AN UNDESCRIBED LECHEA FROM MAINE.
One of the most characteristic plants of York Harbor, Maine, is a species of Lechca which abounds in dry open places, especially over the weedy downs near the sea. Upon visiting York Harbor some years ago my attention was at once arrested by this plant, which was obviously neither Lechea intennea'ut nor Lechea mantinta, the only eastern pinweeds which could be considered at all in connection with it. Subsequent investigation discovered that the plant, though it had never been discussed in print, had not been overlooked by botanists, but had been a long-standing puzzle vari ously solved, it appeared, in terms of one or the other of the species named above. Material from different collectors which had formed part of Mr. Leggett's collection and bore his penciled memoranda showed that the plant had perplexed that careful stu dent of the genus, who had at different times referred it doubtfully both to Lechca intennedia and to Lechea maritima and had at least entertained the idea that it might be referable to the more western Lechea stricta. It may be said here that Mr. Leggett's material was not fairly representative of the plant and was quite insufficient to form a basis for any safe conclusions. For this reason the same material was passed over by Dr. Britton in his revision of the genus ( Bull. Torr. Club, 2 I : 244-253, 1894 ), which therefore affords no help in the present case. In Dr. Robinson's re cent critical treatment of the genus (Syn. Fl. 1: Part 192-194, 1895) we find the first published notice of the Maine plant. It is there mentioned under Lechea stncta as being nearly related to that species, but as probably to be referred to Lechca intennedia. The case, therefore, stands to-day just as it was left by Mr. Leg gett over fifteen years ago.
During several visits to York Harbor in August this pinweed has claimed my particular attention, and I have realized in the field that the problem it presented was indeed a perplexing one.
The main facts in the case seem to be these : The plant has much the aspect of Lechca stzieta, and is hence frankly distinguished in appearance from intermedia ; nevertheless, though closely allied to the former it is not that species, but is a more or less immediate derivative of the latter, as is shown by the occurrence of forms not satisfactorily referable to either plant.
Technically, therefore, on the evidence, the plant is a variety of internzedia—an incompletely detached derivative of that species. Actually it has reached a degree of differentiation which, measured by the slight differences separating species in this group of plants, is certainly remarkable, and may fairly be taken as of species value despite the apparently intergrading forms. Indeed, so distinct from intermedia does the typical plant appear that it may well be questioned whether intergradation between the two is not, after all, more apparent than real. When we recall instances of per fectly distinct species exhibiting an apparent identity up to the time of full maturity of flower or fruit we find ourselves less ready to assign doubtful specimens to the category of intergrades. It may be readily conceived that between certain individuals of nearly related plants an inherent distinctness may be completely disguised to the eye as a result of retarded development or other cause. Be this as it may, I am sufficiently satisfied of the expediency of recognizing as a species the Lechca here discussed. To refer it to either of its near allies would be to evade a difficulty through a makeshift, and as for varietal rank the grade variety has been misused out of all definite meaning. Species are neces sarily of different values. Closely similar but trenchantly distinct plants range side by side with species far more divergent from each other, yet inter-related through medial forms. The relega tion of such well-characterized plants to the vague rank of variety surely involves a disregard of the facts of nature not to be excused by an appeal to the supposed requirements of a system of nomen clature necessarily more or less artificial.
For the new plant I propose the name fcchea jzmiperina in allusion to the appearance of its densly leafy narrow panicle, which is often suggestive of a spiry red cedar (Jnniperus giniana) in miniature.