20 



BILTMORE BOTANICAL STUDIES 



proposed as new, two new sessile-flowered species are proposed, 

 an ignored variety raised to specific rank, and a much neglected 

 species mentioned and its range extended. It is the intention of 

 the writer to publish his observations in the peduncled Trillium 

 group in a future paper. 



I am greatly indebted to Dr. B. L. Robinson of the Gray 

 Herbarium of Harvard University, Dr. Charles Mohr of Ashe- 

 ville, N. C, and Mr. Henry Eggert of East St. Louis, 111., for 

 the use of material. To Mr. Stewardson Brown, of the Phila- 

 delphia Academy of Natural Sciences, I am indebted for informa- 

 tion concerning certain forms in the Muhlenberg Herbarium and 

 for a copy of the original description, in manuscript, of one of 

 Muhlenberg's varieties of Trillium. 



Trillium discolor Wray, in litt. Hook. Bot. Mag. t. 3097, 1831. 



This species of sessile-flowered Trillium seems to be poorly 

 represented in herbaria. On no other grounds can we account 

 for the unfair treatment it has received. With good material at 

 hand, I believe no botanist would decide against the specific 

 standing of this very distinct species. It differs from T. sessile 

 L. 15 in the outline and mottling of the leaves, length of fila- 

 ments, shape of anthers, and color and form of petals. Extreme 

 forms of another species of sessile-flowered Trilliutn are pre- 

 served in certain herbaria as T. discolor. Dr. Chapman in his 

 Flora 16 describes an entirely different plant and apparently never 

 saw the true T. discolor. In view of the confusion surrounding 

 this species, it would seem proper to republish the original de- 

 scription for the benefit of those who have not access to the 

 magazine in which it appeared. " Stem nearly a span high, 

 erect, flexuose, of the thickness of a goose-quill, glossy, dark 

 purple, green above, > where, at the very extremity, it bears 

 a whorl of three large, broadly oval, quite sessile, acute, spread- 

 ing leaves, perfectly glabrous, dark green and obscurely blotched 

 above, paler beneath, with five wavy ribs, which are connected 

 by oblique nerves. Flower solitary, large, sessile in the center 

 of the three leaves, and at the summit of the stem. Calyx of 

 three large, green, spreading sepals, oval-oblong, acute. Petals 



1 5 Sp. PI. 304, 1753. 



!« Chapm. Flora S. U. S. ed. 3 : 504, 1896. 



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