THOMAS MINOT PETERS. 



The smallest fern in the United States is named 

 Trichomanes Petersii and commemorates a distin- 

 guished Southern botanist about whom, however, 

 little seems to be known. We therefore publish the 

 subjoined sketch from "Plant Life in Alabama" sent 

 us by Dr. E. L. Lee. 



Thomas Minors Peters, of Xew England parentage, 

 but a graduate of the University of Alabama was en- 

 gaged in the practice of law until his death June 14th, 

 1888. He served his state as a representative in the 

 legislative assembly and afterwards as State Senator. 

 In 1869 he was appointed a judge of the Supreme 

 Court for a term of six years. In his love of Botany 

 he found recreation from his professional duties, and 

 his greatest enjoyment was to wander through the 

 adjacent mountains in search of plants. The study of 

 Lichens, and fungi attracted him particularly, and he 

 was one of the few Mycologists, working in the south- 

 ern field along with Curtis and Ravenel. Of his zeal 

 and activity in his line, the long list of southern fungi, 

 of his contribution published by M, A. Curtis and 

 Berkley bears ample testimony. He was also a close 

 observer and accurate student of the plants of higher 

 orders. He first brought to light the delicate and ex- 

 tremely rare fern Trichomanes Petersii descibed by 

 Gray with others like it hidden in the dark recesses of 

 rocky defiles, and the so-called "rock houses." He 

 gave close attention to the species of Carex furnish- 

 ing the investigators of this difficult genus with ma- 

 terial from a region unknown to botanists. In ac- 

 knowledgment of the services rendered him, Boott of 

 London, one of the first authors on these plants pre- 

 sented him with a copy of his magnificent work, "II- 



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