THE AMERICAN BOTANIST, 



97 



Tea-leaf Fern.— A western correspondent writes 

 that in some sections Pe7/^a andromedaefoliais known by 

 this name. It is more frequently called coffee fern. The 

 pinnules are rather elliptical in outline and about the size 

 of a grain of coffee, whence, probably, the name of coffee 

 fern. Possibly tea-leaf fern is due to an association of 

 ideas. 



A Double Cinquefoil. — Dr. A. A. Angell recently sent 

 us an interesting example of a double flower in the com- 

 mon cinquefoil (Potentilla Canadensis). A large patch of 

 it was found in North Carolina by Miss Alice Stillman. 

 The ordinary form of this plant is too plentiful to be 

 sought for cultivation, but the little yellow roses of the 

 double form would make a welcome addition to the wild 

 garden. 



Symbiosis of New Jersey Tea, — When a plant is 

 found thriving in dry and sterile soil, one is always war- 

 ranted in the suspicion that it is helped in its work under 

 ground by the bacteria. The partridge-pea (Cassia 

 chamsecrista) of sandy wastes puts up its attractive flow- 

 ers by such assistance and the New Jersey tea (Ceanothus 

 Americanus) which flourishes on sterile hillsides has thous- 

 ands of bacteria upon its roots. So large and abundant 

 are the nodules formed by the bacteria that it is difficult 

 to dig up a plant without noticing them. 



Moss AS A Feature in the Landscape. — Most walk- 

 ers in the Eastern States are familiar with the moss called 

 Ceratodon purpureus though they ma3^ not know it by 

 this name. Apparently it has no common name, a fact 

 which shows that although it may be familiar to the 

 sight, it is not often a subject for mention in conversation. 

 It is most abundant in sterile ground early in spring, and 

 is at once recognized by the deep wine-color of the stalks 

 which hold the capsules aloft. It grows often in dense 

 patches and is one of the few mosses that can give a color 

 note to the landscape. Seen after a rain with the sun shin- 

 ing on it at the right angle, it makes spots of perfect flame- 

 color among the dead grasses. The cord moss (Funaria 



