100 



the two sciences work in generous rivalry, each eager to add its 

 contribution to the store of general knowledge, to utilize such 

 information as the sister science brings, to criticize it if need be, 

 but always to accord it a respectful hearing. 



( To be concluded. ) 



STUDIES IN THE OPHIOGLOSSACEAE— II 



A Descriptive Key to Botrychium in North America : 

 Group of B. lanceolatum 



By Ralph Curtiss Benedict 



The present treatment is designed to set forth briefly the essen- 

 tial facts of our knowledge of these plants from a taxonomic 

 standpoint. The status of the various units included is not con- 

 sidered. The question of specific limits is a perplexing one 

 throughout the genus, and one which will probably require cul- 

 tural work, such as the raising of the various forms from spores, 

 and under varying ecological conditions, to settle it satisfactorily. 

 But additional information gained from field and herbarium study 

 will be of value, and any corrections and additions to the account 

 given will be welcome. 



For convenience, the genus may be divided into two groups, 

 typified in general by the species B. lanceolatum and B. ternatum, 

 respectively, and characterized as follows : 



Group of B. lanceolatum : Bud hairless {B. virginianum ex- 

 cepted); commonstalk one-half or more epigean {B. pumicola 

 excepted), usually one-half or more the height of the plant {B. 

 simplex excepted) ; spores maturing from late spring- to early 

 summer (May to June). Included in this group are the follow- 

 ing : B . siniplexW\\.c\\cozV, B. pumicola Coville, B. borcale Milde, 

 B. onondagense Underwood, B. Lunaria (L.) Sw., B. tenebrosum 

 A. A. Eaton, B. neglcctum Wood, B. lanccolatJim (Gmel.) 

 Angstr., B. virginianum (L.) Sw., B. dichronum Underwood. 



Group of B. ternatum : Bud hairy ; commonstalk hypogean, 

 short, usually less than one-quarter the height of the plant ; 

 spores maturing from the middle of summer to early fall (July 

 to October) (three exceptions). 



