—33— 



pest in grain fields and pastures, it goes by numerous local names, 

 as, for instance, Bottlebrush (because of the resemblance of the 

 sterile shoots to that utensil), Colt's-tail (as though in recognition 

 of this species' modest size, Frog or Toad-pipes (from its habitat 

 in damp places such as frogs frequent and pipe in), Scrubgrass 

 (from its use in scouring dishes, though this name is more specifi- 

 cally applied to E. hvemale), and Cat's-tail (doubtless because 

 the good folk of the shires where this name is current see a greater 

 resemblance in the plant to Pussy's caudal appendage than to 

 Dobbin's), 



Philadelphia, Pa. 



A NEW SPECIES OF SELAGINELLA. 



By A. A. Eaton. 



THAT what has passed for Selaginella rupestris was really a 

 composite species has long been the opinion of thinking 

 botanists who have seen representatives from different sec- 

 tions of the continent, especially from the western part. The able 

 monograph of Prof. Underwood {Bull. Tor. Bot. Club, vol. 25, 

 pp. 125-133) is justly considered a good beginning of the task of 

 unraveling the tangle. That is but a beginning, however, and 

 that several species may yet be expected from the southwest bor- 

 der is clearly indicated by the author, and is the opinion of the 

 present writer, who has observed growing or possesses specimens 

 of various other forms. One of these, sent by Miss L. F. Kim- 

 ball, of National City, Calif., is clearly entitled to a place with the 

 new species recently brought out: 



Selaginella ctnerascens n. sp. Stems slender, .6mm. in 

 diameter, prostrate, rooting the entire length, with short lateral 

 branches, at length ramifying till a dense tuft is formed, when 

 the fruiting spikes appear. Leaves linear lanceolate, acutish or 

 obtuse, appressed, rigid, 1- 1.5mm. long, cineraceous, slightly 

 grooved, those on primary stems fiat, the others concave, with 6-S 

 very minute divergent or erect spines on each side. Spike short, 

 twice the diameter of the stem, four-ranked, its scales broadly ovate, 

 acute, conduplicate. Macrospores pale lemon with prominently 

 winged commissures, the lower portion honeycombed with rope- 

 like ridges, the upper facies papillose. Microspores usually on 

 separate spikes, dark-orange, with prominent spinules. On bare 

 ground, National City, Calif., Miss L. T. Kimball. 



