THE RESTING OF BOTROCHIUM. 



By Bridget M. Rooxey. 



Five years ago I began to notice that there were many 

 sterile plants, as well as fertile ones among all Botry- 

 c hi urns, and on close examination of sterile plants I 

 noticed an abortive, or blasted fertile portion on each 

 stipe, remaining throughout the season. I noticed es- 

 pecially that all the varieties of Botrychium, when sterile 

 had this abortive portion on the stipe. 



In the hope of getting help from a botanist at some 

 time, I collected some of the stipes possessing this inter- 

 esting part of the plant which seems to be " resting " and 

 put it in wide-necked bottles, using alcohol as a preserva- 

 tive. Also some " buds " of both fertile and sterile plants. 

 I thought that a botanist could take the stipe out of the 

 bottle and see this blasted portion at any time for study, 

 for I knew that with a good magnifier he could see 

 whether the plant which had been fertile this year, would 

 have a good, healthy fruiting portion in bud for the next 

 season, and since the plant which was sterile, would con- 

 tain a budded fruiting portion, he could say whether he 

 thought it would continue to " rest " a second season. 



After I had completed my collection of stipes and buds. 

 I began to think that we could not be very sure about the 

 abortive portion in bud. I did not feel sure, but that the 

 fruiting portion in the bud might look like a healthy thing 

 and blast after the plant began to develop, or meet with 

 an accident, so I went into the woods this fall to study 

 the points. I took B. Virginianum for the study because 

 it matures so early and is very common in our woods, and 

 is so large in the bud that you can see with the naked 

 eye the lamina and fruiting portion. It is very beautiful 

 when you come upon it, — after removing the fallen leaves, 

 and digging down into the earth. — just as green and ten- 

 der as any little plant would look in the Spring. It comes 

 out as if to get a good start before the frost gets into the 



42 



