LOCALIZED STAGES IN COMMON ROADSIDE 

 PLANTS. 



JOSEPH A. CUSHMAN. 



The plants considered in the present study are of common 

 occurrence along country roadsides. With, perhaps, the excep- 

 tion of some of the early stages of development, the leaf forms 

 noted may be found on country roads in the spring or summer. 

 Although among our commonest plants, some actually classed 

 as weeds, the stages shown in their development are as striking 

 as could be found in any plants. The stages in development of 

 other common plants have been described {Amer. Nat., Vol. 36, 

 No. 361), as well as some exotic plants of the Botanic Gardens 

 of Harvard Unix ersily (/V/. ;//., Vol. 37, No. 436). My thanks 

 are due to Dr. R. T. Jackson for corrections and helpful sugges- 

 tions. Each species is treatetl sejDarately and its stages described 

 in detail. 



Tkalictrnm polygamum Muhl. Figures i, 2. 



(Tall Meadow Rue.) 



Although this plant does not become conspicuous by its flow- 

 ering until midsummer, its early growth from the rootstock and 

 seedlings must be looked for in moist ground x ery carl>- in the 

 spring. 



In the seedling (Fig. i) the first nepionic leaf is simple, with 

 three lobes Such a first leaf is frequently found, but fully as 

 often the first leaf is like the second leaf in the figure. The 

 second leaf is trifoliolate, each leaflet being like the whole of 

 the first nepionic leaf as figured. From this point the leaves of 

 the young plant, as added, increase in complexity, the plant 

 finally producing the 2-3 ternately compound leaves characteris- 

 tic of the adult. 



