Josselyn Botanical Society 



13 



the fields and meadows. Anagallis arvensis L,., Yar. ccsrulea 

 (Schreb.) Ledeb., which differs from the Common or Scarlet 

 Pimpernel in having blue corollas, has recently appeared in 

 grass land in Franklin County. Various Old- World species 

 of Galium have likewise been brought to this country. Of 

 these, G. verum L., is abundant in Eastern Massachusetts 

 and of local occurrence in Hancock and Franklin Counties, 

 Maine ; G. erectum Huds,, has been found at a small station 

 in Falmouth, Me., but apparently not spreading. The com- 

 plex genus Centaurea is also rapidly establishing itself in 

 America, scattered stations for man}- of the European 

 species being known. In Maine, besides C. Cyanus L., the 

 Bachelor's Buttons, C. nigra L., is well established on Long 

 Island, Portland Harbor, C. Jacea L., in York County, C. 

 Vochinensis Bernh., at Orono, and C. Scabiosa L., in western 

 Penobscot County. 



A similar, but more complicated case, is presented by 

 the various species of Hieracium. Our native species are 

 few and well defined, but those of Europe are most variable 

 and perplexing, the condition of the genus there being com- 

 parable to that of Rubus or Crategus in this country. For 

 several years introduced species of this genus have been 

 reported from various parts of Maine, the yellow-flowered 

 forms being usually referred to H. prealtum Gochnat, and 

 the orange-flowered ones to H. aurantiacum L,. The latter 

 species, which seems to be little variable, is common through- 

 out southern and Central Maine ; critical studies upon the 

 other material, however, show that the Washington County 

 plants are Hieracium floribundum Wimm. & Grab., the 

 Kennebec Valley specimens H. pratense Tausch., and the 

 material from the Piscataquis Valley, H. Pilosella L., var. 

 viride Ser. True Hieracium prealtum is unknown in 

 America, though its variety decipiens Koch, is established at 

 Andover, Massachusetts. 



The road-side weeds or ruderal plants of foreign countries 

 form another group of species frequently introduced. In 

 their native habitat their seeds readily fall into shoes, creases 

 of clothing, or similar places, and are thus unwittingly im- 

 ported. Once established, they are spread along pathways 

 and roadsides by the constant movement of traffic. The 



