FFRNS AND FFRN ARRIFS. 
135 
specific limits the genus displays superior vitality. More¬ 
over, between the simplest and most complex forms within 
the genus there is an almost unbroken succession, so that 
hardly another genus of plants presents so striking a series 
in evolutionary sequence. From the lowest species in de¬ 
velopment, B. simplex, (Fig. 2.) to the highest, B. Virgini¬ 
an um, there is an enormous advance in 
structure, the former being extremely close 
to Ophioglossum, the lowest of all pterido- 
phytes, the latter approaching the true 
ferns, the highest of the pteridophytes, al¬ 
most as closely. 
While the exact order of succession in 
the species of Botrychium must as yet be 
a matter of conjecture a convenient arrange - 
ment has been adopted depending on, 1st. 
the situation of the bud for the next year’s 
growth, and, 2nd. the character of the “ver¬ 
nation, ”i. e. the way in which the parts of 
the leaf are developed with relation to each 
other in the bud itself. The following list, 
including the seven species at present 
known to grow in New England, is arranged 
as nearly as possible according to the above 
system. For the benefit of observers the rel¬ 
ative abundance of the plants in this locality (Manches¬ 
ter, N. H.) is indicated. 
I. 
Botrychium simplex. 
Very rare east of the 
Connecticut river. 
2. 
lunaria. 
(Fig. 3). Connecti¬ 
cut. A possibility 
here. 
3 - 
> > 
tenebrosum. 
(Fig. 4). Probably 
abundant here. 
4 - 
matricariaefolium. 
Rather common. 
5 - 
> 5 
ternatum. 
Common. 
6. 
5 5 
lanceolatum. 
Not common. 
7 - 
) ) 
virginianum. 
Common. 
Fig. 4. 
