213. 



Wiegand, K. M. 1920. A new species of Spergularia. Rhodora 22: 15. 



