Philonotis calcarea Schimp. in Western Washington

Abstract

In going over my collections I found a form from Minnesota, collected by Holzinger, different from any described form, which I propose to call Fabronia octoblepharis (Schleich.) Schwaegr. var. ovata n. var. Leaves broadly ovate, densely crowded on the stem, widely spreading when moist, with a very strong costa reaching above the middle of the leaf and occasionally almost to the base of the short acumination; quadrate alar cells extending half way up the leaf margin; median cells short, 2-3 : I. TYPE in herb. A. J. G., on willows near Lewiston, Minn., July 5, I919. Coll. J. M. Holzinger. The characters described above, especially the almost suborbicular leaves with short cells and more numerous quadrate alar cells, would constitute a distinct species if it were not for the fact that, intermingled with the form described, there were shoots closely approaching the usual form that were apparently attached to the other. The plants were so fragile that it was almost impossible to ascertain whether or not such was the case. To assist those who may be interested, I have prepared the following key to the N. American species of Fabronia, excluding F. Donnellii Aust. which belongs in another genus.