—70— 



peared in Rhodora and Fern Bulletin. Among his more 

 important publications may be mentioned " Monograph 

 of Botrvchium Simplex,*' " Vernation in Botrychium," 

 and " Aspidium Spinulosum and its Varieties.*' During 

 his lifetime much of the development of the West oc- 

 curred, and in consequence the naming of many of the 

 western and Mexican ferns fell to his lot. For many 

 years his opinion was sought by Harvard University and 

 the National Government in fern matters. He left un- 

 finished a manual of the ferns of the United States, which 

 he regarded as his most important contribution to fern 

 literature. W. X. C. 



FAIRY RINGS OF LYCOPODIUM SABINiE- 

 FOLIUM IN MAINE 



By Alvix H. Truxdy. 

 In the southern section of Maine, Lycopodium sabi- 

 nccfoliuni is not of common occurrance but its manner of 

 growth is most interesting. When found at all it occurs 

 in open and rocky pasture-land and grows in large circles 

 or belts. These belts of green are beautiful reminding 

 one strongly of an enormous Christmas wreath of ever- 

 green. One which we visited late in August measured 

 one hundred and forty-five feet in circumference and 

 formed a hollow circle, the space within being filled with 

 the grayish crust-like mass of the reindeer " moss." 

 (Cladonia rangiferina) . The dark green of the Lycopo- 

 dium contrasted beautifully with the gray of the Cladonia 

 and could be easily distinguished at a distance of one 

 half mile. In a series of stations, extending along a 

 range of hills from north to south, it assumes this trait 

 of growing in hollow circles. These are re-enforced an- 

 nually on the outside margin until the ring is sometimes 

 three feet deep. The fruiting plants are found on the 

 inside margin of the ring, they being the older. The 

 younger plants are always found on the outside margin. 

 This formation of circles seems to be due to the creeping 



