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From The Journal of the Royal Microscopical Society 1924:
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Two different summaries of Alma's and Anne's article, each with different worthwhile information, so I'm including them both.
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From Botanical Gazette March 1924
LYCOPODIUM PROTHALLIA IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS
Alma G. Stokey and Anna M. Starr
In 1917 Spessard (4) published the first account of the finding of Lycopodium prothallia in America. At the same time Chamberlain (3), in connection with his account of the prothallia and sporelings of three New Zealand species of Lycopodium, gave a historical résumé of the literature on Lycopodium prothallia, including accounts of collections both in the open and of cultures. Spessard referred his material to five species: L. complanatum, L. annotinum, L. clavatum, and two which had not previously been reported, L. lucidulum and L. obscurum. Later he published a note (5) stating that the specimens which he had called L. Obscurum were L. complanatum, but that in his later collections he had found undoubted L. obscurum prothallia. In 1922 he gave a more extended account of the prothallia of L. lucidulum and L. obscurum (6).
Since October 1920, eleven stations have been found in western Massachusetts, of which seven, established by the writers and W. P. Stokey, will be described in this article, and four will be described by Degener in this issue. The seven stations are as follows:
1. L. complanatum: Moody Corners, South Hadley.
2. L. obscurum and L. complanatum: Island in Forge Pond, Granby.
3. L. obscurum: Mt. Toby, Sunderland.
4. L. obscurum, L. complanatum, and L. clavatum: Smith Ferry Woods, South Hadley.
5. L. obscurum: Upper Lake Woods, South Hadley.
6. L. obscurum: Aldrich Mills, Granby.
7. L. obscurum: Dark Woods, Granby.
These stations are from one to sixteen miles apart, and are in three quite distinct types of woods. The first station was found in October 1920, and the others during the summer and autumn of 1922. A description of each station will be given, with a discussion of the conditions which were found to prevail.
Botanical Gazette, vol 77 80
From The Journal of the Royal Microscopical Society 1924:
Lycopodium Prothallia in Western Massachusetts.--- Alma G. Stokey and Annie M. Starr (Bot. Gaz., 1924, 77, 80-88). An account of the local conditions of seven stations at which prothallia of one or more of the following species of Lycopodium have been found -- L. obscurum, L. complanatum, and L. clavatum. These stations fall roughly into three types: (1) a grove of mixed hardwoods on a slope near water; (2) depressions in a grove of mixed hardwoods where the general aspect is that of a relatively dry wood; (3) a grove of hemlocks. The top soil is sandy loam, usually with much humus. The humus is important for the development of the symbiotic fungus. The three species of prothallia are subterranean; their fungus is endophytic, and is usually abundant also in the soil around. The variation in the level of the water table is moderate. The stations were all well shaded; the slopes faced north; and the soil was well drained. The prothallia were restricted to places where there is little or no herbaceous growth; and are usually at some distance from old plants of Lycopodium. A.G.
LYCOPODIUM PROTHALLIA IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS
Alma G. Stokey and Anna M. Starr
In 1917 Spessard (4) published the first account of the finding of Lycopodium prothallia in America. At the same time Chamberlain (3), in connection with his account of the prothallia and sporelings of three New Zealand species of Lycopodium, gave a historical résumé of the literature on Lycopodium prothallia, including accounts of collections both in the open and of cultures. Spessard referred his material to five species: L. complanatum, L. annotinum, L. clavatum, and two which had not previously been reported, L. lucidulum and L. obscurum. Later he published a note (5) stating that the specimens which he had called L. Obscurum were L. complanatum, but that in his later collections he had found undoubted L. obscurum prothallia. In 1922 he gave a more extended account of the prothallia of L. lucidulum and L. obscurum (6).
Since October 1920, eleven stations have been found in western Massachusetts, of which seven, established by the writers and W. P. Stokey, will be described in this article, and four will be described by Degener in this issue. The seven stations are as follows:
1. L. complanatum: Moody Corners, South Hadley.
2. L. obscurum and L. complanatum: Island in Forge Pond, Granby.
3. L. obscurum: Mt. Toby, Sunderland.
4. L. obscurum, L. complanatum, and L. clavatum: Smith Ferry Woods, South Hadley.
5. L. obscurum: Upper Lake Woods, South Hadley.
6. L. obscurum: Aldrich Mills, Granby.
7. L. obscurum: Dark Woods, Granby.
These stations are from one to sixteen miles apart, and are in three quite distinct types of woods. The first station was found in October 1920, and the others during the summer and autumn of 1922. A description of each station will be given, with a discussion of the conditions which were found to prevail.
Botanical Gazette, vol 77 80
From The Journal of the Royal Microscopical Society 1924:
Lycopodium Prothallia in Western Massachusetts.--- Alma G. Stokey and Annie M. Starr (Bot. Gaz., 1924, 77, 80-88). An account of the local conditions of seven stations at which prothallia of one or more of the following species of Lycopodium have been found -- L. obscurum, L. complanatum, and L. clavatum. These stations fall roughly into three types: (1) a grove of mixed hardwoods on a slope near water; (2) depressions in a grove of mixed hardwoods where the general aspect is that of a relatively dry wood; (3) a grove of hemlocks. The top soil is sandy loam, usually with much humus. The humus is important for the development of the symbiotic fungus. The three species of prothallia are subterranean; their fungus is endophytic, and is usually abundant also in the soil around. The variation in the level of the water table is moderate. The stations were all well shaded; the slopes faced north; and the soil was well drained. The prothallia were restricted to places where there is little or no herbaceous growth; and are usually at some distance from old plants of Lycopodium. A.G.
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1.
I came across the Royal Microscopical Society summary in Google Books, and went looking to find out about the Botanical Gazette. I found that it is now (for whatever reason) the International Journal of Plant Sciences at the University of Chicago, and I found on that Journal's website, with remarkably little trouble, the century-old summary of the century-old article. I daresay I could have found the whole article if I had tried, but I didn't see the need for it.
I don't know when in 1924 the Royal Microscopical Society summary was published, but never mind.
2.
LYCOPODIUM PROTHALLIA IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS
Wikipedia says:
Lycopodium (from Greek lykos, wolf and podion, diminutive of pous, foot) is a genus of clubmosses, also known as ground pines or creeping cedars,[3] in the family Lycopodiaceae.
It was apparent that there was a connection between these clubmosses and ferns, but I didn't understand it. I don't do biology.
As for the prothallia, Wikipedia says:
A prothallus, or prothallium, (from Latin pro = forwards and Greek θαλλος (thallos) = twig) is usually the gametophyte stage in the life of a fern or other pteridophyte. Occasionally the term is also used to describe the young gametophyte of a liverwort or peat moss as well. In lichens it refers to the region of the thallus that is free of algae.
So there again we've got a connection between moss and ferns, but I still don't get it.
3.
In 1917 Spessard (4) published the first account of the finding of Lycopodium prothallia in America.
Spessard was A.E. Spessard, but I couldn't find out his full name, or much of anything other than that he was a fern expert.
3.
At the same time Chamberlain (3), in connection with his account of the prothallia and sporelings of three New Zealand species of Lycopodium, gave a historical résumé of the literature on Lycopodium prothallia, including accounts of collections both in the open and of cultures.
Chamberlain must be Charles Joseph Chamberlain. Wikipedia says:
Charles Joseph Chamberlain, Ph.D. (February 23, 1863 – February 5, 1943) was an American botanist, born near Sullivan, Ohio, and educated at Oberlin College and at the University of Chicago, where he earned the first Ph.D. in that institution's botany department, and where he was a long-time employee, becoming associate professor in 1911.
4.
Since October 1920, eleven stations have been found in western Massachusetts, of which seven, established by the writers and W. P. Stokey, will be described in this article, and four will be described by Degener in this issue.
So Will helped Alma to find these lycopodia! This would have been in late summer 1922, when he saw Fernbank being built. He also spent some time in South Hadley, and I figure he did his lycopodium-hunting around the time he sent this postcard to his older son, Billy: And then we have this in a letter to Kathleen:I am expecting to mail you a small amount of moss.
I do like to imagine Will and Alma tramping around together looking for lycopodia.
I sort of wonder if Alma made sure to get Will's name into the summary because she figured he was unlikely to read the actual article. Side note: somewhere or other I'm sure I've come across an earlier article in which Alma gave Fred credit for helping her get samples. Something else to keep an eye out for.
5.
Lycopodium Prothallia in Western Massachusetts.--- Alma G. Stokey and Annie M. Starr (Bot. Gaz., 1924, 77, 80-88).
It's unfortunate that they couldn't get Anne Starr's name right. This summary was one of several, so I guess the Journal of the Royal Microscopical Society did them so that people in England would know what was happening in the US. The details about the stations suggest that the readers wouldn't have any other easy way to get the information.
6
A.G.
A.G. is A. Gepp, who gathered the information about the article.
I came across the Royal Microscopical Society summary in Google Books, and went looking to find out about the Botanical Gazette. I found that it is now (for whatever reason) the International Journal of Plant Sciences at the University of Chicago, and I found on that Journal's website, with remarkably little trouble, the century-old summary of the century-old article. I daresay I could have found the whole article if I had tried, but I didn't see the need for it.
I don't know when in 1924 the Royal Microscopical Society summary was published, but never mind.
2.
LYCOPODIUM PROTHALLIA IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS
Wikipedia says:
Lycopodium (from Greek lykos, wolf and podion, diminutive of pous, foot) is a genus of clubmosses, also known as ground pines or creeping cedars,[3] in the family Lycopodiaceae.
It was apparent that there was a connection between these clubmosses and ferns, but I didn't understand it. I don't do biology.
As for the prothallia, Wikipedia says:
A prothallus, or prothallium, (from Latin pro = forwards and Greek θαλλος (thallos) = twig) is usually the gametophyte stage in the life of a fern or other pteridophyte. Occasionally the term is also used to describe the young gametophyte of a liverwort or peat moss as well. In lichens it refers to the region of the thallus that is free of algae.
So there again we've got a connection between moss and ferns, but I still don't get it.
3.
In 1917 Spessard (4) published the first account of the finding of Lycopodium prothallia in America.
Spessard was A.E. Spessard, but I couldn't find out his full name, or much of anything other than that he was a fern expert.
3.
At the same time Chamberlain (3), in connection with his account of the prothallia and sporelings of three New Zealand species of Lycopodium, gave a historical résumé of the literature on Lycopodium prothallia, including accounts of collections both in the open and of cultures.
Chamberlain must be Charles Joseph Chamberlain. Wikipedia says:
Charles Joseph Chamberlain, Ph.D. (February 23, 1863 – February 5, 1943) was an American botanist, born near Sullivan, Ohio, and educated at Oberlin College and at the University of Chicago, where he earned the first Ph.D. in that institution's botany department, and where he was a long-time employee, becoming associate professor in 1911.
4.
Since October 1920, eleven stations have been found in western Massachusetts, of which seven, established by the writers and W. P. Stokey, will be described in this article, and four will be described by Degener in this issue.
So Will helped Alma to find these lycopodia! This would have been in late summer 1922, when he saw Fernbank being built. He also spent some time in South Hadley, and I figure he did his lycopodium-hunting around the time he sent this postcard to his older son, Billy: And then we have this in a letter to Kathleen:I am expecting to mail you a small amount of moss.
I do like to imagine Will and Alma tramping around together looking for lycopodia.
I sort of wonder if Alma made sure to get Will's name into the summary because she figured he was unlikely to read the actual article. Side note: somewhere or other I'm sure I've come across an earlier article in which Alma gave Fred credit for helping her get samples. Something else to keep an eye out for.
5.
Lycopodium Prothallia in Western Massachusetts.--- Alma G. Stokey and Annie M. Starr (Bot. Gaz., 1924, 77, 80-88).
It's unfortunate that they couldn't get Anne Starr's name right. This summary was one of several, so I guess the Journal of the Royal Microscopical Society did them so that people in England would know what was happening in the US. The details about the stations suggest that the readers wouldn't have any other easy way to get the information.
6
A.G.
A.G. is A. Gepp, who gathered the information about the article.
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