DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY 



1 9!.. .EoviSDlbex .189.6* 1 89 



liy dear Frlenti Davenport ^ 



Of course I ioiow of Mllfle's treatment of the Botrychia 

 and have it and have never been satisfied with it. His historical treat., 

 ment is more complete than Prantl's l3ut his structural discussions do 

 not compare so favorably, I have never liked his allying Bitornatum and 

 B.simplex In a group by themselves for instance* Surely ternatuta and its 

 segregates is a good group by itself and very distinct f^'om the other 

 members^ but simplex is mch more closely allied else"wliere»- As to biter- 

 natiim it is inuch more distinct from the northern plant that isre have 

 since Milde's time been calKfeilg B.ternatum, than any ojff the three specie, 

 lanceolattiim, matricariaefoliimi and simplex are from each other* Does 

 total difference in season count for nothiiig ^-i^oes the total absence of 

 the hairy covering so characteristic of tlae n|Kthern plant count for 

 nothing? Does the almost sessile sterile leaf count for nothing^ to 

 say nothing of spore characters and leaf cutting which are of themselv^ 

 es important I I have recently received some B.ternatum il'om Japan and 

 1 oja riore iriiprcc^ocl with the fact that R?antl is right in mairit^ing the 

 distinctness or tiic;:i\merican plant of the northern states. Likewise the 

 ri^ropean fern I have never fe.lt was the same as oxxr oto. iaid I am 

 \.-ery sure that the form of "dissectum" if |that is what it is that v/e 

 have her*^ ahoixt ilcvr Yorkjis not the same species tliat I have boon 

 gathering for years in the dry meadows of Connecticut* I wish you MMft 



