94 



have more rain in late summer than in early summer.^ Wilmington 

 has about four inches more rain in August— September, than in 

 April— June. 



University, Ala. 



Talinum rugospermum 



John M. Holzinger 



This plant was first described in the Asa Gray Bulletin of 

 December 1899. An error in the description and in the drawings 

 makes it desirable to describe it again and include the correc- 

 tions. 



Although in reach of the type station all these years, I had 

 not had an opportunity of visiting it till July of the present 

 year. It was collected on the sand dunes of Trempealeau Bay, 

 Wis. on the farm of Richard Gillis. The recent collection showed 

 this species to be perennial, — the first description gave it as 

 annual. This error was due to the fact that the description was 

 made from seedlings raised in my garden, which bloomed the 

 first year. 



Further, the printer made the seeds of the two species look 

 alike, though the description stated the facts correctly: the 

 seed of the Wisconsin species is rugose, that of Talinum tereti- 

 folimn is smooth and shiny. 



Two points were not adequately emphasized : the Wisconsin 

 plant grows in sandy soil, and has no corm; the eastern plant 

 grows on rock, and generally has a corm. Otherwise the two 

 plants look very much alike. 



Following is a corrected and more complete description of 

 Talinum rugospermum. 



Stem cylindrical, fleshy, perennial, one or more inches long, 

 forming short branches on the older plants; leaves crowded near 

 the top of the stem or branchlets, 1 to 2 inches long, terete, 

 fleshy; infloresence on a peduncle, 4 to 6 inches long, slender, 

 cymose, the bracts small, about 1/12 inch long, narrowly 

 triangular, prolonged below the point of attachment into a 

 semicircular lobe; sepals 2, early deciduous; flowers when open 

 ^ inch in diameter, light pink, petals ovate, opening but once, 



2 See Science II. 48:208-211. Aug. 30, 1918. For a map showing the line 

 of equilibrium between early and late summer rain, and the approximate pro- 

 portion of evergreens in the forests of the United States, see Engineering & 

 Mining Journal, 112:693. Oct. 29, 1921. Also Literary Digest a few weeks later. 



