—71— 
grows, according to observations of Austin, in wet places. In a series of specimens 
it seems to connect through all degrees with the normal H. Muhlenhergianum 
and to be unworthy of taxonomic distinction, except as one wishes to admit to 
taxonomic distinction forms due directly to difference of habitat. In fact Muhlen- 
berg's original specimen, probably collected about Lancaster, Pennsylvania, 
tended somewhat toward this type, it being described as up to half an inch in 
height, but really falling somewhat short of that. Another variation also 
represented by the original specimen and noted in its description is a slight 
lengthening of the seta. This is, however, very slight, so that the combined seta 
and vaginule do not surpass in length the capsule itself, being just about equal 
to it in the Muhlenberg specimen. I cannot see that this character is more than 
a casual variation and it is correlated with nothing else, unless it be that it is 
more Hkely to occur in specimens showing a somewhat, but not extremely 
lengthened stem. 
H. Muhlenhergianum is a fairly widely distributed species, its northwestern 
outpost being the Saskatchew^an where it was collected by Drummond in 1827, 
its southwestern, southern Arizona, where it was found by Leiberg in 1906, 
its northeastern, Massachusetts^, and its southeastern North Carolina, though it 
extends further south in Louisiana and Texas. Within this area it may be looked 
for almost anywhere in fields, though the finding of it is not an everyday affair. 
It may yet be found to pass these limits in places, but they probably pretty 
well indicate its total range. It evidently does not reach west of the Rocky 
Mountains. 
Specimens of Astomum from China and Japan I have not had opportunity to 
study in adequate detail or sufficient number to reach any positive results. 
It seems to me worthy of careful investigation whether A. crispum occurs in 
Asia at all and whether the (or a) species which does occur may not be more 
olosely related to our own Hymenostomum Muhlenhergianum. In the Cornell 
University Herbarium is a specimen of hepatic labeled " Grimaldia fragrans 
Corda. Tokyo, 1897", without further data as to collector, etc., which has 
many plants of Astomum growing with it. These show a small deeply pigmented 
capsule with the thin wall characteristic of H. Muhlenhergianum, while the 
spores when ripened average also fully 20^. The gametophyte is even smaller 
than is generally the case with our species. A specimen from the Jaeger her- 
barium labeled " Phasctim crispum, Japonia" is quite similar. 
Ithaca, N. Y. 
NOTE— DATA WANTED 
Will the member who sent me by mail a box of fresh Asterella some two months 
ago, kindly write me? No letter or other data came with the specimen, which has 
proved to be of interest. 
Geo. H. Conklin, 
201-202, Board of Trade 
Superior, Wise. 
* It has been found in New York state as far north as Fort Edward. 
