JOHNSON: A REVISION OF THE SECTION BORAPHILA 51 



Distribution. — Not definitely known. "Oregon to California" according to Small 



Specimens examined : 



Oregon : Grant's Pass, April 13, 1887, Thos. Howell, No. 1134, as Saxifraga 

 T/irginiensis Michx., var. (MBG 84381). 



Dr. Greene's type specimen was collected by Howell at Grant's Pass, 

 Oregon, 1892. No specimens of this collection have been available, but the 

 above-named specimen agrees with Greene's description (Plate XIV). 



Saxifraga pennsylvanica L. Sp. PI. 399. 1752. 



A detailed study of a great deal of material that has passed among 

 herbaria as S. pennsylvanica has disclosed a number of very different forms 

 which the writer suspects may prove to be sufficiently distinct to merit 

 specific rank. The differences are most marked in the carpels, gland, and 

 seeds, but are also plainly evident in the leaves and the inflorescence. As 

 far as can be determined these forms differ also in their habitat, which is 

 significant and calls for investigation. Before their status can be deter- 

 mined it will be necessary also to see the Linnean type. Certain obvious 

 variations were noted by the early botanists ; thus Michaux ( 19) in a note 

 writes as follows: "Variat florihus in ramis paniculae conglobatis et 

 corymbosis." These forms were given varietal rank by Seringe (26) : (a), 

 conglomerata and (b), corymbifera, respectively, the former having a dense 

 panicle and conglomerate flowers ("panicula densa floribus conglomeratis"), 

 the latter a lax panicle and open corymbs ("panicula laxa corymbosis dis- 

 tantibus"). Both varieties were recognized by Torrey and Gray (31).' 

 Whether these varieties are merely individual variations, denoting early and 

 late stages of growth, or specific distinctions can not be determined; that 

 remains to be learned in the field. An eastern form described by Dr. 

 Fernald (8) as S, pennsylvanica L. forma fultior, with large "dilated oval" 

 bracts is of the type possessing a stout contracted or conglomerate inflores- 

 cence, a form which reappears in western parts of the range. What aspect 

 this plant assumes at maturity is not known, but the writer is of the opinion, 

 based on a careful study of the carpels and the gland, that it is probably a 

 distinct species. The problem of species in this connection must therefore 

 be left to future investigations (Plate XII). 



Saxifraga pinrpuripetala sp. no v. 



Receptaculum ovario infra medium adnatum; carpidia inferne distenta 

 superne valde contracta stylis conicis conniventibus stigmatibus parvis; 

 folliculi infra medium inflata stylis divergentibus vel recurvatis; glandula 

 lata elevata convulata vel verrucosa; filamenta subulata angustata viridia 

 vel purpurescentia ; sepala 2-4 mm. longa cuneata vel deltoidea reflexa base 



