22 
THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. 
originally introduced into this country as ornaments have so in- 
creased and spread as to become nuisances ; then they are weeds . 
On the other hand, some weeds of ours, transplanted to a region 
where it is rare, may become precious. We might multiply ex- 
amples. 
As everyone knows, our two species of gentian, the fringed 
and the box or closed, are characteristic autumn plants. So is 
the grass-of-Parnassus. This plant is found in wet or boggy 
places—with a large white flower suggesting an anemone, but 
prettily streaked with green. Curiously enough, it belongs in 
the Saxifrange family. This leads me to say an explanatory 
word concerning this matter of relationship. The non-botanist 
is often annoyed or confused by it, but after all it has a philo- 
sophical basis. The ancients resorted to the most obvious classi- 
fications—usually founded upon salient peculiarities. But even they 
recognized the fact that certain plants bore a close relation to 
one another. It is on this fact of relationship or blood affilia- 
tion, so to speak, that modern systems have grown up. Origin- 
ally tentive, they yearly became more scientific and accurate. 
The anatomical structure, the morphology, the life-history enters 
more and more into consideration in determining a plant's posi- 
tion. Generally speaking, the more highly developed it is, the 
more widely differentiated or specialized, the higher it is regarded 
in the scale. 
Providence, R. I. 
SOME SURPRISES FOR COLLECTORS IN PORTO RICO 
By O. W. Barrett. 
The first surprise that awaits the Porto Rican plant hunter is 
the almost entire absence of a primitive or strictly virgin flora; 
for in only two or three limited areas of the Island will he find the 
surface clothed as it was in the time of the Arawaks. Over 
ninety per cent of the Island has been modified by the hands of 
man, as regards flora and probably three-fourths of the Island 
may be called domesticated. He would naturally expect to find 
palms and orchids in great abundance, but he will be negatively 
surprised. The palm flora is small, but according to Prof. O. F. 
