267 



regarding the correctness of the identification; the remains are, 

 however, more Hke those of Zizyphiis than anything else in 

 the existing flora with which they have been compared either 

 by the writer or by Mr. McAtee of the Biological Survey. 



Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md. 



TWO INTERESTING NEW ENGLAND PLANTS* 



By H. a. Allard 



During a brief visit around Oxford, Massachusetts, in Sep- 

 tember, 1910, I was much impressed with the pretty Spiked- 

 Loosestrife [Lysimachia terrestris (L.) B. S. P.]. At this season 

 in certain situations many plants had become strikingly con- 

 spicuous from the great numbers of deep red, elongated bulblets 

 which were growing from the axils of the numerous, more or 

 less distinctly whorled leaves. These bulblets, which mor- 

 phologically are suppressed branchlets, may reach a length of 

 34 of an inch, are very pointed and deep red in color. Late 

 in the season these bulblets are very easily detached and thickly 

 strew the ground beneath the plants. 



In June and July the Spiked-Loosestrife produces an abun- 

 dance of small, brown-marked, yellow blossoms in a terminal, 

 pyramidal raceme. The plants, however, are far more noticeable 

 in autumn when they have become reddened with their axillary 

 bulblets, which at first sight resemble peculiar little fruits more 

 than anything else. Conditions of environment seem to deter- 

 mine whether the plants will produce these bulblets abundantly 

 or not. Many botanical descriptions of Lysimachia terrestris 

 make little or no mention of this well-marked habit of the plant 

 to produce axillary bulblets. 



The Narrow-leaved Laurel {Kalmia angustijolia L.) is a low, 

 evergreen shrub thriving in pastures throughout New England. 

 During its growth it forms small tufts which, in the course of 

 years, if the conditions of growth have been uniform, may form 

 great circular areas many feet in diameter. This peripheral 

 extension is probably accomplished by a process of budding from 

 underground shoots. 



♦Illustrated with the aid of the Catherine McManes fund. 



