=] a“: Wheldon & Wesley, Ltd. Natural H istory Booksellers 2-4 Arthur St, London W.C,2 ee ay Ay TOLOg isl. A BOTANICAL JOURNAL. EDITED BY ALEXANDER IRVINE, FELLOW OF THE BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON. VOLUME THE FOURTH. ‘Os eveyarivOn Ta epya cov, Kipte!—mdvra ev copia enoinoas. WAAM. py’. 24. Benedicite universa germinantia in terra Domino ; laudate et superexaltate Evm in secula— Hymn. iit Pueror. v. 76. LONDON : WILLIAM PAMPLIN, 45, FRITH STREET, SOHO SQUARE. 1860. PRINTED BY JOHN EDWARD TAYLOR, LITTLE QUEEN STREET, LINCOLN’S INN FIELDS, LONDON. PREFACE, —_——<—_—_— To comply with established practice, and to fill an idle page, a preamble is required, rather by the necessities of the printer than by the readers or by the Editor. The Annual Address to our constituents has superseded the usual prefatory announcements, and has reduced this Preface to one of the expected customary formalities. Our friends will see from our List of Contributors that our circle of correspondents is enlarged, and from our Index, that the variety and usefulness of the matter which constitutes this Volume, are not diminished ; and our hope is that the contents of this new annual of British Phytology may prove as pleasant to the readers as they have been to the authors. The summary or results, as usual, introduce the first number of our next or Fifth Volume, and a pretty confident expectation is expressed that the next year’s ‘ Phytologist’ will not be sur- passed by its predecessor. Note.—We have been repeatedly reminded that West Derby is near Liverpool, and the reviewer of the ‘ Species Filicum’ has again been brought to book for his supposed ignorance of this fact. But the truth is that our reviewer did not see West Derby in the copy of the above-named work, because it is not there, but he saw West Derbyshire, which is there: and he very inno- cently corrected the geographical mistake. The learned author of the ‘Species Filicum,’ whose topogra- 1V PREFACE. phical knowledge may possibly not be so extensive as his: know- ledge of Ferns is, we are assured, would not have called our correspondent a caviller for correcting a mistake in the most courteous terms possible. Chelsea, Dec. 31st, 1860. NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENTS. All Communications for the ‘ Phytologist’ may be addressed to “ Mr. Irvine, 28, Upper Manor Street, Chelsea.” ERRATA IN VOL. IV. Page 29, last line, for Gardener read Gardner. Page 60, in eighth line from bottom, for give read gives. Page 82, line 20, for country read county. Page 249, line 18, for Planta read Plante. Page 256, line 20, for Barrer read Borrer. Page 309, last line, for Goorge read Googe. Page 315, fourth line, for Agarial read Agrarial. CONTENTS. ag Page Annual Address to the Contributors, Correspondents, and Readers . 1 Books Received for Review . . 32, 64, 96, 128, 192, 256, 320, 352 ieepamical Notes, etc. .......... 825-62, 98,°126;. 159, 189; 223; 254, 286, 316, 350, 382 Baamicaehambles in June, M859f of oc jin Ween eel) 18)aa9 Soiamealoketches : North Walesis).y...) 2) Soo: nuleuing® 20). Al iBaianiins im the Woods near Dunkeld... .. .- . aha) a) 2) 21258 Botany of the Breadalbane Mountains ....... .... . . . 65 Botany, British, Chapters on. DeLee Ris oR Var GIS British Plants, Comparative Ones : 321 Bryology of the Neighbourhood of Oxford ; 1 by} H. Boswell . 343, 369 Buck-wheat or Beech-wheat . . Hid SB ania ApUnCuias.. etivlnaiey tio.) 4 Se aS eo he2T0 Momma morunaiolud AE Rit tbe Cael Sek Ue BS oe ee Gapreolates!umarte of (Britain, 4.626 «) 8 8h. Ae el tet. 105 Cereals, on the Transmutation of . 78 Communications received . . . 382, 64, 96, 128, 160, 192, 224, 256, 288, 320, 359, 384 Cynoglossum sylvaticum not biennial . . . . CC. Year. Dod imnamncrueolookwatter 3... =. 24. th, ee eR ra? ets 184 Drosera angheam Wancashire ... - 9. . 2 1 6s 265 Hxiractsfrom Correspondence ... ... 9: ss. 303, 338, 377 Fleming Society of Natural Science =. . . . . 61, 85,119, 181 Ferns collected at Wheathamstead . . . . . . . : . 40 iBiorarotBeloium, Additional Notes ony oi) sda0 gies). ) 20 138 Flora of Harrow and its Vicinity. BO esd, Rae OL Flora Oxoniensis, Additions to the ; by HL. Boswell) 1. ao Flora of Perth, Addenda to, and Explieatory } Remarks on ; Pye J. Sim 132 Flora of Sydenham, Additions to... . . 264 Flowers, Newly Collected, on Preserving . . ... . . 225 Bete ater OM) yrs. 2. sg SA Se a Re 67, 177, 296 Genera Plantarum . . : i, Gentiana Pneumonanthe, a Visit to the reoently recorded Surrey Loca- lity for: gett Bl. eae ook Hampshire Plants, Additional Localities of some rare . |. . 60 Huddersfield Plants... .. 2... ~. ECM. HLA ets eri VAS Humphrey Head, Visitto . . . Leuk weak YZoN Hypericum hircinum and Impatiens par v iflora, on the occurrence of Me aTaliver pool ii sneer amine OAS... 2, asc See oly Ree NT v1 CONTENTS. Lsatis tinctoria : Isle of Man and its Flora, “Notes on Lastrea remota; by John Lloyd a! Lepigonum, Descriptions of some Species of . Lindores Abbey, Plants of * Long Purples of Shakspeare . Lowestoft, a Day’s Collecting at : Maianthemum bifolium, New w Locality f for. Mammoth Trees . Nature Printing . Observations or Notesic on some Belgico-British Plants The Primrose, Oxlip, and oie Orthotrichum anomalum Plants of the Early Poets Plants noticed by Harly Writers. . . . . Plants in Flower around Whitby, May, 1860 Plants in the Neighbourhood of Dunkirk . Plants of the Poets Platanus acerifolia . . Ranunculus heterophyllus, which j is? The Annual. Address, Remarks on Remarks on List of Harrow Plants Spring Flowers of the South of Europe ; Remarks on the Viole of the Coast Sandhills Page 233, 266 161 - 82, 137, 227 ie 301 Reviews 23, 89, 123, 124, 143, 144, 148, 16s 158, 182, 184, 186, 187, 189, 245, 249, 250, 252, 253, 271, 278, 283, 313, 315, 348 Bentham’s Handbook of the British Worale 148 Blechnum Spicant, on New and Rare Varieties of; ‘by, A. Stansfield 252 Catalogus Plantarum in Algeria sponte nascentium ; Munby aes Crépin’s Flore de ‘Belgique. Devon Flora; by Thomas F. Ravenshaw Dublin Natural History Society Enumeration of Ceylon Plants Everybody’s Journal Ferns, a Priced Catalogue of ; by Robert Sim Ferns, their Structure, Propaga ation, rei Culture! ete. ; by W. R. M‘Nab Gardeners’ Chronicle PEER & Index Filicum, part vii.; by T. Moore . India, Useful Plants. of . ela, Leigh Chronicle auctore G. . 313 Natural History of Brighton, § Sketch of the; by Mrs. Merrifield 151 Natural History Reviews . 89, 144, 278 Physical History of the Vale a Mow bray ; ; “by de Ke Baker: . . 124 Species Filicum; by Sir W. J. Hooker. fin 143, 348 Variability of Form, etc., in Vegetation ; by ‘M. T. Masters . . 186 Weitere Zusitze zu meiner Flora der Pfalz : . 250 Zusiitze und Berichtigungen zu meiner Flora der Pale yon Dr. Schultz . ; . 187 LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS. Roccella tinctoria and R. phycopsis in the Isle of Wight ; aun the Rev. T. Salwey . Royal Society “of Edinburg ch and the Neill Medal Runneymead Plants . Salvadora persica, the Mustard-tree of Scripture Seaweeds . Sonchus palustris. Terrestrial Orchids . Thirsk Natural History Society, | Report of the Trifolium hybridum Veronica peregrina at Perth ; by John Sim vil Page . 267 10 962 . 39 . 260 . dl0 WR cel Dosa | 98) BO SOMO T los 223 373 - 269 CONTRIBUTORS, CORRESPONDENTS, AND AUTHORS WHOSE BOOKS, &., ARE REVIEWED. A., 288, 320, 352, 384. ING Neo MOP Aliquis, 192. Attwood, HE. M., 384. Atwood, 223. Austen, Robert, 288. Babington, Charles C., 64, 352. Backhouse, James, jun., 96. Baker, J. G., 96, 192. Barton, John, 160. Beisly, Harriet, 256. Beisly, Sidney, 32, 64, 96, 128, 160, 192, 224, 256, 288, 320, 352, 384. Beta, 192. Borrer, W. (misspelt Barrer), 256. Boswell, H., 96, 320. Briggs, A., 352. Brocas, F. Y., 375. Brown, Robert, 160, 192. Burcham, R. P., 128. Carrington, B., M.D.,"352. Carruthers, W., 119, 181. Clowes, F., 224, 256. Cole, Rev. R. E., 96. Crépin, F., 271. Curnow, William, 32, 192. Cumming, Rey. J. G., 163. Drury, Major H., 184. E., 352. B. E., 96. Edwards, E., 64, 96. Forbes, Prof. H., 164. Galt, Walter, 384. Gibson, J. 8., 384. Gissing, T. W., 288. Green, Edwin, 128, 256, 288. H. B., 96, 128, 192, 288. H. C., 32, 128, 256, 352. Hinds, Dr., 96. Hind, Rev. W. M., 96. Hobkirk, C. C., 15. Holmes, Dr., 224. Howie, G., 127. Hunt, G. E., 223. Ibbotson, H., 224, 352. Inchbald, Peter, 256. Ingle, R., 96. J. A., 192. J. R., 352. J.S. M., 288, 320. Jerdon, Arch., 64, 384. Johnson, C. H., 288. Johnson, Clara A., 256. Jordan, George, 64, 192. Kay, Al., 64, 96. Kirk, T., 128. | Lees, Edwin, F.L.S., 32, 96, 128. Vill LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS. Lindsay, W. L., M.D., 32. Linfield, W. B., Jun., 320. Lloyd, John, 160, 384. M., 352. M‘Nab, W. R., 253. Merrifield, Mrs., 160, 224, 256, 288. Mill, J.8., 32. More, A. G., F.L.8., 64, 96, 192, 128, 160, 224, 256, 288, 320, 384. Moore, Thomas, F.L.S., 96, 128. N. H.R. Z., 352. Norman, Rey. A. M., 352. Nowell, John, 363. Pamplin, William, 32, 192, 288, 320. Q., 256. Querist, 96. R., 352. R. BH. C., 128. Ravenshaw, Rev. T. F., 32, 64, 384, 256, 288. Reeves, W. W., 224, 288. Reynolds, Frederick, 256, 352. Richardson, W. M., 384. Sadler, J., 128, 352. Salwey, Rev. T., 96, 256, 320, 352, 384. Saunders, W. W., 352. S. B., 64, 96, 288. Schimper, W. P., Professor, 359. Schultz, Dr., 187. Secretary of the Birmingham Natural History Society, 96. Sim, John, 32, 64, 96, 128, 160, 192, 224, 256, 288, 320, 352, 384. Stansfield, A., 128. Stowell, Rev. H. A., 192. T. F. R., 32, 96. Trimen, H., 64, 96. Turner, A. J. W., F.H.S., 352. Twinn, G. R., 96. Tyrrel, Mrs., 288. Vasculum, 352. Watkins, B. M., 352, 384. Webb, F. M., 320, 384. Webb, Rev. R. H., 160, 192. Westwood, T., 96. Wilson, W., 364. Windsor, Dr., F.L.S., 256, 320, 352. Wood, J. B., M.D., F.R.C.S8., 352, 384. Wood, 8., 160. W. P., 64, 96, 128, 256, 288, 352, 384. W. W.N., 384. W. W. B.., 288. THE PHYTOLOGINST. | 1860. Apppggss to the Contributors, etc. Tue Editor has again to perform the agreeable duty of thanking the numerous correspondents of the ‘ Phytologist’ for their liberal contributions, and also for their personal efforts to extend the circulation of the magazine. The list printed with this number, and intended to be bound up with the numbers issued during the past year, will show that our supporters are staunch and steady in their support of the Journal of Botany. Our motto is, and has been, “a fair field and no favour.” There is not the slightest ground for surmising that there is even a trace of partiality in the management. Every botanist, whatever be his social position or scientific repute, is entitled to record his observations in the ‘ Phytologist.’ Editorial opinions are never obtruded; nor are any communications unnoticed,—it may be said, wnprinted,—however unpleasing they may be to the Editor’s feelings, or opposed to the results of his observations and experience. Very cautious persons may mistake what is vulgarly termed “ mares’ nests,’ and more modishly “ canards,” for grave facts. But there is generally some sharp-sighted and humane cor- respondent on the watch to give due notice, to warn us of danger, and to prevent our walking into the trap with our eyes _open. One of the objects of confining each series of numbers within the limit of twelve months was that any fact recorded during the brief space of a year might be more easily referred to at a future period. It was urged, with truth, that it would be easier to hunt N.S. VOL. IV. B 2 ADDRESS OF THE EDITOR. [January, out a note, remark, or observation in an annual than it would be im a biennial series. Another object was also suggested, viz., that it would be convenient to present our readers with a synop- sis of what had been accomplished in the Science during the past year. This will be the staple of the present Address to our cor- respondents and readers. They are to be presented with what our Gallic neighbours elegantly entitle a résumé, précis, or epi- tome ; we call such a paper an abridgment. Our readers are not to be congratulated on receiving, as an addition to their botanical literature, two original descriptive Floras of the British Isles. The little that was published on British Botany during the past year would be soon chronicled. There has appeared a new periodical, called ‘ Recreative Science,’ which, like ‘ The Naturalist,’ is of a comprehensive cha- racter. It has received the good word and kind wishes of the * Phytologist.’ Mr. Sowerby’s ‘ British Wild Flowers,’ as we are informed by a correspondent, is behindhand both in time and promised quan- tity of matter. Inquiries have also been made about Sowerby’s ‘ British Grasses,’ still unfinished. It is to be hoped that these works are not “ hanging fire.” The ‘ Botany of Ceylon,’ by Mr. Thwaites and Dr. J. D. Hooker, is advancing steadily towards completion. An ample review of this valuable contribution to our literature will appear in this number of our publication. The ‘Species Filicum’ of Sir W. J. Hooker, and the ‘ Index Filicum’ of Thomas Moore, have advanced some steps, and are now appearing with greater regularity, or at briefer intervals. The great work of Professor Agardh, on a new system of classification, does not appear to have made much progress in England. Has it been appreciated on th@ Continent? It was not neglected by the ‘ Phytologist.’ ‘ Nature-printed Seaweeds’ have, appeared. Will any of our readers who possess the work send us a review of it? On the whole, the most important contribution to British Botany during the past year is the ‘ Phytologist.’ In the November number there is a larger contribution to the British Flora than was ever communicated at one time since the days of the Father of British Botany, Mr. Ray. This item we leave to speak for itself. We have the more satisfactory duty 1860. ] ADDRESS OF THE EDITOR. 3 devolving on us of recording the discoveries of our friends and correspondents. In the Thirsk Report, usually published monthly, there are recorded for the first time the following plants new to the British Isles, viz.:—Galium debile, Desvaux; G. insubricum, Lois.; G. commutatum, Jorden, has been already noticed,—two additional species to one genus, and both found within a not very extensive area. It is to be desired that Mr. Baker, the zealous patron of this genus, will distribute examples of these new British species, and collect the opinions of his botanical friends on the subject; and then write a plain statement about their specific characters and distinctive marks, and publish it in the ‘ Phytologist.’ Is Barbarea intermedia, Bor., a synonym of B. precoz, or B. arcuata, or B. vulgaris, of which there are more forms than one, or of B. stricta, or of B. angustifolia of Ehr., or of B. angustana, Boiss.? Some remarks on this form are come to hand, and will appear this month, if there be room. Our Flora has been enriched with another suite of Fumarias. F. agraria has been adopted and discarded within the last ten or twelve years. F. muralis, Sond., a south of Europe plant, has been detected in Yorkshire. What do the conservatives and the learned author of the ‘ Cybele’ say to this transgression of ho- tanical boundaries? Our readers will learn when the second edition of the ‘Cybele’ appears, which it is hoped will be long ante Grecas calendas. A more startling novelty than any of the above-mentioned was duly entered as a discovery during the past year, viz. Blechnum alpinum, an antarctic Fern, or at least one only known hitherto as a production of the Southern hemisphere. Grave doubts are entertained about the reality of this recently-announced fact. Some of our correspondents have hinted that there is probably a mistake to be apprehended. It is desirable that the doubt should be cleared up. The amiable author of the note on this discovery is requested to communicate any further information he may have received on this subject. Saliz undulata has been announced as detected among osiers in North Yorkshire. Delphinium Ajacis has also been again announced as a produc- tion of the West of England. This is a South of Europe form 4, ADDRESS OF THE EDITOR. [ January, or species, and is said by some to be D. Consolida. of the ‘ Flora Greca.’ Perhaps the Thirsk Natural History Soca fa some examples of this plant for distribution. Glaucium pheniceum has also been observed between Shore- ham and Brighton. It is a very rare visitant of our shores. It was also seen at Wandsworth a few years ago. It must therefore still retain its place in our British lists, but not as one of the erroneously recorded, as the learned authors of the ‘ London Catalogue’ generously tell us. Muscari racemosum has also recently been discovered on Gog- magog Hills, Cambridge. It was reported from Colchester nearly thirty years ago. It grew then on the debris of the ruined wall not far from St. Mary’s Church. Is it there still? Are the remains of the old wall still there? Mr. Babington indorses the Cambridge station as a genuine one—that it is not a mere waif or stray in that place. This is high authority for determining the name and relations of the plant; but anybody who knows plants might determine whether it was a permanent growth of that station or only a straggler. It was well established in the Colchester locality, and it may have been there for centuries, and might continue for ages to come if the place remains undisturbed. Another addition to the list of spontaneous-growing British plants is Claytonia alsinoides, of which numerous and good speci- mens have been received. Further notice of this interesting addi- tion would be unnecessary ; its locality and distinctive characters are recorded in our last year’s issues (see Index) ; but it may not be superfluous to remark that this plant was recorded in Baxter’s ‘Genera of British Plants,’ but was entirely neglected, or ignored, or abandoned by all subsequent writers on British botany—for what reason conjecture must be silent. The Hditor respect- fully directs attention to the work above quoted, which, like the rare gem it rescued from oblivion, has been produced not to blush unseen, but it has seldom or ever been consulted by the compilers of British Floras. Who quotes Baxter’s ‘ Genera of British Plants’? It is to be hoped that some enterprising publisher will undertake and publish a new edition of this valu- able work. Asperula arvensis and Amaranthus Blitum have both been reported from stations much further from the South of England than the usually recorded localities of these very uncertain plants. 1860.] ADDRESS OF THE EDITOR. 5 From Sydenham several interesting plants have been received, most of them suspected aliens, but none of them were ever mentioned before last summer as growing there. Among these may be noticed—Hypericum calycinum and Vinca minor, growing together, not very plentiful, but long established ; and not far off from them, Huphorbia Cyparissias in great profusion, but evidently the descendants of garden plants. Verbascum Lychnites grow plentifully on a large heap of shingle, or gravel, or ballast, brought from Stoat’s-nest, below Croydon, to cover the roads. This plant will not probably grow long there, because the material will be required for another purpose. The most interesting addition to our knowledge of localities for rare plants in this quarter (Sydenham) is the discovery of a situation for Sedum sexangulare, a plant which has not been observed growing spontaneously in England for a great many years. The only recorded locality near Sydenham is “ south wall of Greenwich Park, on the west end, Curtis.” Probably this is also the latest recorded account of the locality of this rare Sedum. It may be said that the locality is not genuine (wild), for there it may have been planted. True; but it may have been planted on the rotten walls of “Old Sarum,” and on other walls, as well as that of Greenwich Park, where it has been un- challenged. Veronica peregrina is reported from the Channel Islands; the second reported locality in the British dominions. It was first found in Ireland by the Rev. W. M. Hind, who kindly communicated his discovery to the ‘ Phytologist.’ It is to be wished that Mr. Wolsey and the other discoverers of rare plants would imitate his example ! Juncus pelocarpus, by some united to J. lamprocarpus as a variety, has been reported from the Tyne province ; also Fumaria Vaillantii from North Yorkshire. The discoveries in the neighbourhood of Perth have been neither few nor unimportant. The only new plant reported is Arenaria balearica, a species confined to the shores of the Me- diterranean. There is no evidence at present forthcoming to account for the plant’s being produced on the top of a shed or garden tool-house. The only fact certainly known is that it 6 ADDRESS OF THE EDITOR. [January, grew there for at least a few years,—the reporter did not learn how many, because there was no one there who knew. It must be accepted, like the Aremonia agrimonioides, which is not con- fined to a single spot in Scone Woods, but grows in various parts of the carse, though probably not in very great force. This latter plant, it will be seen from the Thirsk Report, has turned up in West Yorkshire. But if the new plants from Perth be few, the new stations recorded for some of the rarest of our favourites are numerous. In the first place, we have to congratulate Mr. Sim on the discovery of a new locality for Linnea borealis. This is one of the most interesting facts which has ever been published in the ‘ Phytologist.’ Cheiranthus Cheiri, Sedum album, and 8S. dasyphyllum (they are here combined because mural plants) have been found by Mr. Sim growing on the living rock, not on the dead brick or stone wall only. Our correspondent who sent a long list of Cheshire plants, saw it (the Wallflower) growing on the rock on which Beeston Castle stands, or rather stood. But in this case it may probably be truly said that the seeds dropped from the wall upon the rock, and there they grow. Is there an old castle or the remains of an old wall on the top of the rock by the river Tay, where Mr. Sim finds the Wallflower in such abun- dance? If there be not, how did it get there? By currents? Does the flood in the river ever rise so high as that part of the rock where the plant grows? Might not the birds have conveyed the seed? These are foolish or at least unprofitable questions, because no satisfactory answer can be given to them. The two Sedums have rarely or ever been seen so far north as Scotland. They have both an extensive European range, especially S. album. Probably both might appear on natural stations in the South of England, if rocks were as common as brick walls and tile roofs. As it is, S. album occurs many times more frequently than S. dasyphyllum, which is one of the rarest of our rare plants. Corydalis lutea is also recorded from a wall at Scone toll-bar. Last summer, while residing for a few days at Foot’s Cray, in Kent, I saw this plant in several places spreading from the gar- dens, where it was planted, and creeping over the shingly path. I did not see any of it on walls here, but abundance in the cottage gardens, where it grows luxuriantly. Few plants have 1860. ] ADDRESS OF THE EDITOR. 7 neater foliage than this has, Has this plant been observed in Scotland before? Is it in Hooker’s ‘ Flora Scotica’ ? Potentilla tomentosum (?) (it looks more like Continental- grown specimens, so called, than like P, recta, which has been seen in the neighbourhood of London) has been already reported. Doronicum Pardalianches and D. plantagineum have both been reported, from Moncrieff, as of spontaneous growth, or per- fectly naturalized, z.e. wild. A definite locality has also been assigned for Cynoglossum sylvaticum, Linaria repens, Helleborus fetidus, etc., all previously obscurely indicated as growing in that district. The range of the following must now be enlarged, viz. Stra- tiotes aloides from 54° to 57°, consequently this is an addition to the Scottish Flora. Also Helleborus foetidus from 55° to 57°. Lonicera Xylosteum from 51° to 57°, another addition to the Flora Scotica. Cynoglossum sylvaticum from 58° to 57°. In a parcel of plants, for which the writer of this is indebted to the curator of the Thirsk Natural History Association, there was a specimen of Anchusa officinalis, collected not far from Newcastle. An account of the locality and of the circumstances under which this rare plant was found would be highly acceptable to our readers. In the account of the Sydenham plants, Sedum albescens (S. glaucum, Sm.) should have been entered as found on the same part of the wall, and in juxtaposition with Sedum sexangulare, at Lower Sydenham. The two British Elatines (EH. hexandra and E. Hydropiper) were reported by the secretary of the Birmingham, or Worces- tershire, Natural History Society. These plants had been ob- served several years ago, and were entered in the ‘ Phytologist,’ in an article called the “ Flora of the Clent Hills.” Hesperis matronalis is another of Mr. Sim’s discoveries near Perth. This, it will be admitted, is a very respectable catalogue of novelties and discoveries for one year. A suggestion, made by one of our reverend contributors, to the effect that a list of the names and addresses of botanists in all parts of the kingdom would be very convenient both for cor- responding and four-going members of the fraternity, has been 8 ADDRESS OF THE EDITOR. [ January, long under consideration. The hint is so good and practicable that it did not require much consideration, but there was not a favourable opportunity of laying it before our readers till now. The intention of this notice is to urge all our correspondents to send us their names and places of abode for publication in the ‘Phytologist.’ It is further requested that, as there are many readers of our Journal who are not contributors, our friends will be so obliging as to supply us with the names, etc., of other botanists who are willing to aid their brethren, and who would not object to having their names published. We hope that many of these will consent that their names may be sent for publication. It is desirable to print and circulate a list as com- plete as possible of the name and address of every botanist in the United Kingdom, or in any of the colonies and dependencies of the same. The object or design of this list is sufficiently obvious ; but lest there should be any misapprehension on this head, let it be observed that the list is intended solely for the purpose of help- ing those who are more or less engaged in the study of plants, or who take pleasure in such pursuits. It is not brought for- ward either to increase the circulation of the ‘ Phytologist,’ nor to increase the number of its correspondents. This may ulti- mately be one of its beneficial results, but this is neither the primary nor the proximate motive for bringing it forward. Few botanists who have been sojourning for a few weeks, or only for a few days, in any particular locality, have not had occasion to regret that, at some time or other or in some place or other, they were not provided with such a list, especially on hearing when it was too late that there was a resident botan- ist in the place where they had just been, one who could have materially aided them in their researches. ThiS will in general be as gratifying to the resident or local or provincial botanist as it will be to the botanical tourist. The interchange of knowledge and opinion, the relation of personal observations and incidental scientific conversation, will be mutually beneficial. The correspondence of naturalists is always highly interesting and edifying, but personal intercourse, blended with the amenities of science and literature, is still more desirable. Few are they who will not heartily respond to this invitation ! 1860. ] ADDRESS OF THE EDITOR. 9 It ought to be understood that botanists who are unwilling, either from physical weakness or other infirmities, to associate with their brethren, should not send their names. There are, indeed, many professional men who love the science, and who would render all possible aid to a stranger, but who are hindered by their neecssary avocations from enjoying this plea- sure. Almost all botanists, however, who can enjoy this expen- sive luxury of tourification on non-professional objects are pro- fessionals themselves, and therefore little or no inconvenience can arise on this score. The benefit to science would be much, and the advantage to sociality, kind feeling, liberality, and enlargement of both mind and heart, would be more. We have known botanists travel thirty miles to procure a plant, to see it growing im its native place, to observe all the accidents and circumstances respecting it. It would be far more gratifying to go double the distance to see a fellow-student, who could probably lead us to the station of half-a-dozen rare plants, and, what is better, give us an op- portunity of knowing and appreciating himself; teaching us by an example how much a man is better worth seeing than any plant, however rare and valuable it may be. It is hereby requested that all botanists who are desirous of taking part in this new movement should forthwith transmit to the ‘ Phytologist’ their names and address. Further, as the list will be but a scanty one if it embrace only our usual correspon- dents, it will be necessary that every one who takes an active part in this should get the names and address of as many as are desi- rous of aiding us in this undertaking. The list of contributors issued with each volume of the ‘ Phy- tologist? does not answer our purpose. Many of our corre- spondents are anonymous ; others give their names without their locality, and, what is a graver objection, we have no right to assume that they will all courteously receive strangers and help them in their botanical researches in these respective localities. It may be so, and we hope it is, and from our own experience we know it is; but we will not take the liberty of acting on our own experience and knowledge. An assurance is required that the persons whose names are proposed to constitute our projected list are willing to afford all the assistance they can. Strangers must not be exactive. It is N. 8. VOL. IV. c 10 THE NEILL MEDAL. [January, an offer of pure goodwill, the spontaneous desire of mutual gra- tification. A resident botanist, if he cannot even point out the way to the inquirer, may be able to tell him who can, or may put him in the way of getting adequate information. The list will be printed from time to time in our pages, viz., when a suitable number of names has been received. At the end of the year the lists might be combined and printed together. They might also be issued separately if judged expedient. It is hoped that our readers understand the purport of the above remarks: if not, they may request further explanation. In fine, our thanks are respectfully tendered to our numerous contributors and supporters “for past favours,” and hoping for a continuance of future attentions, as the circulars issued at this period express the wishes of the commercial community, we wish our constituents the customary congratulations of the season. Chelsea, Jan. 1, 1860. The Royal Society of Edinburgh and the Neill Medal. At the opening meeting on 5th ult., for session 1859-60, of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, the Neill medal and prize was presented, through Professor Balfour, to W. Lauder Lindsay, M.D., F.L.S., for his ‘Memoir on the Spermogones and Pycni- des of Filamentous, Fruticulose, and Foliaceous Lichens,’ read to the Society during the last session. In addition to awarding this prize, the Society is expending a considerable sum in pub- lishing the memoir in question in the forthcoming part of its ‘Transactions’ (vol. xxii.), and in engraving the relative illustra- tions, executed by the author, which consist of twelve plates of between 400 and 500 drawings. The Neill prize was, by the late Dr. Patrick Neill of Canon- mills, the eminent Botanist, placed in the hands of the Royal Society to be awarded for distinction in Natural History ; and this year it was offered for “a paper of distinguished merit on a subject of Natural History, by a Scottish Naturalist, presented to the Society during three years preceding Ist February, 1859 ; and, failing such paper, for a work or publication by a distin- guished Scottish Naturalist, bearing date within five years of the time of award.”’ In awarding all its prizes, the Society is prepared 1860.] BELGIAN PLANTS. 11 to do the most ample justice to the merits of the papers sent in, by availing itself of the assistance of the most eminent authorities in every department of Natural History, both at home and abroad, who are called upon to examine and decide. The Medal now awarded contains, on one side, a profile of its founder, and on the obverse side the inscription, ‘‘ Adjudged for eminence in Natural History to Wm. Lauder Lindsay, M.D., by the Royal Society of Edinburgh.” Lord Neaves, one of the vice-presidents of the Society, in the course of his long and able inaugural ad- dress, remarked, in regard to the Neill Prize: “ The Neill medal and prize, founded by our late member, Dr. Patrick Neill, for the encouragement of the Natural History studies, in which he took a life-long interest, has been awarded*by the Council to Dr. Lau- der Lindsay, a Scotchman, but not a Fellow of this Society, for a paper on the Lichens, showing immense labour and research. This paper has been submitted to competent Botanists, for their opinion, and the Council have pleasure in stating that it has re- ceived their high approbation. It will, therefore, not merely be rewarded by the Neill medal and prize, but it is in the course of being printed at length in the ‘ Transactions,’ and of being illus- trated by numerous plates, beautifully executed by the well- known artist, Mr. Tuffen West, of London. The delay which Fellows of the Society have experienced in receiving their Fasci- culus of Transactions, arises from the wish of the Council to in- clude in it this important contribution, which will very soon be completed.” OBSERVATIONS ON THE FORMS OF SOME BELGICO- BRITISH PLANTS. From M. Crepin’s ‘ Plantes rares ou critiques de la Belgique. BaRBAREA INTERMEDIA and B. PRa&COX. “ J’insisterai toutefois sur la différence de saveur qui existe entre le B. intermedia et le B. precox: le premier est d’une abominable amertume, tandis que le second n’a point de gout désagréable, et de plus est mangé en salade. Si les phytographes avaient plus fréquemment insisté sur cette différence de saveur, nul doute que la confusion du B. intermedia avec le B. precoxr neat été ni si prolongée ni si générale.” 12 BELGIAN PLANTS. (January, Taste, like colour and smell, is oftener a distinctive character of a race or a variety than of a species. How many species of Pyrus, Fragaria, Prunus, etc., would be distinguished by the taste? The same question might be asked about the cultivated Crucifers, Brassica oleracea, etc. ow many myriads of species of Roses, Dahlias, Pansies, etc., might be distinguished by colour, and how many species of Mints, Calamints, etc., by smell? It may be true that these two forms of Barbarea are distinct spe- cies, and that they are recognizable by their taste, just as some species of Fungi are distinguishable by their colour; but such distinguishing characteristics are not usual. Note. M. Crepin observes that Barbarea precox, R. Brown, is B. patula, Gren. et Godr:; and that the veritable B. precoxr is a Belgian plant. Possibly it may be here also, although we are not so sharp-sighted as Belgian botanists. M. Crepin would ‘much oblige us by sending us sceds of the genuine B. precom, i.e. the Belgian form. PRUNELLA (BRUNELLA) ALBA and P. VULGARIS. The author of the ‘ Notes on some Rare or Critical Plants of Belgium’ is surprised that this species, P. a/ba, is combined with P. vulgaris as a variety of the latter. He distinguishes them thus :— P. alba. P. vulgaris. Seed oblong, when ripe not easily Seed obovate, easily detached detached from the disk. from the disk. The author maintains that there are other constant differences between these two forms or species, viz. in the form of the calyx, in the size and shape of the lower teeth, in the colour of the corolla (blanc jaunatre dans le B. alba; violette purpurime ou blanche dans le B. vulgaris), and perhaps, he adds, in the form of the casque or upper lip of the corolla. Also the plants differ in pilosity, in the forms of their leaves and in the stems of P. vul- garis rooting at the base, while the stem of P. alba has no such tendency. Will any reader verify these characters, and tell the writer what may be his opinion of their feasibility ? PoTAMOGETON OBLONGUS and P. NATANS. P. oblongus. P. natans. Nerves of the fresh leaves obscure. Nerves of the fresh leaves ¢rans- parent. 1860. ] BOTANICAL RAMBLES. 13 In a note to the above.characters, which M. Crepin calls con- stant, he adds, “ In 1856 I collected in deep water, between Bande and Champlon (Luxembourg), P. oblongus, with leaves one-third part larger than those of P. natans; and notwithstanding the extraordinary development of the stem and leaves in these plants, the fruit and spikes were as small as usual in this species. This fact does not corroborate the opinion of some botanists that P. oblongus is only a minor form of P. natans.” Siema. BOTANICAL RAMBLES IN JUNE, 1859. By Joun Sim, A.B.S.Eb. Ramsie 1V.—Banks of the Tay and Almond. In the latter end of June, 1859, I set out in search of Valeri- ana pyrenaica, Vicia sylvatica, and Erigeron alpinum. The first I found, the other two I found not. Erigeron alpinum is stated, p. 242 of Hooker’s ‘Flora Scotica,’ to grow near the Bridge of Almond, and Vicia sylvatica about the same locality was found by my friend Dr. Lindsay a few years ago. I have a specimen of it, gathered some years since _ by a Scone gardener at the same station, but though I searched long I could not find it. On this occasion I walked from the Bridge of Perth, along the margin of the Tay, until its junction with the Almond two miles above Perth, and then ascended the left bank of the latter for about a mile. In this day’s walk I observed the following plants:—Hieracium prenanthoides, border of a field, m a dry ditch, not yet in flower; Galiwm boreale, right bank of the Tay, in abundance, just coming into flower ; Avena pratensis and Festuca pratensis, also plentiful; Scirpus sylvati- cus not yet fully developed. Near the junction of the two rivers are two woody islets, containing about two and three acres re- spectively ; in them are found the following rather rare plants: — Geranium sanguineum, Cnicus heterophyllus, Doronicum Parda- hanches, Stellaria nemorum, Lychnis diurna, Hieracium prenan- thoides, Armeria maritima, Silene maritima, Solidago Virgaurea, Primula veris, and Thalictrum minus. I pursued my way northward, to the place where the two ri- vers meet, and crossed the Almond dry-shod ; this river, owing 14 BOTANICAL RAMBLES. [January, to the long continued drought, was almost dried up. I entered a plantation on the north bank and found two vigorous plants of Valeriana pyrenaica, but greatly mortified at finding the blossoms plucked off, most probably by children who herd cattle on the opposite bank. I ascended the river still further, expecting to find, above the Bridge, Vicia sylvatica and Erigeron alpimum, but found neither. I discovered plants of Astragalus glycyphyllus in abundance and luxuriance, and collected a case full. On high earthy banks, about a mile above the junction of the Almond and Tay, I gathered one or two specimens of Verbascum Thapsus, by no means a common plant; it was large and vigo- rous, six feet high. I observed plants of Chenopodium Bonus- Henricus, Anthyllis Vulneraria, Agrimonia Eupatoria, and Tra- gopogon pratensis; the latter is also plentiful about a mile and a half above Perth, along the banks of the Tay. The former is mostly confined to the banks of the Almond. Of other plants I saw none rare or uncommon that day. RamBie V.—Bog of Methven. This Bog is the only known station in Scotland for the singu- lar rush-like plant Scheuchzeria palustris. It is also interesting to the Botanist otherwise, as containing a few other rarities, such as Carex limosa and Cicuta virosa. I visited this Bog last | summer (1858), and procured a good supply of the Scheuchzeria. In June, this summer (1859), I went to it in order to get spe- cimens of Carex limosa, of which I obtained a great number. Cicuta virosa appeared more plentiful this year than the last, but only just coming into flower, consequently unfit for the Herba- rium of the practical Botanist. Carex vesicaria or C. ampullacea (I am not very well acquainted with the Carices, and these two species being closely allied, I cannot decide with certainty which of the two) covers nearly the half of the Bog, to the entire exclu- sion of almost every other plant ; the other half is mostly overrun with the delicate trailing stems of Vaccinium Oxycoccus. I visited the Bog, July, 1859, and the berries of this humble plant were in hundreds of thousands, but not quite ready. I have a specimen of Stratiotes aloides from another bog about a quarter of a mile distaut from the one in question, but as I have not seen it I can only believe in its existence, but hope to see it soon and to gather a supply of the Stratiotes for myself. The Scheuchzeria is plen. tiful, and is in no danger of eradication. 1860.] HUDDERSFIELD PLANTS. 15 When at the Bog, in June last, I visited the station where grows the rare Turritis glabra. I could only observe two plants; I gathered one, leaving the other to seed. I then made for the Railway Station, near to which, on the roadside, 1 procured a few specimens of Cerastiwn arvense and Erodium cicutarium. I afterwards got into the railway carriage, and in a quarter of an hour was in Perth city. I had another walk to the top of Craigie Hill, and discovered, in the corner of a plantation, several plants of Sanicula Europea, the first I have seen in this neighbourhood; and near Craigie village, under a hedge, two plants of Cnicus Eriophorus ; one had been in flower but destroyed, the other only had leaves. I saw another plant of it near Barn hill, but being also on the roadside, it will likely share the fate of its Craigie relative. Bridge End, Perth. HUDDERSFIELD PLANTS. The following notes have been just received from Mr. C. C. Hobkirk, the author of the ‘ History, Antiquities, etc., of Hud- dersfield,” being remarks and explanations about the botany of the district :— “ With respect to the aliens, I fear we shall lose many of them, as the shoddy has been spread over the fields, and whe- ther the plants will be able to grow under this change remains to be seen. Your assumption of the area of the district in ques- tion is about twice its actual dimensions—thirty miles will be its extent—and further, the whole district lies between 300 and 900 feet above the sea-level, and the geological character of the soil is wholly shale and sandstone, without any of the mountain limestone.” We supposed the dimensions of this district round Hudders- field to be about sixty-four square miles, which would be only a distance of four miles from the town on all sides. Knowing that the space between Huddersfield and the places where the plants are said to grow, viz. from six to eight miles, the diame- ter of the surface of the surrounding district must be at least twelve or sixteen miles, and therefore the area will be double of our estimate. If the superficial extent be only thirty square 16 HUDDERSFIELD PLANTS. [January, miles, the plants enumerated should all be found within a line or imaginary ring which is less than three miles distant from the town. Three miles radius will be a diameter of six miles, and, according to Cocker, the area will be 6x6x-+7954, or about twenty-eight square miles. But the distance to the localities of many of the plants is at least double or triple three miles, and therefore the area must be considerably above sixty square miles. Longwood is called an easy walk. Longwood Edge is still further. Three miles is not what a young man would call an easy walk. “ A stretch of four miles brings us back to Huddersfield.’ An equal distance in the other or opposite direction will give a diameter of eight to ten miles, and an area of between sixty and seventy square miles. Is Elland, famed for the urbanity of its male and female popu- lation, only four miles from the market-cross, or even from the modern boundaries of the present town? Is Kirklees only four miles from the town? Are the moors where Hurtberries and Cowberries grow only four miles off? We are informed that the following plants do not grow there, and we take the author’s word for this, because he surely knows more about what grows there than we do :— “ Malva sylvestris has not yet been found in the neighbourhood of Huddersfield, so far as I am aware; neither have Geranium sylvaticum, G. pratense, and G. pusillum. There is not a single plant of Lythrum Salicaria on the banks of our streams; its place seems to be usurped by Valeriana officinalis. Hieracium vulgatum and Carduus lanceolatus should be inserted. Centaurea nigra has been shown me in a dried state, but the authority is not reliable. Azra precox you will find on reference to page 130. I have not yet heard of Hquisetum Telmateia being found. “‘ In addition to the list I can now include—Draba verna and D. incana, found by Mr. William Guthrie, at Ainley; Hypericum Androsemum, Myriophyllum verticillatum, and Salix viminalis. “ C. C. Hopxrrk.” After all the explanations given as above, and the additions made, we do not think the Huddersfield Flora a rich one. Our comparison is with the South of England, where there is a greater number of species than in the middle or the north of England. . But, from personal experience of the results of botanizing, we 1860. | CHAPTERS ON BRITISH BOTANY. A anticipate that considerable additions remain to be made to the Flora of Huddersfield. When Mr. Hobkirk prepares a second edition of his work, he is recommended to enter the distances of the respective localities from the town. A small map of the district would be a useful addition. CHAPTERS ON BRITISH BOTANY. CHAPTER IV._THEOPHRASTUS AND THE EARLY BOTANISTS OF GREECE. Rhizotomi (rhizotomists), Root-diggers or Herbalists : superstitious practices of: some of them noticed by Theophrastus and Athenzus.—Theophrastus : his life, by Diogenes: his History of Plants. There were heroes before the Atridz led the armies of Greece against Troy. Fortes vixere ante Agamemnona. There were botanists before Theophrastus. Greek botanists are quoted in his ‘ History of Plants.’ He has preserved the me- morial of these early plant-seekers and root-diggers, even to these our days. But if Theophrastus be not the first botanist, he is the earliest writer on the subject whose works are extant. To Greece is usually attributed the honour of being the in- structress of Europe in learning, science, and art. Whence the Greeks obtained their knowledge we do not precisely know, pro- bably from Egypt and the East, certainly not from the West. That they were the instructors of the Romans we also know; and the latter became not only the masters, but the teachers of the world. It may be said, truly enough, that Britain did not get the knowledge of plants from Greece. Very likely the ancient Bri- tons knew as much Botany before the Romans invaded and sub- jugated the aboriginal inhabitants of these Isles, as they did subsequently to the Roman invasion. But it should not be for- gotten that our acquaintance with the acquisitions of our fore- fathers in botany and in all other branches of learning, is derived solely from the writers of Rome and Greece. On the botany of the Druids, Pliny is almost our only authority. The subject is ouly incidentally noticed in the histories of Cesar and Tacitus. Pliny’s knowledge was collected from the Grecian authors N.S. VOL. IV. D 18 CHAPTERS ON BRITISH BOTANY. [January chiefly, and from the works of such of his countrymen as had, prior to his era, devoted some attention to the subject. The only work on botany exclusively, now extant, to which Pliny refers, is the ‘ History of Plants, by Theophrastus.’ Therefore, we look for the origin of our botany and our botanical literature in Greece. Pliny is not the oldest extant authority. There were botanists before Theophrastus, as there were poets anterior to Homer, dramatists before Alschylus, historians be- fore Herodotus, but the sole memorials of these early students of plants are to be found in the works of the father of the science, Theophrastus. The work of this eminent Grecian philosopher is the earliest to which reference can be made. The rhizotomists, as the early Greek herbalists were called, had their name from their calling. They were root-diggers, as the word implies; and lke their brethren of a later date, in our own country, they were generally both ignorant and superstitious. They attributed magical virtues to roots and herbs, and practised various superstitious usages when they cut and collected them. Some plants were to be gathered by night, some by day, some with the body anointed, some while fasting, others after eating garlic and drinking strong wine. Like the disciples of our an- cient Druids, the neophytes were instructed to describe a circle, with the knife or digging implement, thrice round the plant to be moved (three was a mystical number both among the ancient Greeks and ancient Gauls or Celts) ; sometimes to dance round it and talk obscenity (vepsappodiccwy) ; also to look towards the sun; or to turn their faces to the wind. Many more absurd and ridiculous practices of the early herbalists are recorded. Although the reputation of these primitive collectors was cal- culated to throw general discredit on the whole order of botanists, some of the rhizotomists left behind them works which were thought worthy of being quoted both by Theophrastus and Athe- neeus,—for example, Tharyas, who was a notable pharmacopolist, and knew the nature and properties of herbs, and gave rules whereby the salutary might be known from the noxious plants (see Theoph. ix. 18). Aristophilus gave directions for detecting plants possessed of aphrodisiac virtues or qualities. These properties have attracted the notice of all herbalists both ancient and modern. The above-named rhizotomists (herbalists), together with Me- 1860. ] CHAPTERS ON BRITISH BOTANY. 19 nestor, Hippon, Leophanes, Diogenes, etc., lived prior to Theo- phrastus. Theophrastus was, says Sprengel, the most celebrated of all the ancient botanists, and truly deserves the title of the Father of botanical sciecce. He is called Eresius, from a town or place in the island of Lesbos, where he was born, 370 years before our era. His father was a fuller, named Melantha, and his own name was originally Tyrtamus, which was changed by Aristotle to Theophrastus, because, as Pliny says, he was very eloquent (a divine speaker), from which most excellent quality he obtamed his divine name. His teachers are said by Diogenes (not the Cynic, but another divine-born son of the muses, viz. Diogenes Laertius, who wrote the lives of the philosophers) to have been first Leucippus, one of his own citizens, next the divine Plato, and last the famous Aris- totle. When Aristotle retired from the Peripatetic school, his pu- pil and friend, Theophrastus, was chosen to be his successor. So great was the reputation of this celebrated school, while under his charge, that it was attended by two thousand students. His fame was not only spread over all Greece, but it extended to Egypt, then a Grecian kingdom, and he was invited by Ptolemy, the son of Lagos, to Alexandria. He attained to great longevity, having lived more than one hundred years. This is inferred from a sentence in his work, entitled ‘Cuaracters,’ although Diogenes states positively that he died in his eighty-fifth year. But whether he lived upwards of eighty years or upwards of a hun- dred, he lived for the benefit of his contemporaries, for the in- struction of future generations, and for an honour to humanity. He was not, however, contented with the space of time allotted to him by nature, for he blamed her because she had given along life to crows and stags, although to them it was of no great use, and denied it to men; adding, 7juevs, o7roT’ apyoueba Env, ToT’ atro@veoxomev (but we no sooner begin to live than we die). Ci- cero, in his ‘Tusculan Disquisitions’ (Questiones) takes up the same complaint against nature, justly affirming that if a longer life was granted to eminent men, they would make more progress in knowledge, wisdom, and virtue. He was so much beloved by his citizens (Athenians) that he was honoured with a public funeral. The Athenians followed 20 CHAPTERS ON BRITISH BOTANY. [ January, his remains to the tomb. His eloquence has been already allu- ded to. He was a great lover of his country, and twice freed the state from tyranny. He was most affectionate, prudent, and most laborious. ioe It is reported of him that in his orations and lections he care- fully studied and practised every position and gesture of body and countenance, employed every motion and modulation of tone, in order that he might enforce his arguments or render his oratory more persuasive and efficient. After his decease, he bequeathed his garden, and all the sur- rounding buildings, to the citizens of Athens for ever, and ap- pointed ten men as trustees, and whose names are preserved in Diogenes. These were to take care that this his intention should be strictly carried into effect. His works were very numerous; Diogenes preserves the names of 227. Of all these the only books remaining are the nine books, and a fragment of the tenth, of the ‘ History of Plants;’ and six books De Causis Plantarum. With the exception of the ‘Cua- RACTERS,’ all the rest of the works of this philosopher and natu- ralist are to be reckoned in operibus perditis—*lost labours” —hbooks no longer extant. Sprengel, whose remarks form the groundwork of the above, further writes; in reference to this earliest ‘History of Plants :? “Theophrastus, in the description of plants enumerated by him, does not treat of them in that systematic order of arrangement and description practised in our times. He follows no method, except it be the juxtaposition of plants which agree in economi- cal uses, native country, locality and habit. Aquatic plants, pa- rasitical plants, pot - herbs, trees, cereals, vegetables wild and cultivated, are treated in separate sections, or in distinct chap- ters. His work abounds in repetitions, the same object being frequently repeated, although new characters and uses may be as- eribed to it.” Thus far Sprengel. The following is a brief analysis of the contents of this most ancient treatise on plants, from the Oxford edition of Stackhouse, the most convenient within reach. Theophrastus divides or classifies all vegetation into three divi- sions,—trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants ; and in this he is fol- lowed by almost all botanists down to the seventeenth century. The father of English botany, the illustrious Ray, adopted the same classification in his Synopsis of the British Flora. 1860. ] CHAPTERS ON BRITISH BOTANY. 21 A subject which has caused much controversy in modern times, viz. the transmutation of species, was not unnoticed by the earliest botanists. Theophrastus devotes much labour to the question about the degeneration of trees and herbs,—of the change of one species into another, as, for example, of Sisymbrium into Mint,—of wheat into rye, wupos evs arpav. These changes are alleged, not on his own authority, or as the result of his ex- perience, but as hear-says, and he is in the habit of qualifying his statements with the hypothetic phrase evrep yuwerat, if it be so. Barley, he says, will be converted into wheat during the process of growth, if only stripped of its integument or husk, mri Gera Aas. He complains that there were peas in his time that never could be “boiled soft,” unless they were steeped the previous night in an alkaline solution; Bpefavra yedevovow ev viTp@ VUKTL. Annual and perennial plants are distinguished, and also the difference between herbaceous and half-shrubby kinds. External form is often well-defined in the ‘ History of Plants; ’ for example, the various characters of roots, as the fleshy, the tuberous, the fibrous, the woody, the creeping, etc. ; also the ha- bit of stems, the situation of branches, the forms of leaves, fruits and seeds, evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs. He de- scribes the winged or compound leaf as 7repvya, a term equiva- lent to Linnzeus’s term pinnatum. Besides the number and position of the external organs, he knew and described the internal structure, viz. the cells, tissues, and sap. The economical uses, and the mode of cultivating the useful plants, occupy a large portion of his work. In his time, the vine, the olive, the fig, the apple, and the pear, were the most impor- tant fruits of Greece. In addition to these, he describes many other fruit-trees which were not the natural produce of his coun- try, viz. the pomegranate, plum, peach, etc. Like Pliny, he gives lists of plants useful for garlands ; among these he assigns the first rank to the rose, the lily, the narcissus, the crocus, cenanthe (not our umbelliferous cenanth). Among fragrant flowers, the violet and the phlox (pink ?) occupy the chief place. In treating of the duration of leaves, or of the deciduous and 22° CHAPTERS ON BRITISH BOTANY. [ January, evergreen leaf, we are told that in the island of Elephantina the vine and fig-tree are evergreen. Possibly this phenomenon may be observable im some mild winters in the south of Europe, even in deciduous trees. Many of our current technicalities are used in the ‘ History of Plants ;’ for example, in fruits, monocarps, polycarps, pericarps, angiosperms, gymnosperms, ete. He appears to have distinguished between monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants, and gives examples of both. Genera are also well distinguished, and species, but the latter rather more obscurely than the former. His great object appears to have been to give his countrymen a popular history of their cultivated and useful plants ; for although he makes a distinction between wild and reclaimed species, yet both were equally useful. The cultivated trees producing food, the wild timber; the gar- den vegetables were for the table, the wild for fodder and pasture. There is also much information about the means of extracting gums, resins, and oils from plants; also on their alexipharmic (antidotal) and magical properties. Pliny’s great work is stuffed with this learning, as we shall see when the Roman knowledge of botany is under consideration. These properties have been handed down almost to our own times. In these early days now under notice, the properties of hot and cold in the first, second, and third degree, had not been discovered. Much of what this history contains was adopted from the po- pular or vulgar opinions, prejudices, and superstitions ; and that the author did not give implicit credence to all that he heard ap- pears from his frequent use of pact, “ it is said,” or “‘ the Arca- dians say.” What he describes from his own observation or from that of others, is reliable; his notice of the Banyan fig-tree, which had not been long known in these times, is well and graphically given by our author. It is not likely that this tree was known in Greece prior to Alexander the Great’s invasion of India. There will be occasion for entering into this subject with greater fulness when the specific identity of the plants of Greece and Britain is before us. This will be the subject of the next chapter. 1860. | REVIEW. 23 Webiew, Enumeratio Plantarum Zeylanie. An Enumeration of Ceylon Plants. By G. H. K. Tawairss, F. L. S., Director of the Royal Botanic Garden, Peradenia, Ceylon. London: William Pamplin. The following account of this interesting island is from the ‘Colombo Overland Observer ?:— “The area of Ceylon being about 25,000 square miles, the population to the square mile is about seventy for the whole island. But the propor- tion varies exceedingly, according to the nature of the soil and the climate. In the Western Province, with its fertile soil, its fine climate and its com- mercial advantages (more than four-fifths of the commerce of the Island being conducted at the Port of Colombo), we have, in an area less than one-sixth of the Island, nearly one-third of its population: the rate to the square mile being about 148. The Eastern Province, on the other hand, although it boasts of the magnificent harbour of Trincomalee, the rich rice- fields of Batticaloa, and fine forests of timber, does not contain 16 inhabi- tants to the square mile. The Western Province is 3,820 miles in extent, and contains more than 560,000 inhabitants; while the Hastern Province, with its ruined tanks and feverish wastes, has only 74,000 inhabitants to an area of 4,753 miles. The Northern Province, the largest in the Island, contains a larger proportion of depopulated wastes than even the Hastern. Where once the great city of Anooradhapoora stood, and where Dootoo- gamino reigned over a teeming population, fever and silence now brood over the ruins of former opulence. The mainland portion of the Northern Province is still more scantily peopled even than the Eastern; but the character of the whole Province is redeemed by the beautiful little Penin- sula at its northern end, conquered from the sea by the coral insects, covered in many parts with rich red soil, and peopled at a rate rising from 70 to the square mile at the end where the European planters are culti- vating Cocoa-nuts, to 1,000 where the Tamils, by the aid of a hot sun and ceaseless irrigation, raise teeming crops of Grain, Tobacco, Chillies, Onions, Yams, Plantains, and Oranges. The extent of the Northern Province is no less than 5,427 miles, the population 299,795, of whom probably five- sixths are concentrated on the small peninsula and islets which face the extreme southern point of Continental India. The rate of population to the square mile is about 55. Next to the Northern, the Central Province is the largest, and, in view of the fact that it is the scene where the great Coffee-growing pursuit has been chiefly developed, it may perhaps be re- garded as the most important. Unfitted for the growth of the Cocoa-nut, 24, REVIEW. [| January, which supplies the wants of so large a portion of the inhabitants of the Maritime provinces; and the scene, up to a recent period, of desolating wars and still of practices which check population; the vast area of the Central Province, 5,191 miles, embraces a population of only 244,904, the proportion to the square mile being under 50. The greater portion of what is called the Mountain Zone is within the limits of this Provinee,. but the hilly region, which is exclusively the scene of European coffee plantations, runs into the Western and North-Western Provinces. Over this region are scattered some 100,000 Tamil labourers from Southern India, who do not enter into the returns we are analyzing. In the Hill country the Kandian Rice terraces are interspersed with the European Coffee estates,—Coffee generally commencing at the altitude where Rice cultivation ends. But a large portion of the Central Province, where it marches with the Eastern and Southern, is not hilly, but flat and waste and feverish, the rivers, which once fed the Sea: of Prakrama, being now al- lowed to ‘wander at their own sweet will’ through scenes whose beauty cannot be surpassed. Alas that it should be the beauty on which men ~ cannot look and live! We do not doubt that health and life will be yet restored to scenes which at present are as fatal as they are fair; but the work is not to be done in our day. Of the 600 Europeans now engaged in the cultivation of Coffee in Ceylon, about three-fourths reside in the Central Province. The North-Western Province is one recently erected by annexations from the Western and Central, which, with advancing com- merce and business, were becoming too unwieldy. The seat of its Agent has been moved from Putlam, the principal town of the Maritime and Salt Districts, to Komegalle, the capital of the Seven Korles and the centre of a considerable Coffee cultivation on the part of Europeans, and Rice cul- tivation on the part of the Natives. Cocoa-nut cultivation, by Europeans and Natives, is continued from the Western Province along the shores of the sea and backwaters of this Province. The Salt manufacture here is of much importance ; and a canal, which is now in good order, is the medium by which thousands of cwts. of this condiment are carried to the Western Pro- vince. The extent of the North-Western Province is 2,362 miles, the popu- lation 190,000: showing a proportion of about 57 inhabitants to the square mile. The Southern is the smallest but not the least important of the six Provinces into which the Island of Ceylon is divided. It contains Dondra Head, the extreme southern point of India, and its chief Port is Point de Galle, well known to all travellers by the Overland route as the great central port of call for steamers. Language of the most glowing and poetical descriptiou has been used to describe the rich Oriental scenery and the beautiful vegetation which here bursts on the view of ‘ Overland ’ pas- sengers from England,—scenery and vegetation rendered still more attrac- tive by a lively recollection of the hot, sterile lava-rocks of Aden. The 1860. ] REVIEW. 25 view includes Adam’s Peak, the mountain sacred to Hindoos, Buddhists and ~ Mahomedans alike. Adam’s Peak is really a mountain, and is conspicuous to navigators from its form and position; but it is not the highest moun- tain in Ceylon, though geographers say it is. Its summit is 7,420 feet above the level of the sea. The mountain plain of Newera Ellia, the Sa- natorium of Ceylon— ““ Where Europe amid Asia smiles,’’— is only 1,210 feet lower, and over it tower three mountain-masses, which are all higher than Adam’s Peak, viz. Pedrotallagalla, which is 8,280 feet above the level of the sea, and which therefore overtops Adam’s Peak by 860 feet ; Kirigalpota is 7,810 feet high, and Totayala 7,720. Adam’s Peak therefore, though the most conspicuous, is not the highest mountain in Ceylon. *« By far the larger portion of the population of Ceylon are engaged in agriculture. But as yet they grow only two-thirds of the Rice consumed in the Colony. Those engaged in manufactures are chiefly arrack dis- tillers, oil-makers who use the native bullock chekko, weavers, potters, carpenters, masons, etc. A goodly number of the people now find employ- ment in connection with the European establishments for the preparation of Coffee and the manufacture of Oil. Cask-making has largely developed with the increase in the exports of Coffee, until now there seems some danger of the available timber being exhausted. The larger portion of the timber used in Colombo is obtained in the forests of the Eastern Province, chiefly in the neighbourhood of Batticaloa. For the railway, timber is to be imported from Western Australia.” We have taken a longer extract than usual, because the sub- ject is of unusual importance. This beautiful Island presents the most attractive features to intending emigrants, as well as the most promising field for the investment of capital. Ceylon pro- duces the most valuable commercial commodities, which have been celebrated ever since the treasures of the Hast were acces- sible to European enterprise. History of Singhalese Botany. “‘ Nearly two hundred years ago (1670) D. Paul Hermann came to Ceylon at the expense of the Dutch East India Company, for the purpose of describing all the plants and spices growing in the Island, and remained here about seven years. “‘ During this period he made drawings of, and collected and preserved a considerable number of Ceylon plants. He learned to read and write Singhalese, and we are not surprised to find that then the Singhalese names he received with facility were generally correct. N.S. VOL. IV. E 26 REVIEW. [January, . ‘He sent to Holland yearly collections of seeds and roots of the most rare plants, and besides the famous collection of dried plants which formed ~ the materials of the ‘ Flora Zeylanica’ of Linnzeus, he sent home or gave duplicates to his friend John Commelyn and others. “« Whilst here he was assisted in describing the chemical and medical properties of plants by Grim, who also wrote a work on the plants and minerals of Ceylon. «The collection kept for Hermann’s own use consists of five large folio volumes. The first three contain Ceylon plants only ; the fourth contains Ceylon and Cape plants intermixed ; and the fifth contains the drawings. ** Hermann returned to Holland in 1769, and between this year and the time of his death* in 1695, he wrote and published several illustrated books on Botany, most of the plates of which were reduced coples.s of those in the fifth volume above referred to. ‘« He left an unfinished catalogue of the Ceylon plants, called the ‘Museum Zelanicum,’ which was published at Leyden in 1717, and again in 1726 ; the first edition having been edited by William Sherard, of Eltham. “John Hartog was next sent to Ceylon by Sherard, to collect plants. He sent a collection of seeds to the Botanic Gardens at Amsterdam, and a collection of Ceylon plants to Vossius, which, together with those given by Hermann to Commelyn, if not even Hermann’s own collection, came into the possession of Dr. John Burmann, who paid much attention to their description, and who in 1737 published the ‘Thesaurus Zeylanicus,’ a quarto volume illustrated by 110 generally well-executed plates. This work contains the descriptions, in Latin, of all the scattered Ceylon her- baria referred to above. “The ‘Museum Zeylanicum,’ which was written to agree with the chaotic arrangement of Hermann’s Herbarium, is embodied in Burmann’s work. ** Burmann is said to have been assisted in this work by Linnzeus, who was then a very young man. “The plants of Burmann’s work are arranged alphabetically, the botanic, barbarous, and native names being all mixed together. It contains a great mass of useful information, but even for that period cannot be called a scientific work. Ten years afterwards (1747) appeared the ‘ Flora Zey- lanica’ of the immortal Linnzeus. “ Some authorities state that Hermann’s own collection of dried plants * Hermann was born at Halle, and was employed by the Dutch East India Company as a physician in Batavia and the East. He probably returned in 1679, and became professor at Leyden, where he published, in 1687, a catalogue of the plants in the Botanic Garden of that famous University. In 1690 he published a Flora of Leyden. He died in 1695. The date in the text is probably a misprint for 1679. 2 1860.] REVIEW. 27 formed the chief materials of Burmann’s work, whilst, in the ‘ Flora Zey- lanica,’ Linnzeus distinctly states that it disappeared after Hermann’s death (1695) till chance threw it into the hands of M. Gunther (apothecary to the King of Denmark) more than fifty years afterwards (1745). Gun- ther sent it to Linnzus, requesting him to examine it, and affix the names to the plants throughout the collection. “In more than one written life of Linnzeus which we have read, and in which his works are enumerated, we do not recollect the ‘ Flora Zeylanica’* to have been included, though Linneeus tells us that he devoted a consider- able portion of two years (1745-7) to the examination of those plants and to writing the ‘ Flora Zeylanica.’ . “It was not many years prior to this that Linneus published the sexual system of plants, and the classes and orders depending on it, and it is very likely that his ‘Flora Zeylanica’ was the first work on the par- ticular botany} of a country arranged according to that system. “ Hermann’s collection had been made seventy years before, and had been considerably knocked about, but by dipping the flowers into spirits, and by the use of a lens, Linneeus was able to classify the greater portion of this herbarium. It consists of about 600 plants, of which the true places in the system are assigned to more than 4.00; the rest he called obscure or barbarous. “ The examination of Hermann’s herbarium not only enabled Linnzeus to settle many doubtful species, but to form thirty new genera, which are given in an appendix to the ‘ Flora Zeylanica.’ It contains four plates, and indices to the botanical, Malabar (Tamil), Singhalese, and officinal names. ““ The system of attaching specific to the generic names of plants, which * Extract from Linneus’s Diary, written by himself :—‘ Professor Hermann, of Leyden, who was sent in the last century by the Dutch to describe all the plants and spices that grew in Ceylon, happily returned hence, but did not complete the undertaking. After his death the herbarium was lost to the learned world, until at last it came into the hands of Gunther, the apothecary at Copenhagen, who, wishing to know the names of the dried specimens, sent to Holland, where he was informed that nobody was likely to discover the names but Linneus, in Sweden ; he therefore sent them to Upsala, when Linneus discovered the collection to be Hermann’s, and was rejoiced to be the person to save from destruction this trea- sure, which had hitherto been missing. He devoted himself day and night to examining the flowers, which, from the great length of time they had been dried, rendered his task almost Herculean ; and he wrote his ‘ Flora Zeylanica,’ which was now about to be printed. + The ‘ Flora of Lapland’ was published in 1737, ten years before ‘Flora Zey- lanica ;’ and the ‘ Hortus Cliffortianus,’ the most splendid of all Linnzus’s works, was published soon after. In both these works the sexual system is carried out. See Dr. Maton’s work on the ‘ Life and Writings of Linneus,’ also ‘Flora Lapponica,’ © Hort. Clif.,’ ete. 28 REVIEW. [ January, Linnzeus is said to have borrowed from Rumphius, was not in vogue then ; hence the plants of the ‘ Flora Zeylanica’ have no specific names attached, but such were given in the first edition of Linneeus’s ‘ Species Plantarum.’ _ *** Linneeus authenticates the herbarium by showing that the numbers of the plants answer to Hermann’s ‘ Museum Zeylanicum.’ On the death of Count Molcke, who became the possessor of this herbarium after Gun- ther, it was purchased by Sir Joseph Banks (for seventy-five guineas), and still forms part of his immense collection ; the specimens are mise- rably damaged and mutilated, but many of them retain the Singhalese names annexed in Hermann’s handwriting, and also generic names and synonyms in Linneus’s. This herbarium, along with Sir Joseph Banks’s other collections, is now in the British Museum.’ ** It was consulted by Wight and Arnott for the elucidation of their Leguminosee and Balsaminez only. *« Mr. William Ferguson devoted a considerable portion of the summer of 1857 to a careful examination of the whole, making full notes on all the species, most of which, even the barbarous and obscure, he was able to recognize. ** Mr. Ferguson assures us that even now, after a lapse of nearly 200 years, most of the specimens are not only fit for botanical purposes, but that some of them retain the colour of their flowers and fruits; among other instances, the beautiful Pea-plant, so common in fences about Co- lombo, the Katarodu of the Singhalese (Clitoria ternata), and the Goda- maranda (Syzygium Zeylanicum), so common in the Cinnamon Gardens, the former of which retains the 4/we colour of its flowers, and the latter the white colour of its fruits. “The ‘Flora Zeylanica’ was the last work specially devoted to the botany of Ceylon in the eighteenth century. “'Thunberg travelled here in 1795, and from pp. 170 to 192 of the fourth volume of his ‘ Travels’ we have the results of his researches in Cey- lon. He paid some attention to our botany, but figured and described, in the Linnean Society’s Transactions, a species of Dillenia (D. integra) which really does not exist, and which therefore has puzzled all subsequent botanists. His plant was doubtless some form badly drawn of the Goda- Para of the Singhalese. «« We now come to the English period, but as on a former occasion we noticed at some length the labours of Moon, who was the only English- man up to Mr. Thwaites’s time who left a record of his labours behind him, we shall have very little to record. «* Mr. Kerr, who was sent here from China in 1815, at the recommenda- tion of Sir Joseph Banks, was the first resident supermtendent of our Botanical Gardens, but he died the following year, and left but little record of his labours. Moon, the author of the ‘ Catalogue of Ceylon Plants,’ 1860. ] REVIEW. 29 the only work devoted to the botany of Ceylon in the English period, had charge of our botanic establishments from 1817 to 1826. , We perceive that ample justice is being done to his memory by Mr. Thwaites. An interesting genus of Composite plants was named after Moon by Dr. Arnott. Andrew Walker was in charge of the Botanic Gardens in 1827. James MacRea, a Scotchman, was in charge for three years (1828 to 1820), and made and sent to England considerable collections of plants, especially our Labiate and Grasses. Dr. Wight named a genus of Euphorbiaceous plants after MacRea, of which we have about nine species in Ceylon. “ George Bird was in charge of the Gardens in 1831. «« J. G. Watson, a pupil, we believe, of the celebrated Dr. Wallich, was in charge of the Gardens from 1833 to 1838. He lived fast, and died, and we believe there is no other record of his labours. « A Mr. Nightingale travelled here for the Duke of Northumberland about the same period, and made some collections of Ceylon plants. «« J. G. Lear collected plants for Mr. Knight, the great London nur- seryman, and acted as superintendent of the Peradenia Gardens in 1839. For the seeds of a beautiful species of Convolvulus sent home by Mr. Lear to Mr. Knight he received £20, and had the honour of knowing that the plant was named Pharbitis Learii. We believe that this beautiful creeper grew up amongst some seeds received by Mr. Lear from South America. “¢ Mr. Normansel was superintendent from 1840 to 1843, and paid much attention to Coffee land, but has left no record of his botanical labours. “« Mr. William Ondaatjie, a medical sub-assistant, and also a pupil of Dr. Wallich, was acting superintendent in 1844. Mr. Ondaatjie pub- lished some interesting papers on the botany of Ceylon in the Govern- ment Almanacs, and attempted to claim the first discovery of the Madder and Gum Kino plants in the Island, but both were given, with their stations, in ‘Moon’s Catalogue’ in 1824, and indeed we are assured that the Rubia Zeylanica, sylvestris, Quadrifolia major of Burmann’s ‘ Thesaurus,’ is this very Madder plant. “‘ Dr. Gardner was superintendent from 1845 to 1849. He brought great industry and science to the work, but died suddenly and prematurely without accomplishing much. «« Dr. Wight was here in 1836, and travelled in Ceylon in company with Colonel Walker, the husband of the accomplished Mrs. Walker, who has done so much towards illustrating the botany of the Island by her beauti- ful and accurate drawings. On his return to Coimbatore, and with the object of writing a new edition of ‘Moon’s Catalogue,’ Dr. Wight took with him Moon’s collection of plants, and Dr. Gardener visited Dr. Wight with the object of comparing the collection with Dr. W.’s own rich herba- rium. Dr. Gardener in this way did good service, and has recorded the 30 REVIEW. [ January, fact that in Moon’s collection were to be found nearly all the species which subsequent Superintendents were able to discover in Ceylon. ‘* There is a gigantic forest-tree in the hilly district of the Island, bear- ing a large prickiy fruit, and well known to our planting friends as the Katu- bodder, which, by a singular coincidence, was supposed by Moon to be the real Durian, Durio zibethinus, and is given as such in his ‘ Catalogue,’ p- 56, but he gives the Singhalese characters for ‘ Katu-moda,’ or prickly fool, instead of those for the kattu-bodda, the tree, which was no doubt meant ; while the late Dr. Gardner described at full length, in the ‘ Cal- cutta Journal of Natural History,’ the same tree as Durio zeylanicus. * Dr. Wight, on the other hand, has pointed out Dr. Gardener’s blunder in supposing the tree to be a species of Dwrio, and has figured and described it in his ‘ Icones,’ tab. 1761-2, as the Cullenia excelsa (R.W.). He deaicated the genus in honour of Major-General Cullen, resident at the Court of the Rajah of Travancore, who has devoted a large share of his time to the study of economical botany. “ Dr. Wight, who is the greatest living Indian botanist, has done much towards illustrating and describing the botany of Ceylon in his ‘ Icones Plantarum,’ ‘ Illustrations of Indian Botany,’ and his other works. “* Besides the drawings of Ceylon plants made by Mrs. Walker, and sent to Dr. Wight and Sir W. J. Hooker, the Colonel made large collec- tions of Ceylon plants, some of which are at Kew and Oxford. “ The late gallant and accomplished Lieutenant-Colonel Champion, who received his death-wound in nobly repelling an attack of the Russians at the Battle of Inkerman, paid considerable attention to the botany of Ceylon, and one of the best papers on the subject that we have read for years is one by him on the general and geographical distribution of the botany of the Island, and which appeared in the ‘ Ceylon Calendar for 1844.’ In an article from the pen of his friend Sir W. J. Hooker we are informed that the lamented Champion had made notes of several new genera and species of Ceylon plants, which he intended publishing if his life had been prolonged. “ Mr. Thwaites, the accomplished author of the ‘ Enumeration of Cey- lon Plants,’ which has called forth our notice, was appointed superinten- dent of the Royal Botanic Gardens in 1849, and is now director of the same establishment. “Those who are aware of the labour and almost insurmountable ob- stacles Mr. Thwaites had to contend with in writing such a work as the one under review, will readily admit that he must have worked like a Her- cules for the nine years he has been in the Island. « Mr. Thwaites brought with him the very best qualification for scientific botany, and that is, great command in the use of the microscope ; for we know that in the examination of the Diatomacez, the very lowest class of 1860. | REVIEW. ol vegetables or animals, Mr. Thwaites established a European fame before he came to Ceylon. ; « Respecting the labour attending such a work as that of Mr. Thwaites, none, perhaps, but those who have paid considerable attention to botany can appreciate it. Were he to sit down and write all he found in books, or the names and information given by natives and others for the most common plants of Ceylon, he could certainly write a large book, and a book that to a great number of readers would doubtless be a very inter- esting one; but to separate the truth and the really useful information from the mass of contradictions and rubbish such a work would be sure to contain would be as difficult a task as that of ridding a dirty Coffee estate of the planters’ two great enemies, the Hullan-talla and the Spanish Needle, respectively known to botanists as the Ayeratum conyzoides and the Bidens Chinensis, neither of which is admitted to be a native of Ceylon ; or to get through a jungle composed of Rattans, Kudumirris-weel, Maha, and Heen- - Eraminyas, all of which are calculated to impress the traveller with the sentiment conveyed by the words ‘ Wait awhile.’ To illustrate more fully our remarks, we refer our readers to the contradictory accounts of the mode of extracting toddy from the Palm-trees ; some asserting that an incision is made into the tree, into the leaves, or into buds above the leaves, while very few describe the operation correctly. «We have ‘always advocated the importance of obtaining the native names of the plants, and have asserted that the majority of the Singhalese are, from necessity, as vegetarians, considerable herbalists, and well ac- quainted with the names of the mass of the common plants of their coun- try ; but we would guard our readers against the supposition that they will take the trouble to give correct names, unless they find out that the person asking for information can detect a gross deception, or discriminate the applicability of the names so given. “‘ While there are certain genera of plants, for every species of which the natives can give unvarying names, there are others containing ten to twenty species, for all of which they can only give one or two names. We shall instance the genus Memecylon, of which Mr. Thwaites, in his list of genera, gives thirty-three species, twenty of which will likely be found good ones ; the Singhalese seem to know only ¢wo names, viz. Welli-Kaha and Kora- Kaha, and one or other of these they invariably give for at least ten species of this genus. In regard to their idea that there is a larger proportion of the flowering plants which never produce flowers, they are not less igno- rant in this respect than a great number of our own countrymen. On one occasion we were collecting specimens of that interesting plant the Her- nandia Sonora ; it was loaded with fruits, and on asking an Englishman, who lived close by and who also assisted in procuring the specimens, if he could see and bring down some with flowers on, our botanical pipe was 32 BOTANICAL NOTES, NOTICES, AND QUERIES. [January. put out by the following philosophical reply: ‘That tree never bears no flowers, Sir.’ ‘Similar information from the natives is given in this style:—‘* Mal nay Mahatmeya,’ or ‘ Nickan gas,’ or ‘ Wal gas, mal mama dootova nay ;’ ‘No flowers, Sir; useless or wild plants ; I’ve not seen their flowers,’ ete. “‘ We recollect seeing in the Ceylon Journal for 1833 an amusing letter from a writer adopting the signature of ‘ Bivalve,’ wherein he graphically described the mode in which he obtained the native names for plants he collected about Putlam. His informant was his Appoo, and on asking this functionary how he knew so readily the names of every plant, the botanist received the following grave reply: ‘It’s all the same to master, he writes every name in one book !’” - When the third Part appears, this interesting Island Flora will be again submitted to the readers of the ‘ Phytologist,’ and the economical plants will be compared with the ‘ Useful Plants of India,’ a very interesting book on Indian botany. This work will also be noticed as soon as there is room for a review equal to the importance of the work. BOTANICAL NOTES, NOTICES, AND QUERIES. WorMwooD. In Saltmarsh’s ‘ Sparkles of Glory,’ chap. i., speaking of the knowledge of Solomon, he says, “‘ Solomon’s heart was large, like the sand on the sea- shore; and he was wise, from the Cedar in Lebanon to the Wormwood in the wall.” Is the Wormwood here named the common Wormwood ? And does it grow on walls? We often find the Hyssop named by writers in reference to Solomon’s knowledge, and also the Moss, as growing on the wall, but Wormwood is new to me. Soe Communications have been received from William Curnow; Rev. T. F. Ravenshaw; J. S. Mill; John Sim; H.C.; W. L. Lindsay, M.D.; Edwin Lees, F.L.S.; Wiliam Pamplin; - T. F. R.; Sidney Beisly. BOOKS RECEIVED FOR REVIEW. Natural History Review, October, 1859. Zusttze und Berichtigungen zu meiner Flora der Pfalz, von Dr. F. Schultz. Commentationes Botanica, auctoribus Schultz Bipontinis. The Critic; four numbers. The Friend. [| February, 1860. | 33 ADDITIONAL NOTES ON THE FLORA OF BELGIUM. By H.C. Our walks last summer having enabled me to add a few more rarities to my herbarium, I think the following list of them may not be uninteresting to the readers of the ‘ Phytologist,’ espe- cially those whom the facilities of steamboat and railroad travel- ling may tempt to visit the picturesque environs of Dinant. As before, I name my plants alphabetically. Aconitum Lycoctonum. Valley of the Bocq, near the village of Bauche, in a wood on the right bank of the stream, leading towards Purnode. Cotoneaster vulgaris. On the little ruin above the village of Houx, and in the adjoining wood. Crepis hiennis. One of our common meadow plants. Gentiana cruciata. Fonds-des-Rivaux, between Houx and Di- nant. Helleborus viridis. “On the bank of the Moulinet, near the ruins of Montaigle. M. Crepin says, “well established and appa- rently indigenous.” Meracium Auricula. Persoon distinguishes H. dubium from H. Auricula by describing the former with “scapo subquadri- floro, nudo,’ while the: latter has “scapo wnifolio, subsex- floro ;”’ but these do not seem to be constant characters, for in many of my specimens the leaflet on the scape is wanting, and few have more than four flowers. Plentiful in a meadow between Houx and Arvagne, and on the waste ground above the Fonds-des-Rivaux and Leffe. From this station I fear cultivation, that enemy to botany, will soon extirpate it. The last time I passed there, the ground was being ploughed _ up and burnt, preparatory to sowing. Orchis coriophora and ustulata. Meadows along the Meuse, be- tween Yvoir and Godinne, where they grew abundantly. Rumex scutatys is so common on our limestone rock, that I was surprised to see it between brackets as doubtfully “ natural- ized” near Edinburgh, in Babington’s Manual, and alto- gether excluded from Bentham’s and Irvine’s Handbooks. Senecio paludosus. Island in the Meuse, opposite the village of -Houx. N.S. VOL. IV. F 34 A DAY’S COLLECTING AT LowESToFT. [February, Stachys alpina. Valley of the Bocq, near Banche, on the border of the same wood in which grow Aconitum Lycoctonum and Lunaria rediviva. . In the spring I was invited to spend some time with a friend at Liége, and rejoiced m the thought of making quite a harvest of rare plants, but, Haonina ele bad weather effectually pre- cluded any botanical rambles. My only captures were Holosteum umbellatum, which grew abundantly by the side of a ditch along the towing-path and up the hillsides im the Val Bénoit, and Veronica Buxbaumit, very common in a lane near the railroad. The only other locality 4 in which I have met with this latter was at Newmarket, in the parklike grounds formerly the property of the famous (?) Crockford, and which are still known by his . name. In another part of the same grounds there was a good patch of Doronicum plantagineum, but whether indigenous, or in- - troduced with the trees under which it grew, I had of course no means of ascertaining. I must not omit to mention, in reference to my former Notes, that the last wet spring brought forth Crassula rubens and Poly- gala comosa again, in great abundance; and’ that our Corydalis bulbosa (solida, Smith) is the variety digitata, Reichenbach. We searched the valley most carefully, but could not find a single specimen with undivided bracts. -I must likewise rectify two slight misprints in my June ee. mstead of the Visdre, the river is the Vesdre; and our village is Houx (the French for Holly), not Honx. A DAYS COLLECTING AT LOWESTOFT. By H. Triuen. While staying for a short time at Lowestoft, during the past August, I collected a few plants which I think it may be useful to enumerate for the benefit of future botanical visitors to the east coast. Lowestoft, I should first mention, is by no means a good lo- cality (botanically speaking), and I would not recommend it to any collector. It consists of a long straggling town, divided into two parts by the river Waveney, which forms its harbour, and { f i 1860. | A DAY’S COLLECTING AT LOWESTOFT. 35 which is crossed by a bridge which thus connects the two parts of the town. The new town lies to the south of the harbour, and consists of new seaside lodging-houses facing the sea, and behind them are flat damp fields and marshes. About a mile south of Lowestoft lies the maritime village of Pakefield ; thence to Southwold, some eight miles further down. the coast, are low sandy cliffs, with cornfields on their top, and beneath them a very sandy seashore. North of Lowestoft is an extensive heath of about four miles in length (north to south), which slopes down to the sea, and below which lie the ‘‘ Denes,” which are sandy flats overgrown with grass and maritime plants; this 1s perhaps the most productive locality. At the back of the town there are only farms and fields in a high state of cultivation, with nothing much in a botanical point of view. After this short but necessary preamble on the dullest fae scenery, I will now proceed to mention the plants of Lowestoft, and I prefer doing this in a colloquial way than to giving a mere list followed by exact habitats, which, though perhaps useful to a scientific botanist or to one who knows the locality treated of, is very unattractive to one who, like myself, takes in a botanical periodical for amusement as well as instruction, and who does not take sufficient interest in the geography of the place men- tioned to care about the precise locality of a plant growing there. On a fine morning, then, in August, 1859, I set out with vas- culum, digger, eae portfolio, determined to get something or other, along the shore toward Pakefield. On the sand grew S. Kali, together with Cakile maritima and Atriplex arenaria. Eryngium maritimum was also common. On mud round the harbour I found Atriplex littoralis and Sueda maritima, and on waste places near, Linum usitatissimum and Diplotaxis tenuifolia (some specimens three or four feet high) were common; I also found here a curious specimen of Achillea Millefolium tn which the ray-florets were reduced to almost “ nil,” and the segments of the leaves very few and undivided. Continuing my course along the shore, near Pakefield, on an artificial bank facing the sea, Reseda lutea had established itself, growing among Hchium vulgare, Helminthia echioides, etc. A little way inland, near here, I found Reseda suffruticulosa grow- mg spontaneously (I do not say indigenously) on rubbish in plenty, as in many other places round the town. A little beyond 36 A DAY’S COLLECTING AT LoweEsTorT. [ February, Pakefield I left the beach and betook myself to the high-road ; in the hedges and ditches of which, Pimpinella magna, Sison Amomum, and Lotus major abounded ; in damp hedges I had the pleasure of finding Dipsacus pilosus, a plant I had never before seen alive. On waste ground by the wayside I gathered Sisym- brium Sophia, Carduus tenuiflorus, Onopordum Acanthium, and a variety with white flowers of Carduus nutans. ooking over the gate of a field, a fine plant of Silybum Marianum gladdened my eyes. This I think by far the handsomest of the British Thistles. I did not put it in my vasculum, but carried it home in my hand, and it has made fine specimens. I found also in this field Hry- simum chewranthoides, which is by no means a common plant at Lowestoft. In fields near Carlton Colville, a village to the west of Lowes- toft, I collected Centaurea Scabiosa, Melilotus officinalis, Tri- folium fragiferum, etc., and, in sandy turnip-fields, Diplotaxis mu- — ralis, a very common plant here. I now crossed the Waveney again by Mutford Bridge. The river just here spreads out into a lake called Oulton Broads, a good fishing locality, but with no botanical treasures, unless Lysimachia vulgaris and Valeriana officinalis can be called so. Just beyond the bridge, by the side of the road, grew fine specimens of Verbascum pulverulentum, a singular plant with very floury leaves and spikes of flowers,-V, nigrum grows also near. Faeniculum officinale is common in every hedgerow, growing to a great height, with Tanacetum vulgare. On a small heath opening on to the road I found the little Linum catharticum with the tall Hieracium umbellatum, while in watery places dlisma ranunculoides was common. As I was now nearly north of the town, I determimed on examining the heath which lay im that quarter. I was however disappointed, nothing growing there, save the usual heath plants ; I discovered there however what I find to be Chenopodium rubrum, but which differed from that plant in bemg quite pro- cumbent, and in having thick fleshy leaves, whereas all the specimens of “rubrum” that I ever have found are remarkably upright plants, and the leaves far from fleshy. On descending again to the shore, the first thmg I saw was a quantity of that loveliest of plants Convolvulus Soldanellia. They looked so beautiful that I almost thought they were modelled in wax. Of this plant I preserved a good deal; but alas for its beauty in the herbarium ! 1860.] PRIMROSE, OXLIP, AND COWSLIP. 37 Trifolium arvense and Beta maritima were of course common enough. I should have mentioned before that south of the town the rare plant Medicago minima was common on grassy places near the sea. I had nearl¥ reached home, tired enough with my walk, when I saw, on the bank of the road, by my side, great quantities of a small pink blossom. On gathering it I at once recognized it as a Trifolium, but never having seen any like it, I was much puzzled to think what it could be. I have since found it to be, without doubt, Trifolium resupinatum. That it was spontaneous here no one who saw the plant could have doubted for a moment. For about eighty yards of the roadside it was very plentiful, ‘and had I known what it was, I should have gathered more than I did. This, I think, is quite a new locality for this plant, which seems to be rapidly gaining ground in this country as a native. I hope that this little memorandum of the plants of Lowestoft may be useful to some reader of the ‘ Phytologist, to which periodical I wish ail possible success and good fortune. Some Observations on our Common Primrose, Orlip, and Cowslip, and on their Claims as Distinct Species. By Guorce JorpAn. For many years I have wandered over their native localities, in woods, meads, and commons, far distant from the habitations of mankind. In those places I find them undoubtedly as un- varying as when they first appeared by the command of the Cre- ator of all things which adorn the earth’s surface, and will con- tinue so until it may please the Creator to establish a new order of things. The physical habits of each bespeak a peculiar orga- nization, obscured and incomprehensible for the limited faculties of man to develope, however acute a physiologist. The specification of plants in the present state of botanical knowledge is indefinite, and not sufficiently comprehensive to give to many of our plants their specific claims; and the nomen- clature is m many instances not sufficiently significant; so that some good species are considered varieties, and some varieties species. In a numerous tribe of plants, frequently many of them 38 PRIMROSE, OXLIP, AND COWSLIP. [ February, are so nearly allied to each other that it requires every character and habit of each to be taken into consideration to give them their just claims as species, even to a chemical analysis. The habits of those three differ as much a& their physiognomy. The | Primrose is decidedly an arboreal, the Cowslip a pastural plant; the Oxlip has no predilection for any locality, being but sparingly found anywhere: no condition increases its numbers, as it does that. of the Cowslip. By agriculture the Cowslip flourishes; by agriculture the Primrose is destroyed. The Primrose may be seen in flower six months in the year, the Oxlip and Cowslip not so many weeks. I have known the Primrose’s sylvan domain destroyed, and long furrowed by the plough, and then pastured: in time Cowslips began to spring, and continually increased, but no Primroses ap- peared,—only a few that found a refuge at the hedge, having escaped the wreck and ruin of their ancient heritage and race. The Primrose is found in profusion in our woods and copses ; the Cowslip and Oxlip are but sparingly found in their native woodland glades or commons. They all prefer a stiff, dry, rather poor soil: in rich pastures they do not abound. The Primrose likes its sylvan shade; the Oxlip, the woodland glade; the Cow- slip prefers the upland mead. It must be evident to every one what can be accomplished by art in the metamorphism of plants in the Order Primulacee, and many other tribes; so that man, by torturing Nature, has by those metamorphisms obtained, not created, a most gorgeous floral world of his own, which he only holds on sufferance. If he neglects his trust, Nature will recall the charge, and strip them of their gaudy array, and place them in their pristine state of simplicity. I have cultivated these three plants for many years with many varieties of the Polyanthus: those from seed produce regularly an endless variety of forms, of all shades of colour, and monstrosities. I have not found the Cowslip, Oxlip, or Primrose to undergo much change of character in the garden. Insects are extremely fond of the Polyanthus, which causes such an endless variety when produced from seed; and often, many of those plants growing near together, the pollen is imme- diately transmitted from one flower to another. The Primrose, in its native wilds, far distant from the Polyanthus of the gar- 1860. | MUSTARD-TREE OF SCRIPTURE. 39 dens, suffers no change of character; the pollen is not hkely to be carried on the proboscis of those insects, as it would be on the feeding parts of insects in general. How happy were the days of our infancy, when we im fairy groups went Maying to the Primrose copse to pick the full-blown Primroses from their messy couch, prattling on our infantile affairs, to us then of much import, ere care in our bosoms found a place, or sorrow more than a momentary stay! With the Primrose corolla-tubes we blew our fairy trumps, then sang our morning hymn responsive to the feathered warbler’s matin song, ‘the selfsame song which their first parents raised at life’s first dawn to sing their Maker’s praise. Then to the meads, to pick the Cowslip flowers to make our Cowslip ball, or in our little baskets pick their corollas to make that soothing wine so much famed in those epidemics to which infancy is prone and oft so fatal. MUSTARD-TREE OF SCRIPTURE. Salvadora Persica, the true Mustard-iree of Scripture. (From Sir J. HE. Tennent’s ‘ Ceylon.’) “The identification of this tree with the Mustard-tree alluded to by our Saviour is an interesting fact. The Greek term ot- va7rt, which occurs in St. Matthew xii. 31 and elsewhere, is the name given to Mustard; for which the Arabic equivalent is Chardul, or Khardal, and the Syriac Khardalo. The same name is applied at the present day to a tree which grows freely in the neighbourhood of Jerusalem and generally throughout Palestine, the seeds of which have an aromatic pungency, which enables them to be used instead of the ordinary Mustard (Stnapis nigra) ; besides which, its structure presents all the essentials to sustain the illustration sought to be established in the parable, some of which are wanting in the common plant. It has a very small seed : it may be sown in a garden. It grows into an ‘herb,’ and eventually ‘becometh a tree; so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.’ With every allowance for the extremest development attainable by culture, it must be felt that the dimensions of the domestic Sinapis scarcely justifies the last illustration ; besides which, it is an annual, and cannot possibly 40 FERNS OF WHEATHAMSTEAD. [ February, be classed as a ‘tree.’ The Khardal grows abundantly in Syria; it was found in Egypt by Sir Gardiner Wilkinson ; in Arabia by Bové; on the Indus by Sir Alexander Burns; and throughout the north-west of India it bears the name of Kharjal. Combi- ning all these facts, Dr. Royle, in an erudite paper, has shown demonstrative reasons for believing that the Salvadora Persica, the Kharjal of Hindostan, is the Khurdal of Arabia, the Chardal of the Talmud, and the ‘ Mustard-tree’ of the parable.” Sir James adds further, that in Ceylon it attains a height of forty feet. A LIST OF THE FERNS OF THE NEIGHBOURHOOD OF WHEATHAMSTEAD, HERTFORDSHIRE. By HE. Epwarps. Blechnum Spicant. Beech Bottom, Sandbridge; rare. Pteris aquilina. Generally distributed. Polypodium vulgare. Generally distributed. Var. acutum and serratum very fine near Brockett. Polystichum lobatum and aculeatum. Wedge-banks; sparingly. Polystichum angulare. Very fine and abundant in many places, but never, or very rarely, growing near or intermixed with the precedmg. At the junction of the parishes of Wheat- hamstead and Sandbridge, im the Devil’s Dike (an earthwork probably of the contests before the Norman conquest), it occurs in boundless profusion.—Surely this may always be distinguished from its congeners, although late in the year, and in winter, a few of the most mature fronds may seem to put on some of the appearances of P. aculeatum. Lophodium multiflorum. A very scarce Fern hereabouts. The only examples I have met with occurred on hassocks of Carex cespitosa, at the margin of the Lea river. Lophodium spinulosum. Dowdell’s Wood; rare. Lastrea Filix-mas : a, affinis ; and 6, Borreri. Plentiful in woods and lanes; ec, abbreviatum ?, more rare. Athyrium Filiz-feemina: a, convexum ; b, incisum ; and ce, molle. I believe that each of these (species?) may be detected in Dowdell’s Wood. Asplenium Adiantum-nigrum. In a few places. Asplenium Trichomanes. Sandbridge, Little Ayot. ee, 1860. | BOTANICAL SKETCHES FROM NORTH WALES. 41 Asplenium Ruta-muraria. Walls, Lamer House. Phyllitis Scolopendrium. Mackery End, Brockett. Ceterach officinarum. On an old brick wall in the adjoming parish of Harpenden. Ophioglossum vulgatum. Pastures in several places. BOTANICAL SKETCHES. Botanical Sketches from North Wales. By a Correspondent. As the way or ways to North Wales are about as well known as the way to the ‘ Elephant and Castle’ or the ‘ Angel,’ Islington, space need not be filled with descriptions of routes which are now as well trodden as the road to Bath. The traveller, or tourist, or botanist, may enter the Principa- lity either by the Llangollen-road station, on the Shrewsbury and Chester line, or by the ancient city of Chester, which is now reachable by three lines,—the London and North-western, the Great Northern, and the Great Western. Some botanists might prefer to go on by rail as far as Bangor or Carnarvon, the nearest stations to the grand botanizing erounds of Llanberis, Nant Francon, the Great Glyder, Twll Du, and Snowdon. The present historian of Welsh Botany began at the Liangollen-road station, and the following is a brief ac- count of what he saw. My botanizing in Wales this season (1859) began on the 20th of June, when I was within view of the Castel Dinas Bran and the Eglwyseg Hills. Here the aspect of the entire country within sight, including the vale of Llangollen and the mountains on either side of the Dee, is totally different from the scenery of England. The lofty, steep, craggy mountains, the deep vale, the rocky channel of the impetuous river, remind the visitor that he is no longer in rich, ereen, comfortable England. In the vegetation there is nothing - to mark this transition. One of the commonest plants on the stone walls and on the waste spots on the road leading to Llangollen town is the Weld, or Dyer’s-weed (Reseda Luteola). This plant, which abounds about Llangollen, is not very com- mon as the traveller advances up the vale of the Dee. N.S. VOL. IV. G 42 BOTANICAL SKETCHES FROM NORTH WALES. [ February, I made a list of the plants growing near and on Castel Dinas Bran, and this will include the plants of Llangollen, or all that I observed during my short stay in this fashionable place. This list has been already published in the ‘ Phytologist,’ vol. iii. 379. The next morning, viz. the 21st June, I left by coach for Corwen, where I met by appointment my friend, W. P., and we walked on to Llandderfel (eight miles), where we arrived in time for dinner. On the 22nd we walked up the hill from Llandderfel and along the Bala and Llangynog road to Pont-y-Beddws, about halfway between these two places. In the bed of a mountain-torrent which crosses the road, which is carried over the glen and stream on a very rustic and picturesque bridge, we botanized an hour or two. The results of our botanizing were not very remarkable. Pzn- guicula vulgaris is common in all upland boggy places in Wales from 300 feet above the level of the lower streams to 3,000 feet ; also Saxifraga stellaris, not so common, but plentiful in the a of Pont-y-Beddws. Vaccinium Myrtillus abounds everywhere on heathy parts of the Berwyns, also V. Oxycoccus and V. Vitis- idea are far from being unfrequent. Lysimachia nemorum and Hypericum pulchrum also abounded in this place. The Ferns were of the commoner species, viz. Pteris aquilina, Athyrium Filix-femina, Lastrea Filix-mas, L. dilatata, L. Oreopteris, Blech- num boreale, etc. etc. On the verge of the road where the bridle- road to Llandderfel jois the Llangynog road, there is plenty of the elegant W% ahlenbergia hederacea in a station not likely to be destroyed by modern improvements for some considerable time. It will be long ere the builder makes an inroad on the domain of this beauteous floral gem. The same day we searched about an artificial small lake in an upland pasture field near Llandderfel, and collected some mag- nificent examples of Botrychium Lunaria, nearly. a foot high, with branching fertile fronds. This completed our botanizing on the 22nd. The 23rd was spent in looking round and into Llyn Creyny, about three or four miles from Llandderfel. On our way thither, in a field just across the high-road from Corwen to Bala, on the north side of the river Dee, several fine examples of Vicia Orobus were met with; also on all the pastures Habenaria bifolia was common, and on some elevated moist grassy nooks and corners 1860. | BOTANICAL SKETCHES FROM NORTH WALES. 43 H. albida ; the latter not nearly so common as the former. Orchis maculata is the commonest Orchis in Wales, as it is everywhere else in the British Isles. In a grassy bog, before reaching the turnpike-road, not far from the ‘Boot’ inn, a few colonies of Orchis latifolia were seen. This was the only locality where this species was observed in this neighbourhood. In an old dry stone wall, on the hill to the north-west of Llyn Creyny, there are many patches of the neat and pretty Parsley Fern (Allosorus crispus). The pastures of this hill also produced Habe- naria bifolia and H. albida, the former more plentiful than the latter ; also numerous plants of Hieracium, not in flower; proba- bly H. tridentatum. H. vulgatum was in flower everywhere from Llangollen to Lian-y-Mowddy. The lake is small, probably nearly a mile in circumference. The water is pure and clear as crystal ; it abounds in pike, which suffer few other fish to reach a large size. The botanical productions of this small alpine lake are Isoetes lacustris, Littorella lacustris, Lobelia Dortmanna, Subularia aquatica, Potamogeton natans, and probably P. pusilla, one or two of the Myriophylla, and the queen of British flowers, the magnificent Waterlily. On returning, we visited the remains of the ancient Beitich or Roman camp, Caer Creyny, on the summit of a lofty hill, on which Sir W. W. Wynne erected a tower, or speculatoria, which is very conspicuous. From this station a fine view is ob- tainable of the vales of Glyndiffwy and Corwen. The celebrated pass and fall of Pont-y-glyn, between Cerrig-y-Druidion and Corwen, is visible from this point. The foss and vallum of this ancient fortress are very entire, though the former is very much encumbered with the débris of the latter. Like that at Dinas Bran, it had been originally con- structed of small stones, and there were some remains of vitrifi- cation. Tn passing down the hill towards the ‘ Boot’ inn, we walked on what appears to be an ancient Roman road, and which may pro- bably be a portion of the same ancient via which led over the Berwyns from the south, and which is so very complete about a couple of miles above the celebrated fall of Pistyll Rhaiadr. Before reaching the ‘ Boot’ inn we turned in at a gate into a sort of orchard, at a farm on the old road to Bala, and under 44, BOTANICAL SKETCHES FROM NORTH WALES. | February, the trees saw abundance of the rare Dwarf Elder (Sambucus HKoulus), commonly called Dane-wort, and supposed by some learned botanists to be the true Androsemum of the ancients. What say “S. B.” and the etymological botanists who strive to enlighten the readers of the ‘ Phytologist’ on this abstruse point ? The superstitious legend relates that this plant grew up where the Danes were slaughtered. The Danes might reverse the point of the myth, and say that the plant grew up where the Saxons were killed. The Danes, however, did not write the early his- tory of England, or the plant might perpetuate the memorial of something not so flattering to Anglo-Saxon vanity. The Dane-wort, or Dwarf Elder, has a very fetid smell, and the suspicious qualities and forbidding appearance of the plant may have given origin to the name. The Danes were no fanciful terror, no superstitious bugbears, but a sad reality, a cruel scourge to this land. The 24th was spent in going to Bala, and on our way to this rather pretty market town of Merionethshire, Cynoglossum Om- phalodes was observed, well established, though in a park, called Brynhilwg. Hypericum Androsemum was also seen by the road- side near Bodweyne. The afternoon of this day was devoted to home botanizing ; and in a lane certainly less than a mile from a farm called Plas- issa, where the young ladies are fond of flowers, and very suc- cessful in the cultivation of their floral favourites, several fine patches of Lamium maculatum, with variegated leaves, were ob- served. . As this was one of the domestic botanical pets, it may be a question whether the plants seen in the lane migrated from the garden to the hedge, or escaped from cultivation. Appearances, it must be admitted, are in favour of the latter supposition. Several plants then and there cultivated were, by reputation at least, supposed to be from wild stocks. This was not, on inves- tigation, found to be invariably the case. The 25th was devoted to a journey over the Berwyns from Liandderfel to Pistyll Rhaiadr. This was the longest walk we had as yet undertaken. Our course was down the left bank of the Dee, which we crossed about half a mile above Llandrillo. Near the bridge Thalictrum flecuosum, or one of the varieties or species imto 1860. ] BOTANICAL SKETCHES FROM NORTH WALES. 45 which 7. minus has been split, was seen in tolerable pleuty. 7. flavum is said to grow in the vale of Eydernion, but we did not see it,—I did not,—but we saw Cynoglossum officinale in Llan- drillo, a scarce plant here, and Geraniwm lucidum, which is not scarce in several parts of North Wales. The vegetation of the Berwyns would soon be catalogued. The common Heaths, the Milkwort, Tormentil, a few Rushes (Juncz), a dozen or so of Cyperacee,—tor example, Scirpus cespitosus,— afew Carices, and Eriophorum. The most common plant next to Calluna vulgaris is Juncus squarrosus (Goose-corn). This con- stitutes almost the sole vegetation of large, flat, elevated, moist mountainous tracts. Cultivation is encroaching on the brow of the mountain, which is in many parts very steep. Miles of a flat dreary waste intervene before the ridge or summit is reached. The Ferns begin to disappear at about 1,500 feet of elevation, and towards the summit there is no living creature; neither rep- tile nor insect is visible. There is however no want of vegetation ‘even here. But a single pair of ravens were the only birds we observed. On the steep, rocky south side, sheep and even colts were observed at great elevations. Here the herbage was of a different sort, being mostly of a more succulent nature than that on the north side. This side, the southern, is hollowed out into immense cwms (combes), flanked by steep sides, and termi- nating in rocky prominences on the mountain-ridge. These nar- row combes, after some miles, open out into broad fertile fields and meadows, such as in Scotland would be called straths. In the combe above Pistyll Rhaiadr there is, at the head of the opening in the mountaiu’s side, a circular basin of pure water, somewhat like the Loch-na-Gat on Ben Lawers. There was no vegetation whatever in this Berwyn pool. We regretted that we had not a pinch of Anacharis Alsinastrum to throw into it. It would have been a charitable act if there be any living creature in it; and if there be not, it would have afforded some sustenance to the ducks and other aquatic birds by which it is visited in the winter months. It would be next to impossible for a stranger to reach Pistyll Rhaiadr from Llandrillo without the aid of a guide. It would be easy for such as are naturally endowed with strong thews and firm resolution to accomplish the feat of crossmg the mountain ; but when the summit is reached, the traveller is still two or three 46 BOTANICAL SKETCHES FROM NORTH WALES. [ February, miles from the fall, and no direction given him on the other side would assure him of a successful journey through these wilds to the Pistyll. We had the advantage of a kind friend, who was eyes to us as Jethro was to Moses and the Israelites in the wilderness. He came as far with us as to be able to show us the precise locality of the fall, which we could not see till within a hundred yards of it. We descended the glen, keeping on the right side of the rivulet which issues out of Llyn Cwn, till we reached the little river Rhaiadr, which falls into the stream we descended, and forms this celebrated fall. At this time the water was scanty, but the rocks were as formidable as ever. The dry season, though it di- minished the quantity of water in the spout, did not diminish the height of the crag, which has the fame of being the highest in Wales ;—not the loftiest rock, but the longest waterfall. Those who have seen all the Welsh pistylls, spouts, waterfalls, or cataracts, will be better able to testify to the merits of this celebrity than I, who am not personally acquainted with many of them. The water which fell when we were there would be sufficient to turn a heavy wheel, and it fell down an almost perpendicular black crag, said to be 240 feet high. When near the bottom, the stream rushes through a natural arch, and falls into a deep basin, flanked by two prominent rocks. This is a miniature Niagara, or a Welsh Niagara. It has all the accessories of its Transatlantic relative, viz. a deep, bosky dell, slippery rocks, paths, bridges, and an inn. It wants nothing but plenty of water to rival its western namesake. Like the Irishman’s dinner, where the garnishing was present and the roast beef absent, the aquatic element is very deficient. There is a good story printed somewhere; but if not printed, it has long been in oral circnlation. Some ancestor of the great Wynne family, or some scion or relative of that ancient stock, engaged a famous artist, a foreigner, to paint a picture of this waterfall. When the work was finished and submitted to the squire, he blamed the artist for leaving out the sheep, which, he said, gave vitality to the scene. In Wales, and in some parts of England, the word sheep is pronounced exactly as ship is; and in Wales the word when used in the plural is ships: of this we had 1860. ] BOTANICAL SKETCHES FROM NORTH WALES. 4.7 sufficient evidence when at the falls. When the squire asked the artist wherefore he did not paint a few sheep on the canvas as adjuncts to the picture, the artist said, “Ships do you want? You shall have a fleet of them.” He took back his painting, entered some vessels sailing boldly up against the rock, and thus gave vitality to the scene. The Gothic-built inn which is mentioned in some of the guide- books, is not quite so mythical as the ships on the mountain stream below the falls of Pistyll Rhaiadr. Speaking courteously or figuratively, it, the house built by Sir W. W. Wynne, may be called an inn, even although the fare obtainable be humble. The fair hostess is civil, and the charges very reasonable. We met here with an original, in the person of a burly Welsh farmer, of Llansilin, who was here shearing his ships, as -he called them. He took us for mining engineers, or geologists at least, and wished us much to see some specimens of ore which he picked up in a brook which ran through one of his fields, and over a vein of lead. He also told us of some pieces of ore that had a yellow hue, and probably contained copper, or even gold. He was desirous of getting our opimion about the metalliferous value of the ores hereafter to be discovered on his farm, and we were solicitous about the nearest way back to Llandderfel, which we guessed could not be far short of twelve miles across the mountain, the larger portion of it without so much as a track to guide us. The farmer before mentioned told us to ascend to the head of the fall, and keep along the brook (druck, he called it) till we reached some sheepfolds, and then to walk towards the ridge of of the hill; when this was reached, neither to turn to the right nor to the left, till we met the Llangynog and Bala road. We knew our way right well when we got to the road, and there was no difficulty in reaching it. We asked our informant the distance from the falls to Llan- dderfel. He said that it was a ride of five hours. He did not tell us how long a walk it was. On returning we clambered up the steep rocky eminence which is on the right side of the Pistyll, and at the summit of this pro- . jecting spur of the mountain we had a long and delightful pro- spect in the direction of Llanrhaiadr, Llanarmon, Llansilin, and Oswestry. 48 BOTANICAL SKETCHES FROM NORTH WALES. [| February, On the rocks here Cotyledon Umbilicus grew profusely and luxuriantly. The extreme altitude of this plant is estimated at 900 feet above the coast line. From observations made in Wales last summer (1859), its extreme recorded elevation was found to be somewhat under the mark. Probably 50 or 100 yards might be added to the estimate given above. The southern slopes of the Berwyns are clothed mostly with Grass. The Rush, Heath, and other moor plants, only appear near the summit, but they clothe the entire north or Welsh side slope, till within about a mile or so of the vale of the Dee. Among the. Heath, as we came along, fine specimens of the Cowberry, Vaccinium Vitis-idea, were noticed, with here and there the straggling or trailing stems of the Cranberry, V. Oxy- coccus, now exhibiting its beauteous floral gems: it is a lovely little creeper. Plenty of the Cloudberry, Rubus Chamemorus, grows in peat- bogs; but we did not see any specimens. We reached home in little more than five hours, well pre- pared to enjoy the repose of the morrow, which was the day of rest. Our botanical knowledge was not much increased by this long walk. ‘The only plants collected at the falls were Sawxifraga hyp- noides and Geum rivale. There are many other plants there, but they are mostly of more frequent occurence than these are. Among these may be mentioned Cardamine sylvatica or C. hir- suta, Luzula sylvatica, Valeriana officinalis, and multitudes of the uady Fern, etc. The Woodrush appeared on the very sum- mit of the mountain. } Our next long walk, on the 27th June, was to Llan-y-Mowddy, about eighteen miles from Bala. The road to this, one of the most interesting of all the plea- sant vales of Wales, and there are many, is through Bala, along the eastern side of the lake Llyn Tegid. From Llandderfel the most picturesque route is to cross the river at the lower end of the village, and to go along under the wall of Plas. About a mile from the bridge there is a very agreeable little view of a mill, a deep glen, a bridge, and a water- fall. Here the road joins that from Llangynog, and both united pass under an extensive hanging wood, which clothes the steep rocky mountain from the base nearly to the summit: this wood 1860.| BOTANICAL SKETCHES FROM NORTH WALES. 49 is on the left-hand of the traveller to Bala; on the right there is the finest possible view of the charming vale of Edeyrnyon, Bod- weyne, etc. etc. This road to Bala increases the distance, but it also adds much to the pleasure and interest of the journey. There is a good road along the east shore of Llyn Tegid, com- manding good views of the lake, the opposite bank, the village of Llanycil, Sir. W. W. Wynne’s fishing-cottage, etc. ete. Fasti- dious critics might find occasion to animadvert on the architec- ture of this lodge on the borders of an alpine lake ; but our busi- ness is not Criticism. A botanist may walk along the shores of Bala’s lake, and gather the flowers that ornament its banks and braes, and admire the lovelysprospect of lofty mountains, shel- tered farms, placid pools, and leaping torrents, without carping at modern exhibitions of zsthetics, or wearying his readers, if he has the good hap to enjoy this felicity, with accounts of artistic failures. : It may be as well to remind the pedestrian that after passing through the picturesque, simple-looking village of Llangower, about halfway up to the head of the lake, there is no inn nor public-house till Llan-y-Mowddy is reached, a matter or distance of at least a dozen miles. This may be said by some to be only a trifle; but it is as well to know it beforehand. There is usually a keen, appetizing air on the Welsh mountains. On passing through Llangower the traveller soon reaches the upper or western end of the lake, and leaving the charmingly situated village of Llanwchlyn half a mile on the right, the as- cent up the mountain commences. The road, a good one, is carried along the side of the moun- tain, with a gentle acclivity and few undulations, for five miles. The mountain is on the left, and the picturesque vale of the Twrceh, with its impetuous, headlong, brawling stream, on the right. At this time it did not contai much water, but after heavy rains it is formidable enough to those who have to get across its swollen torrent. Several very fine streams and rocky dells cross the road before reaching Bwlch-y-Groes. Tn the vale of Twrch there are some scattered dwellings situ- ated agreeably enough. But the most interesting object on the right is the sharp, serrated ridge and pointed summit of Arran Pen Llyn, which rises to upwards of 3,000 fect altitude. The N.S. VOL. IV. H 50 BOTANIOAL SKETCHES FROM NORTH WALES. [February, best way of ascending the point is from the village of Llanwch- lyn, and not by the road from Bala to Dinas Mowddy. This feat was not attempted by us; but my friend and companion performed it solus, only a year or so back. He visited both Arran Pen Llyn and Arran Fowddy, the higher of the two peaks, and descended through a very difficult and steep declivity into the vale of Dwffy and Llan-y-Mowddy. About halfway up the mountain we came to a steep, grassy meadow, on which we met with abundance of Habenaria bifolia, next to Orchis maculata the most common of its Order in North Wales; also fine plants of Vicia Orobus and Trollius europeus. The Elder-tree was in full flower then, and it abounds in the hedges, and the White-thorn blossom was not quite gone. But the loveliest ornament of the roadsides was then the exquisitely beautiful Wild Rose, R. villosa or tomentosa; the intense rich colour of the flowers contrasted finely with the greyish-green hue of the foliage. Another floral ornament of the roadside, the Mountain Violet (V. lutea), appeared here, both under its yellow and blue va- rieties. On reaching the summit of the pass, which is a vast extent or table-land of heathy, moory, peaty ground, and certainly not much under 1,500 feet high, we had very extensive views, viz. the Berwyns on our right, when looking to the north-west; the high hill Moel Fama, near Denbigh, on which there is a very lofty, conspicuous column; before us, but further west, appeared the Carnarvon mountains Carnedd Llewellyn, Carnedd David, and Glyder Fawr, which form the pass of Nant Francon. Still further appeared the king of Welsh mountains, Snowdon, which bounds the west side of the far-famed pass of Llanberis. The Rivels, Arrenig, and other mountains of Merionethshire, were in view, and the two lofty peaks of the Arrans were a noble fore- ground to this mountain panorama. We were able to distinguish satisfactorily both the lofty points of Snowdon, viz. Crib Coch and Widdyfa, with the remarkable crater-like hollow that lies between them. From this point there is an excellent view of the two summits of the Arrans, and of the sources of the Dwffy (Dovey); and now the road passes through the pass by a rapid descent. This pass of Bwlch-y-Groes, or the Pass of the Cross, so called 1860.] BOTANICAL SKETCHES FROM NORTH WALES. 51 from a cross which was erected on the summit, or the entrance to Llan-y-Mowddy from Bala, is one of the most imposing scenes in all North Wales. It is not like the pass of Llanberis nor like that of Llangynog; though it is more like the latter than the former. On the right are the craggy spurs of the Arrans, the loftiest mountains in Wales, except those of Carnarvonshire. On the left there is a tremendously deep, narrow dell, bounded by the rounded mountains which lie between this point and Garthbibio, the prolongation of the Berwyns. These mountains on the left are partly well covered with greensward, and partly with the stony débris which has been rolling down and accumulating for ages. The sheep graze on these green stripes with impunity, for they are as sure-footed as goats. It would he extremely dan- gerous for other animals not so agile as goats and mountain- sheep to venture where the footing is so precarious. This part of the mountain is intersected by narrow, deep, fear- ful fissures, which are almost at right-angles to the ravine at the base. A wilder or a more awful mountain scene can hardly be conceived. In less than two miles from the summit the traveller reaches the vale of Llan-y-Mowddy. ‘The church and parsonage are about two miles further on towards Dinas Mowddy. ‘The latter-named town stands in a most extraordinary spot, surrounded as it is on all sides by lofty hills, where the vales unite. This vale and village of Llan-y-Mowddy is somewhat like a cup or basin, the sides of which are formed by four or five, bluff, rounded, green mountains, with no apparent egress. The pass to Dinas is not visible till the traveller has passed beyond the church. On returning by the same road there is a fine view of the rocky vale of the Dovey ; the first or upper falls are but a short distance from the road on the right, going from Bala to Dinas, and on the left in returning. They are near the entrance of the vale, or about two miles from the church of Llan-y-Mowddy. We chose the left, or west side of the lake of Bala, for our re- turn journey. This gave us the opportunity of seeing the three streams which supply the Llyn Tegid, viz. the Twrch, probably the most considerable, and the Dee, which rises between Arran Pen Llyn and Arran Fowddy, and the Lliw, which rises in the 52 BOTANICAL SKETCHES FROM NORTH WALES. [ February, Arrenigs, towards the west. Llanwchlyn is beautifully situated at the foot of these lofty mountains, on the upper end of the lake, and is watered by the three above-mentioned rivers; the road from the village joins the Bala and Dolgelly road about half a mile from the church. By this we travelled along the Llanycil side of the lake, through Bala, where the Merionethshire Militia were assembling, past Bod- weyne, and so home to Llandderfel. To Llangynog was our next journey, along the Bala road, over the Berwyns, a road now about as familiar to us as Piccadilly. After ascending the steep hill opposite Llandderfel, whence there is a fine view of the church, the village, and the white monument, there is nothing interesting on the road till Pont-y-Beddws is reached, a place previously noticed or described. On either side a bleak desolate moor extends, grazed by a few mountain sheep, with here and there a stack of peats (winter fuel). This continues for five or six miles, at which distance from Llandderfel the traveller reaches the celebrated pass of Liangynog. Here the road, by an easy declivity, is carried along the southern slope of the Berwyns; the mountains, which are here very steep and lofty, are on the traveller’s left, and a deep glen, which opens out into a vale, is on the right. In the bottom of this dell. or vale runs the infant river Tanat. All the waters from this side flow into the Severn, while all on the other side increase the waters of the Dee. The only remarkable plant observed while descending this pass was what is often called Spergularia rubra, but it is well known by its English name, Sandwort. The altitude of Lepigonum ru- brum is estimated at 200 yards. In the pass of Llangynog it was noticed at an elevation probably of 300 yards, certainly far above 200 yards. This plant was noticeable on another account: it rarely appears in Merionethshire at any altitude. This pass is celebrated for its Ferns, especially Polypodium Dryopteris and P. Phegopieris, which may be said to abound everywhere in this county; but above all the beautiful Parsley Fern seems to have selected the pass of Llangynog as its head- quarters. About a mile or so from the upper end of the pass, this lovely Fern occurs sparingly with Polypodium Dryopteris, Asplenium Trichomanes, the mountain form of Lastrea Filix-mas, etc., but about a mile from the village, in that part of the pass beyond the turnpike, named Miltir Gerrig (the Stony Mile), the 1860. ] BOTANICAL SKETCHES FROM NORTH WALES. 53 Parsley Fern has usurped the locality, to the entire exclusion of all the other members of the family. This part of the pass, which has no inconsiderable resemblance to some parts of Llanberis, is nearly carpeted with this Fern; the size of the plants is as re- markable as their abundance. On the crede experto principle we can recommend the inn at Llangynog for courteous treatment, good fare, and very mode- rate charges. There are many Welsh village inns where the fare is adequate and the tariff moderate, but where comfortable lodg- ing for the night is not to be expected. A good bed and clean airy bedroom are as refreshing to a weary man as a good meal is to a hungry one. Both may be had at Llangynog at moderate costs. Tourists usually give the high-roads, such as the Llangollen and Corwen road, that by Mallwyd and Machyuleth, etc., the prefe- rence, because coaches and other conveyances use these well-fre- quented ways. But by adopting these well-beaten tracts, such places as Llansilin, Llanarmon, Llanrhaiadr, Llangynog, and the southern and most romantic side of the Berwyus are unvi- sited. From Oswestry to Llanrhaiadr, through Llansilin, is an easy walk, and from the latter place Pistyll Rhaiadr may be visited, and the tourist may proceed over the hills above the fall to Llan- gynog, whence he may visit the cul-de-sac, Penanth Garth, and thence pass onward to Bala and Dolgelly by Llandderfel. Our last day’s botanizing in Merionethshire was in the direc- tion of Llangwm and Cerrig-y-Druidion. We went in quest of Listera cordata, to a locality from which specimens had been previously sent by our friend John Jones, the worthy parish clerk of Llandderfel, who kindly volunteered on this occasion to be our guide to the precise spot where this floral rare gem is to be found. Our direct road was by the lower end of Llyn Creyny, where we had previously been. From this we ascended the hill above the lake, and by a very steep declivity reached a rather narrow vale, called the Cooms, where there are the remains of the old road from Bala to Pont-y-Glyn, containing a strip of meadow- land on the banks of a rivulet. The path crosses the brook, and passes by a farm, whence the ascent of the mountain commences by a zigzag, almost precipitous road. 54 BOTANICAL SKETCHES FROM NORTH WALES. [February, In the grassy pastures on the table-land Habenaria bifolia, Orchis maculata, Narthecium ossifragum, beginning to open its pretty, intensely yellow flowers, and fine specimens of Botrychium Lunaria were observed. In waste parts of this mountain farm-steading, the usual plant of all country dwellings in this district, Artemisia Absinthium, abounded, also a very rough and broad-leaved variety of Mentha viridis, and a much rarer than either, viz. Peucedanum Ostruthium, Master-wort, said to be common in gardens in North Wales. Here it was common enough, not in the garden, but on what would be.called in Scotland the town lone, or open space leading - from the cowhouses to the fields. In the garden-hedge we saw fine examples of what the Cambro-Britons call the Yellow-tree, Berberis vulgaris. 'The hospitable occupants of this remote al- pine township invited us to enter their house and partake of their hospitalities, an offer which it would have been churlish to refuse. After rest and refreshment we went up the mountain, and in less than a quarter of an hour’s walk had the pleasure of seeing this rarity growing profusely among the Sphagna, covered by the long Heather. After supplyimg ourselves and friends with good specimens, —for we have as much pleasure in contributing to the complete- ness of their herbaria as in furnishing our own,—we descended the mountain by another tract. On our right we came to a deep, thickly-wooded glen, or dale, or fissure of the mountain, with a rattling stream at the bottom. We descended with some difficulty, and along the declivity found fine specimens of Melampyrum sylvaticum in full flower. MM. pratense, the common woodland species in the south of England, did not appear. The woodland Cow-wheat is not very correctly described in the ‘ Illustrated Handbook of the British Plants.’ The branches are scarcely spreading, they are rather erect ; the bracts or floral leaves are not entire, but rather furnished with long teeth at the base; the corolla is deep-yellow, but not small; the plant is from six to eight inches high. In MM. pratense the stalk is usu- ally from twelve to eighteen inches long. Besides the plants common in such localities, we saw Circea lutetiana, or what appears to be this species. The alpine form, C. alpinum, might be expected: two hundred yards is a rather low estimate for the altitude of this species. 1860. ] THIRSK NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 55 We were informed that Hypericum Androsemum grows in this alpine dingle; if this be so, its altitude is estimated at too low a figure; the side of this mountain is surely more than two hun- dred yards above the coast-line. It is at least as much as that above the level of Llyn Tegid, and the altitude of this pool is surely above a hundred yards, if we may judge by the rapid cur- rent of the river Dee. This concludes the present rather extensive rambling article on Welsh botany. In dramatic phraseology, our readers are in- formed that the actors were their ancient favourites, W. P. and A.1I.; that the scene was Merionethshire, only impinging here and there on Denbighshire and Montgomeryshire; the distance traversed in all, a hundred and seventy miles; the time was from the 20th of June to the 2nd of July inclusive. The hospitalities of our Cambro-British friends have been al- ready recorded; and it is but just to them to state that their communicativeness on all subjects connected with our pursuit was quite disinterested. Their urbanity and intelligence contrast favourably with the the experience of our reverend contributor who furnished the Flora of Ville Dunkirk. (See ‘ Phytologist,’ vol. 11. p. 289.) All the information they could give about localities was readily afforded, unaccompanied with that troublesome and impertinent inquisitiveness which many of the brotherhood have noticed or complained of in parts nearer home. Our friends in Wales never asked us what we did with our acquisitions, nor why we went a score of miles to look at a plant, or to get a specimen which in their estimation would have been dear at a groat the hundred. THIRSK NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. Botanical Exchange Club. The December meeting of this Society was held upon the even- ing of Monday, the 5th instant. The receipt of parcels from Misses Gifford and Warren, Messrs. Hebblethwaite, Watson, and Windsor, was announced. Proceedings of the Botanical Society of London.—Mv. H. C. Watson has enclosed in his parcel a number of copies of the ‘ Pro- ceedings of the Botanical Society of London,’ vol. i. part i. (the 56 THIRSK NATURAL HISTORY socinty. [Fedbruary, only part that was ever published), for distribution amongst the members. It contains a record of the meetings of the Society, from its establishment in July, 1836, to November, 1838, and several original papers on local and general botany, some of which are illustrated with plates. German Plants, from C. H. Schultz—Mr. Watson has also sent us a packet of German plauts, which was sent by Herr Schultz to the Botanical Society of London after its suspension. The January meeting of the Society was held on the evening of Tuesday, the 10th instant. The Rev. W.T. Kingsley, of South Kilvington, near Thirsk, was admitted a member. Mr. J. G. Baker announced the receipt of parcels from Miss Atwood, Messrs. Barton, Bean, Flower, Hind, Hunt, Ingle, Knights, Lin- nell, More, Norman, Purchas, Richardson, Varenne, and Wind- sor, and communicated the following notices:— “ Thalictrum caleareum, Jordan. During the past summer I gathered what I understand as this plant upon the rocks of Twll Du, in Carnarvonshire. Doubtless it is the same plant that has several times been noticed by other botanists as growing at that well-known locality. “ Batrachian Ranunculi. My. A.S. More sends from the Isle of Wight a series of beautiful examples of Batrachian Ranunenli as under :— * R. trichophyllus, Chaix. Pond near Westridge. “R. Drouetii, Schultz. Slow stream in Brading Marshes. “ R. Droueti, the form with floating leaves. Brading Marshes. “ R, Baudotii, Godr. Ditches in Brading Marshes. “ R. floribundus, Bab.; No. 1. Near Yaverland. “R. floribundus, No. 2. Ditch by Lake Common. “ R., floribundus, No. 3. By the causeway near Sandown. Mr. H. C. Watson sends R. Drouetii-from Surrey; Mr. J. T. Syme, and others, examples of R. circinatus from various stations ; ‘and I have gathered a supply of R. confusus in Coatham Marshes, and of A. heterophyllus in the Thirsk neighbourhood. “ Fumaria parviflora. Mr. W. Bean, Jun., sends this species from fields at Seamer, near Scarborough, north-east Yorkshire. It is new to the Humber province, for although the name is given in the ‘ Flora of Yorkshire,’ yet no special locality in the county for it was known previously. “ Knarthrocarpus lyratus. This Crucifer, one of the Wands- 1860.] THIRSK NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 57 worth aliens, has been met with on rubbish-heaps at Pendleton, near Manchester, by Mr. Richard Buxton, the author of the Flora. Dr. Windsor has forwarded a specimen. “ Drosera anglica is sent by Mr. H. Ecroyd Smith from Wool- ston Moss, near Warrington. It is not given as a plant of the Mersey province in the fourth volume of the ‘ Cybele,’ probably by oversight, as it is acknowledged as such in vol. i. ““ Spergularia rupicola, Lebel. Of the plant given under the name of Spergularia rupestris in the fifth edition of the London Catalogue, Mr. J.'T. Syme sends an example from Guernsey, and writes respecting it to the effect that Dr. Lebel described it un- der that name in 1848, in his ‘ Recherches et Observations sur quelques Plantes nouvelles, rares ou peu connues de la Presqu’ile . de la Manche,’ but that as there is already a Spergularia rupes- tris of Cambacéres, which is not the same, he now calls it S. ru- picola, Lebel. It is common in Guernsey, where it has been observed also by M. Le Jolis, of Cherbourg. More recently Mr. A. G. More has detected it on chalk cliffs in Scratchell’s Bay and on ledges behind the village of Niton, in the Isle of Wight. In habit of growth, S. rupicola most resembles marina (i.e. margi- nata, DC.). The root is strong and thick, the stems are tufted, the flower-heads are larger, and the panicle is more separated from the leaves, and more regularly racemose than in media, but the capsule scarcely exceeds the calyx, whilst in marina it is half as long again. The seeds are invariably wingless, in size inter- mediate between those of rubra and the wingless seeds of media, when mature nearly black in colour, obovate-pyriform in shape, neither so flat as in media nor so distinctly triquetrous as in rubra, with a rough, raised border, which runs round about two-thirds of their circumference ; so that in the seeds the range of grada- tion of the four supposed species is as follows, viz. rubra, rupi- cola, media, marina. In all probability, if our members will examine their collections, rupicola will be found to grow upon coast cliffs in other parts of Britain proper besides in the Isle of Wight. By the late Mr. S. Gibson (‘ Phytologist,’ Old Series, vol. i. p. 218) an ‘Arenaria marina, B hirsuta, is mentioned as . growing on Newlyn Cliffs, near Penzance, and ‘ Phytologist,’ o.s., vol. mi. p. 8332, Mr. F. J. A. Hort enumerates several sta- tions for a plant which it is not unlikely may be the same as that of which I am now speaking. Of this last I believe that RSe VOL. TV. I 58 THIRSK NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. [ February, several specimens were distributed through the Botanical Society of London. “‘Arenaria leptoclados, Gussone. Mr. A. G. More has for- warded from cultivated fields at Bembridge, in the Isle of Wight, specimens of a plant under this name. I find that I already possess, marked “A. serpyllifolia, var. tenuior, Koch, what appears to be the same, from the neighbourhood of Warwick, from Mr. T. Kirk, and that I have gathered it in fallow fields in two stations in North Yorkshire, neither of them very far from Thirsk. Pro- bably it has often been collected in this country, and passed over as serpyllifolia, but there does not seem to be any reason to doubt that it is what has been described as a distinct species by various recent Continental authors. As compared with genuine serpylli- folia, leptoclados is greener in colour, and more graceful in its _ habit of growth, the stems are more slender and more diffuse, the panicles narrower and more elongated, not level at the top, but mostly lengthened out into an irregular raceme, the hairs upon the leaves and calyces longer, more spreading and more conspicuous, the sepals sharper, thinner in texture, and more strongly nerved, the capsules smaller in size, less ventricose in shape, and more yielding under pressure. For imformation re- specting it the works of Gussone, Reichenbach, Lloyd, Boreau, and Godron may be consulted. By Lloyd, for the western de- partments of France, leptoclados is marked as ‘ very common,’ serpyllifolia as ‘ very rare.’ With us it would seem to affect cul- tivated fields, and M. Crépin (‘ Notes sur quelques Plantes rares ou critiques, p. 7), who considers it to be a distinct species, states that he meets with it in Belgium in similar places. Mr. More also sends from the coast sandhills at St. Helen’s, in the Isle of Wight, specimens of another Arenaria, with viscid stems and calyces, strongly and irregularly nerved sepals, as compared with ordinary serpyllifolia, with heads much fewer in number, and petals, sepals, capsules, and seeds much larger in size. Pro- bably this is 4. Lloydii, Jordan, Pug. Plant. Nov. p. 37, a plant stated by Lloyd to be frequent on walls and sands near the sea in western France. “« Stellaria media, var. apetala. Mr. More also sends from the Isle of Wight a slender, apetalous, fragile, clear-green Chickweed, which is probably S. Boreana, Jordan, Pugil., S. apetala, Bo- reau, Pl. du Cent., 2nd edit. I have seen what I take to be the 1860. } THIRSK NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 59 same, from other parts of Britain, and have not been able to dis- tinguish between this plant, S. neglecta, Weihe, and S. media. For descriptions, the works mentioned above, and Lloyd’s ‘ Flore de Ouest,’ may be consulted. “ Cerastium pumilum, Curtis. Mr. More also sends from Bem- bridge Down, in the Isle of Wight, a series of specimens of this long-lost species. It is a plant which nodoubt most of our mem- bers will be very glad to have. It is closely allied to C. fetrun- drum, but differs in its manner of growth, and by its curved pe- dicels. ~ “Althea officinalis. Mr. W. Richardson sends examples from “bog above Fleatham bridge, Northumberland, August, 1859, and writes respecting them,—‘ Although Hippuris vulgaris, Pond- weeds, and Water Plantain, are growing not ten yards from it, I have my doubts about its being really wild. What makes me doubt is, that upon the bankside just at hand there are a bush or two of Ribes Grossularia, and some remains of masonry, as if there had been a garden there at some distant period. There are three or four patches of the Althea’ It is not known as an indigenous plant of the Tyne province. “ Vicia hybrida, Smith. Mr. H. C. Watson sends a series_of examples of the Glastonbury Tor plant, garden-grown, from seeds furnished by Mr. T. B. Flower. « Agrimonia odorata, Mill. The Rev. W. H. Purchas sends specimens from Staunton Harold, Leicestershire. It is an addi- tion to the Flora of the Trent province. “ Rubus corylifolius, Smith. Mr. John Barton sends an ex- ample collected with Circea alpina in Glen Urquhart, a glen which runs into Loch Ness, fourteen miles south of the town of Inverness. This station is in the 15th or Hast Highland province of the ‘Cybele:’ the 13th, or West Lowland province, is its pre- viously ascertained northern limit. “ Lamium intermedium, Fries. Through the courtesy of Mr. More, I have been favoured with a sight of the plant which has been reported under this name from the Isle of Wight (Phyt., o. S., vol. iii. p. 665). To me it appears to be simply a luxuriant form of L. incisum, and different to the true L. intermedium of Fries as found in several of the northern provinces. “ Plantago arenaria. Mr. H. C. Watson forwards an example of this species, and writes with it,—‘ Plantago arenaria is gathered 60 THIRSK NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. [Fedruary, (or seen) in hundreds on the sandhills of the Somersetshire coast this year. I think that Mr. Clark, of Halesleigh, was the dis- coverer, and, he thinks the species imported with Lucerne seeds.’ It is a plant of southern Europe, extending northward to France (reaching to the western departments), Belgium, and the Rhine- land. “ Chenopodium Botrys. Mr. W. Mudd forwards an example of this species from waste ground at Great Ayton, North York- shire. It was before met with as a garden weed at Camphill, North Yorkshire, by Mr. Hebblethwaite, who sends a supply, for distribution, of garden-grown specimens. “ Festuca Pseudo-myurus, var. maritima. From the coast sand- . hills of the Isle of Wight, Mr. More sends a series of specimens of a plant thus marked, and writes respecting it,—‘ This is what is called uniglumis, 8, in ‘ Flora Vectensis ;’ but it clearly differs from that species in having no awn to its larger glume, and _ havy- ing the two glumes always present, and in the single stamen. But at the same time it differs a good deal from the ordinary Pseudo-myurus in its shorter, stouter habit, the usually purplish tinge of its panicle, and in the disproportion between the glumes, the smaller one being much shorter, sometimes nearly obsolete. In the proportion which the large glume bears to the imcluded floret, our plant seems intermediate between uniglumis and Pseu- do-myurus. ‘The larger glume reaches somewhat less than one- third of the contiguous floret, and, except in the terminal spike- let, is four or five times as long as the smaller glume. ‘There is, I believe (in the packet), about an equal number of specimens of the usual state of Pseudo-myurus, which I hope you will ap- prove of sending out in each case for comparison with the va- riety.’ Lloyd writes of the plant,—‘It varies with the inferior glume very short, and on the borders of the sea with the superior glume obtuse (F. ambigua, Le Gall.)’? I observe that m his » last edition Mr. Babington give it as F. Myurus, Linn. “ Briza maxima. The Rev. A. M. Norman sends several speci- mens of this species, collected by himself, and marked, *‘ Natural- ized at St. Aubin’s, Jersey, July, 1859, “Common Barley with a branched spike. Mr. Watson sends, from a field in Surrey, a form of the common Barley with a branched spike. It grew amongst a crop of the ordinary simple spiked state.” 1860. ] FLEMING SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. | 61 FLEMING SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. SESSION IX., MEETING III. The Society met in the New College, on Tuesday, 10th of January, at eight o’clock. John A. Stewart, Hsq., in the Chair. The following papers were read :— J. Ferns; their structure, propagation, development, culture, geographical distribution, uses, classification, and diseases: by Mr. W. Ramsay M‘Nab, Librarian and Curator of Museum.— Mr. M‘Nab, in his paper, which was a most elaborate ane, touched at greater or less length on the various points enume- rated in the title. While examining the difference between a seed and a spore, the author remarked, that in the seed the root came from a fixed point, but in the spore it did not. He took as an example of an ovule the ovule of Nymphea alba. When the seed was sown, the root was produced from the same point in all the seeds of the Nymphea ; and that at a diametrically oppo- site point the stem or ascending axis was developed. This law he proposed to call the “Law of adverse directions’”—a law which is never violated. He promulgated another law,—which is present only in Phanerogamee,—that “The radicle is always produced from one fixed spot,” viz. the micropyle. The author observed that although the spores of the Cryptogamee were homogeneous in their structure, and the radicle descended from any point of - the surface, the stem was always produced at the diametrically * opposite point ; while in the seed of Phanerogamee the root came from a fixed point. The part of the spore which was downward produced the root, and that which was upwards the stem. The foregoing points constituted the greatest difference between the seed of a flowering and a flowerless plant,—the latter of which he proposed to call the “ Law of spontaneous ascendance and descendance.” ‘The classification which Mr. M‘Nab adopted was very little different from that of Mr. Babington (Man. of Bot.), but he had been principally engaged in examining the different tribes and genera. ‘The principal difference was that he had divided some of the genera into subgenera, as for ex- ample :—In Tribe I., Polypodiee of Bab., there were the follow- ing genera and subgenera :—1. Allosorus ; 2. Polypodium, whicl. he had divided into two, viz. a. Polypodium verum, 8. Pseudo- 62 BOTANICAL NOTES, NOTICES, AND QUERIES. [January, Polypodium ; 3. Gymnogramma; 4. Woodsia. In Tribe IL, Aspidiee (Bab.), there were, 1. Lastrea, which he had divided into four, viz. a. Lastrea palustris, 8. Lastrea montana, y. Las- trea vera, 6. Pseudo-Lastrea; 2. Polystichum; 3. Cycopteris. In Tribe III., Aspleniee (Bab.), there were, 1. Athyrium; 2. As- plenium, which he had divided into two, viz. a. Asplenium verum, B. Pseudasplenium ; 8. Scolopendrium. In Tribe 1V., Grammi- tidieew (Bab.), there was, 1. Ceterach, and so on for the other four tribes of Babington, in whose classification Mr. M‘Nab con- curred. In conclusion he noticed, after reviewing the whole sub- ject, of Pteridology, the ravages of snails and the Otiorhynchus sulcatus, and the effects of shot, and of Fungi on Ferns. The paper was illustrated by a large collection of British and Foreign Ferns, a large number of beautiful coloured diagrams, micro- scopic preparations, and dissections, etc. Il. Notice of the third occurrence of Scymnus borealis (Flem.) off the Scottish coast, by Mr. Robert Brown. (The paper will be published at length.) Remarks were made on both papers by the President, and Messrs. Sadler, Burns, Thomson, Brown, and Kay. The So- ciety then adjourned to private business, when Messrs. Crossby and M‘Millan, M.A., were elected members; Mr. Robert Brown was elected Treasurer vice Mr. M. M‘Donald, who goes out of office by rotation. The Secretary’s and Treasurer’s reports, etc., were laid before the Society, when the next meeting was fixed for the 24th of January. BOTANICAL NOTES, NOTICES, AND QUERIES. PLANTS usED By Monks as Foon. In one of the numbers of the ‘ Phytologist ’ for last year, an article was published upon Cockle bread and beech-leaves forming part of the food of the monks of the Wormwood Valley, in early times. I think some of your readers may like to know that in the Golden Legend it is said of St. Ber- nard, Abbot of Clairvaux, “that he often made his pottage with leaves of Holm.’ Now if we are to understand Holm to be the plant that was, and still is, called Holly, P wish to know what particular virtues, dietetic, me- dicinal, or otherwise, the leaves thereof possessed, or were supposed to possess, in St. Bernard’s time. Some writers tell us that the bark of the Holly contains a viscid juice from which birdlime is made, and for 1860. ] BOTANICAL NOTES, NOTICES, AND QUERIES. 63 aught I know, the leaves may contain a mucilage very agreeable in pottage (like other pot-herbs, including Herb-John), but unless they are well pounded and boiled, I think the prickles might be somewhat unpleasant to the stomach. I have an impression that in early times the Him was called Holm ; if so, the leaves of this tree might have been those which the Abbot of Clairvaux used, Sir J. Mandeville says of the monks of Mount Sinai “That they drmk ne wine but zif it be on principalle festes, and they lyven porely and sympely with joutes and with dates” (Voy. p. 71). The metrical receipt in ‘Liber Cure Cocorum,’ Sloane MS., 1986, p. 97, gives a list of pot-herbs for compounding joutes,—‘“ Cole, borage, persyl, plumtre leves, red nettel crop, malves grene, red brere cropps, avens, violet, and pymrol.” These were to be ground in a mortar and boiled in broth. 8. B. LonG-PURPLES OF SHAKSPEARE. E. M. A., in the ‘ Phytologist ’ for December, 1859, says he never heard of “ Long-Purples”’ in any part of England, and he asks, ‘* May not the Lythrum Salicaria be the true plant, as it is very common in Warwickshire, and answers the name much better than any sort of Orchis?” If EH. M. A. will refer to the passage in ‘ Hamlet’ in which the Long-Purples is men- tioned as forming a part of Ophelia’s garland, he will find that Shakspeare defines the plant by saying that ‘ liberal shepherds called it by a grosser name, and that ‘cold maids did Dead Men’s Fingers call them.’ I am not aware that the Lythrum Salicaria has any common names which would agree with those belonging to Long-Purples, but I do know that the latter has some other names which may be properly called gross, and which are given by our early writers on plants. I believe also that the Lythrum Salicaria blossoms late im summer, and would not be found in bloom with other flowers named in the garland of Ophelia. I think also that its colour is not strictly a purple, so much as the early Purple Orchis is. Will E. M. A. be kind enough to inform us whether any one of the Orchis tribe is called Dead Men’s Fingers, in Warwickshire, or if he ever heard the Arum maculatum ealled by these names or by the name of Long-Purples ? Sib HONEY-STALKS. In ‘ Titus Andronicus,’ act iv. sc. 4, Tamora says :— “T will enchant the old Andronicus With words more sweet and yet more dangerous Than baits to fish or Honey-stalks to sheep ; When as the one is wounded with the bait, The other rotted with delicious feed.” What plant is here meant by Honey-stalks ? S. B. GOLD-FLOWERS. * With reference to your article on these flowers in the ‘ Phytologist’ of September last, I beg to give you the following, taken from the ‘Prompto- rium Parvulorum :’—‘‘Goolde Herbe. Solseguium, quia sequitur solem ; Elitropium, Calendula.” 64 BOTANICAL NOTES, NOTICES, AND QUERIES. [January. A note by the editor (Albert Way) is as follows :— “«The plant here intended is perhaps the Corn Marigold, Chrysanthemum segetum, Linn., called in the north Goulans, Guilde, or Goles, and in the south, Golds. See Ray and Jamieson.’ Dr. Tina says that ‘ Ranunculus is called in English Crowfoot, or Kingerix, or in some places a Gollande’ (Herball, Part 2). Nares states that Gold is the Cudweed, or Mothwort, Gnaphalium germanicum, Linn.” Would our kind friend the Editor inform us whether the plant called Goolde in the ‘ Promptorium ’ aforesaid is not intended for the Marigold, the Chrysanthemum Coronarium, which is truly “a sun-loving flower ;” also whether he ever heard the Cudweed called ‘ Gold’ ? Robert Turner, in his ‘British Plants,’ says one of the names of Cudweed is Albinum, from its whiteness, and it is called Herda impia by Pliny. Names OF PuanTs. It was not poverty of imagination, but the reverse, that was exemplified in the blending together the representative signs of the Fauna and Flora of any country and by any people. It was an exuberant imagination and a poverty of invention that produced this result. The few radical words expressive of the zoology, have to perform the same office for the botany of a nation ; or in other words, to do double duty—to serve as represen- tatives both of the animal and vegetable kingdom. PHILOLOGUS. Can you tell me what is generally supposed to be the Mustard-plant of the New Testament ? Again,—Are there many examples of wild plants producing double flowers? Cardamine pratensis does occasionally (frequently ?). It ap- pears to be plentiful in a meadow a mile south of Martinsell, Pewsey, Wilts. CuHENopopium Bonus-Henricus, Mercury, Goost-Froot, ok Goon Kine Henry. A correspondent wishes to know when and from cause this plant ob- tamed the name of Good King Henry? and whether it was not called Blite, or Blitum hortense, and Blitum Bonus-Henricus ? WELDILLONE. In a copy of the ‘ Practica’ of John Arderne (Sloane MS. 56, p. 3) are some names of plants 1 in French and English, among which occurs Z Wi eldil- lone, i.e. Edgrove.” What plant is this, and what other name has it ? 5. Be Communications have been received from George Jordan; A. G. More; Sidney Beisly ; John Sim; Rey. T. F. iRarenenaeye K. Edwards ; 18h Tene C. C. Babington ; W. Ps Sauer Al. Kay ; Arch, Jerdan. BOOKS RECEIVED FOR REVIEW. The Critic ; four numbers, ete. [| March, 1860.]} 65 BOTANY OF THE BREADALBANE MOUNTAINS. One Day’s Botanizing on the Breadalbane Mountains in the Summer of 1859. By James Bacxkuovss, Jun. Leaving our quarters at an early hour, we pursued our course for many miles, slowly ascending towards a great range of crags which, though gloomy enough in general aspect, looked pro- mising in a botanical point of view. It was evident that our so- journ was to be among the clouds, and that cold and wet were to be our portion for the day; but all this was calculated for in advance. Two compasses, a plentiful supply of provisions, and thorough equipment in light Mackintosh apparel, made us all but totally indifferent as to what kind of weather was in store. The “ground” was new to both of us, and we had planned a course that neither guide-books nor maps could materially assist us in, so far as the detail of the journey was concerned. On reaching the cliffs, we found them abundantly carpeted over with Silene acaulis and Saxifraga oppositifolia, intermingled with tufts of Poa alpina and P. cesia, Potentilla alpestris, Alchemilla alpina, Thalictrum alpinum, Galium montanum ?, and here and there waving tufts of the handsome Carex atrata. Skirting the base we saw abundance of Saxifraga aizoides, and a few tufts of Woodsia alpina. Polystichum Lonchitis was abundant, and As- plenium viride and A. Trichomanes not unfrequent. Portions of the cliff produced Salix reticulata and S. lapponica, along with Vaccinium uliginosum, Vicia sylvatica, Saussurea alpina, and Saxifraga nivalis. A few Hieracia were met with, viz. H. an- glicum and its var. amplexicaule (the “ H. cerinthoides” of my ‘Monograph of British Hieracia’), H. prenanthoides, and H. lingulatum. Once or twice we gathered the exquisite Veronica - saxatilis, still in bloom. Continuing our course, we found Dryas octopetala, and a profusion of Cerastium alpinum (which, with Sax. oppositifolia and Silene acaulis, may be said to cover acres with scattered tufts, as they form a material portion of the herbage for miles together in positions at all favouring their growth). Arctostaphylos Uva-ursi was also abundant, together with Sazifraga hypnoides. Ascending higher, we encountered several plants of Juncus castaneus, J. biglumis, and J. triglumis ; and found vast sheets of Carex pulla, C. curta, and C. rigida, N. 8. VOL. IV. K 66 BOTANY OF THE BREADALBANE MOUNTAINS. [March, interspersed here and there with C. capillaris and Draba incana. Sagina saxatilis was common on barren spots which had been recently covered with snow. As we climbed still higher and higher, steering amidst the clouds, we met with Veronica humi- fusa in abundance; also Sibbaldia procumbens, Salix herbacea, Aira alpina, and a profusion of Savifraga nivalis. On the high- est ledges were Draba confusa and Luzula spicata. Except an occasional glimpse, we were enveloped in cloud all the day, and only escaped from it by descending to a lower level in the evening. On another occasion, a few days subsequently, we had the satisfaction of finding what might truly be called “the home” of Woodsia alpina. Just think of luxuriating in the sight of tufts bearing sixty-five, eighty, and even one hundred fronds, from two to four inches high. On one ledge of rock I counted seven tufts, all visible without moving a step. Some are difficult to reach, and even dangerous. One most luxuriant tuft of (appa- rently) forty to fifty-five fronds remains in a conspicuous posi- tion, quite near enough to skow its true character, but guarded by crags that threaten almost certain destricons to any one who dares to attempt to touch it! No one who has seen the true WV. alpina growing in the pro- fusion which we did, would doubt its entire distinctness from W. ilvensis: the erect, dense tufts of silvery-green, narrow fronds of the former are very diverse, both in habit and appear- ance, from those of the latter, of which we found a few days afterwards fourteen plants, in less than an hour, in the Dum- fries-shire mountains. On Ben Lawers we were rewarded, as all who venture to scale its high crags and broken, silvery-looking, micaceous ravines, will be, with the beauteous tufts of Myosotis alpestris, whose dense clusters of deep-blue flowers throw into the shade the charms of all our other native “ Forget-me-nots.” Near the summit we saw many scores of plants of Saxifraga cernua, some of which were three inches high, but none in blossom, and se- veral specimens of Draba rupestris. We also saw lower down (on the crags) Gentiana nivalis several times, hundreds of tufts of Arenaria_rubella, and one plant of Erigeron alpinus. On less elevated parts, Pseudathyrium alpestre was the common Fern, associated with Polystichum Lonchitis of unusual size. 'The 1860. ] CHAPTERS ON FUNGI. 67 rills were gay with the pink-flowered Sedum villosum. In several places we saw a Cerastium allied to C. alpinum, but evidently distinct, and as clearly distinct from C. latifolium. Respecting this plant I hope to send a more minute account at a future time, believing it to be an undescribed species. Hieracium chrysanthum occurs sparingly on some parts of the Ben Lawers range, and we found a single plant of the orange- flowered Saw. aizoides, var. autumnalis. In Glen Lochay we noticed Carew Persooni and Bartsia alpina, in addition to other plants noticed before. In Glen Dochart we saw Hieracium holo- sericeum, and once met with Azalea procumbens. A small loch at the foot of Ben Mohr produced Nuphar minima and Sparganium natans. CHAPTERS ON FUNGI. By ARcHIBALD JERDON. CHAPTER IV. I shall now proceed to give the. names and descriptions of some of the common species of Fungi which are found in this country, in order to illustrate the various suborders into which, as we have seen, they are divided. ' 1. AGARICINI. Beginning with the higher Fungi, we have first the suborder Agaricini, in which the hymenium or fructifying surface consists of lamelle, or gills. The plants of this division are familiar to almost every one by the names of Mushrooms, Toadstools, ete., and may be considered as the vulgar type of the whole class of Fungi. The number of species is very great, nearly four hun- dred having been found in this country alone, and they occur almost everywhere, chiefly in autumn. The principal genus of the suborder is the large and extensive one of Agaricus, of which the following generic character is given in Hooker’s ‘ English Flora’ (which I shall take as my text-book, being the latest systematic work on British Fungi). AGARICUS. “Hymenium consisting of plates radiating from a common 68 CHAPTERS ON FUNGI. | March, centre, with shorter ones in the interstices, composed of a double closely connected membrane, more or less distinct from the pi- leus. Veil various or none.” The genus is divided into several sections, distinguished by the colour of the spores and the texture of the veil, and is also divided into a number of subgenera, many of which are now ranked as genera. I select the following species as illustra- tions :— Acaricus (Amanita) muscartus, L. Fly Agaric. Margin of the pileus striate; gills white; stem subsolid, bulbous; volva scaly. Woods, especially of Fir and Birch; Aug.—Nov. Pileus 3-7 inches broad, convex, rich orange-scarlet, beset with conical angular whitish warts. Gills white, broad, free or slightly adnexed. Spores white. Stem 4-9 inches high, 4-1 inch thick, bulbous at the base, the bulb covered with close co- nical scales. Ring defiexed. A well-marked and beautiful species, common in Fir-woods, which it enlivens with its brilliant red pileus. It possesses, how- ever, highly narcotic and dangerous qualities. Acaricus (ARMILLARIA) MELLEUS, Vahl. Black-scaled Aga- ric. Tufted; pileus dirty-yellow, rough with black hairy scales ; gills distant, adnato-decurrent ; stem fibrillose ; ring tumid, pa- tent. On stumps of trees, etc., Sept.—Oct. Densely tufted. Pileus 2-7 inches broad, at first convex, then expanded, dirty-yellow, brownish-yellow or reddish, rough with reflexed scales, especially towards the centre ; scales at first yel- low, but becoming dark-brown. Gills distant, adnato-decurrent, from whitish becoming flesh-coloured or reddish. Spores white. Stem 2-8 inches high, yellowish or reddish, when old often va- riously tinted with blue, grey, etc., firm and elastic, solid. Ring large, thick, spreading, yellow, whitish within. A very common Agaric in some seasons, on stumps of trees, which it sometimes so completely covers as to hide. The spores are produced in abundance, and the lower pilei of a tuft are often whitened by them, as if dusted with flour. Agaricus (RussuLa) EMETICUS, Scheff. Common simple-gilled Agaric. Large, compact, margin of the pileus at length fur- rowed; gills broad, mostly equal, white. 1860. ] CHAPTERS ON FUNGI. 69 Woods. July—Dec., very common. Pileus 2-5 inches broad, smooth, hemispherical, at length plane and depressed in the centre, of various colours, but gene- rally purple or rose-red; margin thin, striato-sulcate. Gills rather distant, broad, rigid, thickish, equal, with a very few small ones interspersed. Spores white. Stem 2-3 inches hig, solid, firm but brittle, white, or tinged with the colour of the pileus. A common species in Fir or other woods, in early autumn. Very acrid and poisonous, but much relished by snails; indeed, it is rarely allowed to attain maturity, owing to these mollusks. The pileus varies much in colour, and is sometimes even white. Acaricus (GALORRHEUS) suBDULCIS, Bull. Subacrid milky Agaric. Subacrid; pileus smooth, polished, dry, rufescent ; gills flesh-colour, at length ferruginous; milk-white, unchange- able ; stem smooth, at length hollow. Woods, Sept.—Oct. Pileus 1-4 inches broad, dark-chocolate, sometimes slightly viscid when young, at first somewhat convex, becoming de- pressed and hollow in the centre. Milk-white, acrid when the plant is old. Gills decurrent, at length deep red-brown. Spores white. Stem 1-2 inches high, }—-} inch thick, somewhat spongy within, at length hollow. One of the milky Agarics, the whole plant abounding in a milky juice, which exudes when it is cut or broken in any way. This milk is often highly acrid, but one species, A. deliciosus, is edible, and much esteemed in some countries. Acaricus (CiitocyBs) coccinevs, Wulf. Changeable scarlet Agaric. Pileus convex, expanded, viscid, at length depressed ; gills adnate, with a decurrent tooth, connected, changing colour ; stem compressed, scarlet. Pastures and grassly uplands, Sept.—Oct. ; common. Pileus 1-2 inches broad, at first econico-campanulate, at length expanded and inverted, sometimes umbonate, splitting in a ra- diate manner, yellow, orange, or scarlet, becoming buffish in old- age. Gills broad, ventricose, wrinkled, thick, connected by veins, much paler than the pileus and with a glaucous bloom. Spores white. Stem 14 inch high, } inch thick, more or less hollow, smooth, tough, but easily splitting longitudinally. An abundant species in some localities, and very beautiful in 70 CHAPTERS ON FUNGI. [ March, its young state. I have seen grassy hillsides covered with it in October. Agaricus (Mycrna) corticona, Bull. Bark Agaric. Small; pileus thin, hemispherical, then umbilicate, striate; gills un- cinato-decurrent ; stem minutely pulverulent, short, incurved. Trunks of trees, dead bark, ete.; winter. Pileus 1-8 lines broad, hemispherical, generally obtuse, brown- ish, cimereous, reddish, etc. etc. Gills subdecurrent, paler than the pileus. Spores white. Stem 3-1 inch high, incurved, mi- nutely pulverulent, whitish. A pretty little species, common on trunks of living trees, on rugged parts of the bark. It varies much in coldur, but is ge- nerally of a reddish-brown or cinereous hue. It is only to be seen in perfection in moist weather, as it dries up and becomes almost invisible in fine weather and sunshine. Agaricus (CLITOPILUS) PRUNULUS, Scop. Monoceron. Pileus compact, flattish, white; gills white, then flesh-coloured. Woods and pastures, June—Oct.; common. Pileus 2—4 inches broad, subrepand, convex. at first, at length plane or subdepressed, white, shining, but minutely tomentose, margin involute. Gill narrow, decurrent, more or less forked. Spores pale rose-coloured. “Stem short, white, solid, thickest at the base, and downy. Not uncommon in grassy woods. Smell strong, like that of fresh meal. Edible, and much esteemed on the Continent, but it rarely occurs here in sufficient abundance to render it an article of food. Acaricus (PHortota) squarrosus, Mull. Sgquarrose Agaric. Ceespitose ; pileus fleshy, dry, bright ferruginous-saffron ; scales close, revolute ; gills pallid-olive, then ferruginous ; stem squar- rose, attenuated below. On stumps of trees, Aug.—Dec. ; not uncommon. Densely tufted. Pileus 2-5 inches broad, firm, convex, ex- panded, obtusely umbonate, yellow, clothed with rich-brownish scales. Gills rounded behind, and adnate or subdecurrent. Spores ferruginous. Stem 3-7 inches high, $-1 inch thick, at first pale then croceo-ferruginous, solid, equal or attenuated at the base, covered with reflexed scales (as in the pileus) below the ring, above the ring pale-yellow and smooth. Ring near the top of the stem, reddish-brown externally. 1860. | CHAPTERS ON FUNGI. 71 A handsome Agaric, not uncommon on stumps of trees, in autumn. It is well figured by Greville in his ‘ Scottish Crypto- gamic Flora.’ Acaricus (HypHotoma) FrascicuLaris, Huds. Smaller fasci- culate Agaric. Pileus subcarnose, umbonate, ochraceous; gills at length green; stem hollow, slender. Roots of trees, gateposts, etc. etc., April to November; very common. Gregarious, and densely tufted. Pileus 2 inches broad, at first conic then expanded, tawny or yellow, with an orange centre. Gills adnate, at first yellowish, becoming pale-green, and finally purplish fromsthe spores. Spores purplish-brown. Stem 2-9 inches high, 2 lines thick, curved and unequal, hollow, yellow. - Veil woven, fugacious. A very common species, growing on decaying wood almost everywhere. Often very beautiful from its bright yellow or orange pileus and pale-green gills. Taste bitter and nauseous. Acaricus (Coprinvus) micacevs, Bull. Mica Agaric. Cexs- pitose ; pileus membranaccous, sulcate, squamuloso-furfuraceous ; gills pale, then black; stem equal, slender. Roots of trees, bottoms of posts, etc., May—November ; very common. Tufted. Pileus ?-1 inch or more broad, campanulate or semi- ovate, at length expanded and inverted, reddish-ochre, sprinkled with glittering particles, strongly striate. Gulls broad behind and adnate, from white becoming purplish-black. Spores brown- ish-purple, almost black. Stem 2-3 inches high, 2 lines thick, hollow, brittle, shghtly pulverulent, but shining, as if varnished. A very common Agaric about the roots of trees, etc. Re- markable from the glittering atoms with which the pileus is be- sprinkled, though these are not always very evident. In decay the pileus turns up and becomes purplish, like the gills, and the whole melts into a soft blackish mass. The only other genus of this suborder I shall notice is Can- tharellus, the character of which is as follows :— CANTHARELLUS. Pileus furnished below with dichotomous, radiating, branched, subparallel folds, not separable from the flesh, sometimes anasto- mosing, or obsolete. ve CHAPTERS ON FUNGI. | March, There are about a dozen British species of this genus, and of these the most common is the following, viz. :— CANTHARELLUS crBaRius, Fr. Common Chantarelle. Buff- yellow; pileus fleshy, subrepand, smooth; folds tumid; stem solid, attenuated downwards. Woods, summer and autumn; common. Subgregarious. Pileus 1-4 inches broad, firm, variously lobed, depressed in the centre when mature, of a rich yolk-of-egg- yellow, paler when dry; flesh-white or yellowish-white. Folds forked, thick, fleshy, decurrent. Spores white. Stem 1-2 inches high, 3-3 inch thick, smooth, tough, yellow, diffused into the pileus. A well-marked species, distinguished also by its odour, which is very agreeable, and strongly Sees that of ripe Apricots. It is esculent, and is much used in some parts of the Continent as au article of food. It is, however, rather tough, and requires to be cooked for a long time to render it palatable, and even then it has not much flavour compared with some other Fungi. 2. POLYPORETL In this suborder the fructifying surface is composed of pores or tubes, generally occupying the under side of a pileus, but sometimes resupinate, and without a pileus at all. The principal genus is Polyporus, which contains a consider- able number of British species. Its character is as follows :— PoLyPorvs. Hymenium concrete with the substance of the pileus, consist- ing of subrotund pores, with thin simple dissepiments. I select the following species as illustrative of the genus :— Potyporus squamosus, Huds. Large scaly Polyporus. Broad; pileus of a tough elastic fleshy substance, clothed with darker scales; pores pale; stem blunt, sublateral. Decayed trunks of trees, stumps, etc., summer and early au- tumn; very common. Solitary or imbricated. Pileus pale-ochraceous, with scattered brown adpressed scales. Pores large, angular, yellowish-white. Spores very small, oblong, white. Stem short, thick, generally black at the base. A common but handsome species, often growing in hollow trees. It sometimes attains a very large size, and is said by 1860. ] CHAPTERS ON FUNGI. 73 Greville (by whom it is beautifully figured) to be the largest of British Fungi. Potyrorus BEeTuLINus, Bull. Birch-tree Polyporus. Pileus fleshy, smooth, pale reddish-brown, furnished with a very short obliquely vertical obsolete stem; pores unequal, white. In trunks of dead Birch-trees, summer and autumn; common. Pileus 4—6 inches across, roundish or subreniform, generally almost sessile. Flesh pure-white, thick. Pores white, or tinged with brown, narrow. Spores white, very small, oblong. A common Fungus on dead Birches. The flesh is sometimes used for strops for razors, for which purpose it is well adapted. When dry the whole plant is very light. Potyrorus versicotor, L. Party-coloured Polyporus. Pilei coriaceous, villous, adorned with various coloured zones, more or less shaded with blue; pores round, white. On trunks of trees, posts, sticks, etc. ; extremely common. Generally dimidiate and densely imbricated, stemless, marked with regular concentric shining zones of various colours, princi- pally shades of blue and brown. Pores short. Spores very small, white, oblong. A very common and variable species on decaying wood. Some- times the pileus is entirely of an ochry-brown, with darker zones. I shall notice another genus of this suborder, viz. Boletus, many species of which are common Fungi. Bo.weEtus. Hymenium distinct from the substance of the pileus, consist- ing of cylindric separable tubes. Botetus Grevittet, Kl. Bright-yellow Boletus. Pileus com- pact, bright-yellow, clothed with brown gluten, which gradually disappears ; tubes decurrent, of a golden-sulphur colour; stem firm, furnished with a ring, above which it is reticulated. Woods, heaths, ete. May-Oct.; common. Pileus 2-5 inches broad, generally bright-yellow and glutinous, becoming dry. Tubes unequal, wavy, sometimes with their orifices reddish. Ring dirty-yellow, disappearing in old-age. Spores minute, dull pale-ochraceous. Stem 2-3 inches high, 6-9 lines thick, yellow spotted with reddish, thickened at the base. A common Boletus, especially in plantations of Larch. It is N. S. VOL. IV. L 74: CHAPTERS ON FUNGI. [ March, - one of the first Funguses that appear after the heat of summer is over. Botetus turivvs, Scheeff. Poisonous Boletus. Pileus pulvi- nate, subtomentose, olive ; tubes nearly free, round, yellow, their orifices crimson-red ; stem thick, more or less marked or reticu- lated with crimson-red. Woods, summer and autumn; common. Pileus 2-6 inches broad, convex, expanded, smooth to the naked eye, olive or ferruginous-brown. Flesh yellow, changing to blue when broken. Tubes free, yellow, also changing to blue when broken or separated, their orifices red or orange, round. Spores elliptic, olivaceous-ochre. Stem thick, bulbous, variegated with red and shades of yellow. A handsome species, but possessing very deleterious properties, and therefore to be avoided. The crimson or orange surface presented by the tubes is beautiful, and the changing of the colour cf the fiesh and tubes to blue is very curious. The colour of the pileus varies to brick-red, pinkish, or cream-coloured. Boxetus scaBer, Bull. Scurfy Boletus. Pileus pulvinate ; tubes free, round, white; stem firm, attenuated, rough with scurfy scales. Woods, summer and autumn; very common. Pileus 38-7 inches broad, viscid when moist, very variable in colour, but generally cinereous-brown, olive, or orange, smooth or minutely downy. Flesh thick and soft. Tubes generally of a greyish-buff colour, their orifices often ferruginous when young. Spores subfusiform, brownish-ochre. Stem 6 inches or more high, attenuated upwards, squamose with black or orange scales, often marked with longitudinal coarse raised lines (of black). A common but variable Boletus, well marked, however, by its rough stem. It is said by Dr. Badham to be edible. 3. HYDNET. The Fungi of this suborder have their hymenium clothed with prickles or spines, which vary in being sharp or obtuse. I shall notice two genera, Hydnum and Radulum. Hypnum. Hymenium of the same substance as the pileus, composed of free spine-like processes. Hypnum repanpum, L. Common Hydnum. Pileus fleshy, 1860. ] CHAPTERS ON FUNGI. 75 subrepand, smooth, zoneless ; spines unequal, pale, as well as the irregular stem. Woods, autumn; common. Subgregarious. Pileus 2-4 inches broad, irregular in form, and often excentric, more or less lobed, buffish or subrufescent, smooth, or sometimes tomentose. Spines unequal, conical, entire, or sometimes bifid, or laciniated. Stem 13-3 inches high, 1 inch thick, solid, paler than the pileus, sometimes sublateral. Not rare, but seldom occurring in any abundance. It is eae, and highly esteemed in some countries. RADULUM. Hymenium tuberculated. Tubercles shapeless, resembling papillz, or rude, somewhat angular spines, more or less obtuse, distant, distinct, or irregularly fasciculate, the inner substance homogeneous with the receptacle. RapvUuLUM orBicuLaRE, Fr. Circular Radulum. Effused, orbi- cular; margin byssoid, yellowish-white ; tubercles shapeless, some- what elongated and fasciculate. On dead _Birch-trees, and also on wild Cherry, etc.; autumn to spring. Very variable, resupinate, 2-3 inches broad. Margin byssoid, yellowish in the centre, becoming white at the circumference. Tubercles irregular, tooth-like, obtuse, longish, often fasciculate, and sometimes tomentose at the apices. A pretty and curious Fungus, generally found on decaying Birch-trees. 4. AURICULARINI. This suborder is characterized by the fructifying surface being even, t.e. without folds, tubes, prickles, etc. It contains a large number of species, many of which are found in this country. I shall take the old genus Thelephora, which is now split into many others, as the type of the Order. THELEPHORA. Hymenium homogeneous, and concrete with the pileus, even or papillate, the whole surface bearing spores. THELEPHORA HiRrsuTA, Willd. Common Thelephora. Kffuso- reflexed, coriaceous, strigose ; beneath smooth, even, buff. On sticks, pales, fallen trees, ete. Perennial; very common. 76 CHAPTERS ON FUNGI. [ March, Very variable, at first resupinate, at length generally reflexed, often imbricated. ileus more or less zoned, strigose, tough, buff, yellowish, or greenish. Hymenium smooth, buff (often with a purplish shade), sometimes cinereous. Spores small, whitish, oval-oblong. A common species, particularly on dead Oak and Birch. In its young state, of a beautiful orange-buff colour. THELEPHORA SANGUINOLENTA, A. and S. Silky blood-stained Thelephora. Dimidiate or reflexed, blood-coloured when bruised, silky, pale; beneath smooth, greyish-brown. On dead Firs and Larches, etc.; common; perennial. At first resupinate and circular, at length dimidiate or reflexed, silky or almost strigose, zoned, pale-brownish. Hymenium smooth, greyish-brown, becoming blood-red (or rather, giving forth a blood-red juice) when scratched or bruised. Remarkable for the property it has (in common with some other species) of becoming bloody when touched. THELEPHORA COMEDENS, Nees. Immersed Thelephora. Effused, growing beneath the bark of trees, at length bursting forth, thin, smooth, yellowish flesh-colour, even, at length cracked. On dry decayed branches of various trees; very common. Distinguishable by its peculiar mode of growth. It originates beneath the bark, which gradually peels off, and leaves it exposed, forming a revolute margin to it. A very common Thelephora, especially on branches of Oak, and often extending 2 or 3 feet in length. It is only seen in perfection in moist weather, as it withers and dries up in dry. 5. CLAVARIET. Fungi clavate, or variously branched, rarely lobed or gelati- nous. A small suborder, containing those Hymenomycetous Fungi which are more or less club-shaped, or branched. The principal genus is Clavaria, the character of which is as follows :— CLAVARIA. Receptacle erect, more or less cylindrical, homogeneous, con- fluent with the stem. Hymenium occupying the whole surface. CLAVARIA PRATENSIS, Pers. Meadow Clavaria. Tufted, yellow, stem slender; branches short, geniculate, divaricate ; branchlets obtuse, subfastigiate. 1860. ] CHAPTERS ON FUNGI. 77 Meadows and woods; common. Oct.—Nov. Distinguished by its fastigiate mode of growth. Its colour is an ochry-yellow, more or less bright, and the whole plant resem- bles the horn of a stag. CLAVARIA VERMICULARIS, Sw. Worm-like Clavaria. Simple, pure-white, tufted, crowded, subulate, flexuous, solid, but with a small perforation, mostly connected at the base. Lawns and pastures, autumn; common, especially after rain. Forming white worm-like tufts about 2 or 3 inches high. I notice also the genus Typhula. TYPHULA. Receptacle somewhat cylindrical, distinct from the capillary stem. TYPHULA ERYTHROPUS, Pers. Red-stemmed Typhula.. Simple ; receptacle smooth, white; stem dark-red. On various decaying substances, as twigs, leaf-stalks, etc. etc. Not uncommon. Often growing on some species of Sclerotium, and thus appa- rently having a tuberous root 3 lines to 1 inch high; stem often flexuous, longer than the receptacle, which is pure-white. A pretty little Fungus, but requiring to be sought for among dead leaves and twigs. The dark-red stem contrasts well with the white summit or receptacle. Several of the genera classed with Clavaria, etc., in the ‘ English Flora, have now been removed to the Order Ascomycetes, as their fructification is sporidiiferous. 6. TREMELLINI. Fungi lobed, convolute or disciform, gelatinous ; fertile threads not compacted into an hymenium. The plants of this suborder are chiefly distinguished by their gelatinous substance. They often form rounded or shapeless masses of a jelly-like consistence, swellmg with moisture, and shrinking up in dry weather. I select the following examples :— TREMELLA. Receptacle gelatinous, homogeneous, bearing fruit all round, destitute of papillee. TREMELLA MESENTERICA, Retz. Orange Tremella. Rather tough, twisted, lobed and plicate, orange-yellow. 78 CHAPTERS ON FUNGI. | March, On dead branches, sticks, etc., all the year; common. Varying a good deal in size and form, but generally strongly lobed and plicate, of a beautiful orange-yellow, pellucid when moist. A common Fungus, especially on dead stems of Furze. EXIDia. Receptacle gelatinous, homogeneous, covered above only with the papillate hymenium. Papille obscure in some species. Exip1a GLANDULOSA, Bull. Witches’ Butter. Effused, more or less plane, thick, undulated, at length black ; hymenium beset with conical spicules; beneath cinereous, subtomentose. On trunks and branches of trees, especially Ash. Autumn and winter; common. Generally somewhat turbimate and much wrinkled above; beneath rough like crape. At first generally clear-brown, be- coming black in old-age. Substance tender but firm. Spicules not always present. A curious Fungus, often occurring on fallen*branches of various trees. It may be easily recognized by the above characters. DacryMyYces. Receptacle gelatinous, homogeneous, filled within with sub- erect flocci and inspersed spores. Dacrymyces stiLtuatus, Nees. Common Dacrymyces. Roundish-convex, at length plicate, yellow, then orange. On wood, especially of Fir ; frequent, the whole year, but chiefly in winter and spring. Forming little round masses, fron 1 to 2 lines broad, of a yellowish or orange colour, and growing in clusters. A common plant on old paling, gateposts, etc. etc., shrivelling up in dry weather. Mossburnford, Jan. 7, 1860. ‘ON THE TRANSMUTATION OF CEREALS. A correspondent requests the publication of the following extract on the Transmutation of Cereals, from the ‘ Cottage Gardener,’ January 3rd, 1860, p. 216. “Columella, the Roman agricultural writer, says (after speaking 1860. ] ON THE TRANSMUTATION OF CEREALS. 79 of the mode of cultivating barley), ‘ In like manner is the sowing of the oat, which sown in autumn is partly cut for hay or fodder whilst yet green, and partly it is protected for seed’ (lib. i. cap. xi.). “ Although only that one of the professed Roman agricul- tural writers mentions the oat, yet there are others of their au- thors who specially mention it, though not in commendation. Virgil twice speaks of ‘steriles avenze,’ Eclogue v. 37; Georgic i. 154. Again, in the same Georgic, line 226, Virgil says, ‘The expected crop has disappointed them by yielding barren oats’ (vanis elusit avenis), alluding seemingly to an opinion enter- tained by the Romans, and by ‘Theophrastus at an earlier period, that the oat is diseased wheat. Pliny says the oat ‘is the chief deformity of all wheat, and barley also degenerates into it, so much so indeed that it has superseded wheat, and the people of Germany sow it and make porridge of it alone’ (xvii. 17). “That one species of the Graminee will take various forms according as its culture is varied, can be sustained by many evi- dences. M. Fabré*and others have improved Agilops triticoides by culture until it became wheat: and Mr. Morton, author of the ‘ Cyclopedia of Agriculture,’ obtained both Potato and Tar- tarian Oats after five or six years’ cultivation from Avena fatua. «As it is possible to create, by cultivation, our corn plants from inferior grasses, so we have evidence that those plants may be transmuted still further. “ Gerarde,' an irreproachable witness, saw oats and wheat growing in the same ear. A gentleman told Dr. Lindley that in Germany oats sown early and not allowed to produce ears the first year, were found in the second year to yield other sorts of corn. In 18438, the Marquis of Bristol tried the experiment. Oats were sown and their stems continually stopped ; and in 1844, some produced a slender kind of barley, a few yielded wheat, and some still produced oats. (Gardeners’ Chronicle, 184.4, p. 555). “Tn 1800, Dr. Anderson quoted an instance of a Dutchman who cut his oats while green three times, and that when they were allowed to seed they produced rye (Recreations, 11. 779). Similar changes are recorded in 1837 (Loudon’s Mag. of Nat. History); and Dr. Weisenborn, who repeatedly tried the ex- periment, adds, ‘ Let any one sow the oats at the latter end of June, and the transformation will certainly occur.’ ” ————— 80 LOCALITIES OF HAMPSHIRE PLANTS. [ March, ADDITIONAL LOCALITIES OF SOME RARE HAMPSHIRE PLANTS. Derived chiefly from Specimens preserved in the Herbarium of the late Dr. Bromfield. By A. G. Mors, F.L:S. While lately engaged in arranging the Collection of Plants presented by Miss Bromfield to the Ryde Philosophical Society, I found that it contained specimens from several localities not mentioned in Dr. Bromfield’s ‘ Catalogue,’ as well as a few species which he had discovered subsequently to the date of his writing ; and although some of the stations have been already published, it has seemed to me that they are deserving of a separate notice, as being both interesting in themselves, and as recalling a name so - well known and respected as that of Dr. Bromfield. It is almost needless to add that the references are to the third volume of the old series of the ‘ Phytologist.’ Turritis glabra (p. 208). Sandy hedgebank at Kingsley, be- tween Petersfield and Farnham; sparingly. * June 19th, 1850. W.A.B. spec. Erysimum cheiranthoides. Sandy cultivated field at Passfield Common, on Wolmer Forest: one specimen only found. Aug. 29th, 1849. W.A. B. spec. Viola canina (flavicornis, Sm.). Sandhills at the south-west end of Hayling Island. May 17th, 1850. W. A. B. spec. Arenaria tenuifolia. In a clover lay close adjoming Abbot- stone Downs, near Old Alresford. May 29th, 1849. W.A.B. spec. (See ‘Cybele Brit.’ vol. ii. p. 394.) Stellaria glauca (p. 218). By the roadside, three-quarters of a mile out of Christchurch, towards Sopley and Ringwood. Aug. 21st, 1850. W.A.B. spec. (See ‘ Phytologist,’ vol. i. p. 896.) Cerastium arvense (p. 218). Fallow field between Winchester and Mitcheldever. May 28th, 1849; first noticed there by Dr. A. D. White. W.A.B. spec. Hypericum dubium (p. 271). Chawton Park, near Alton. June 10th, 1850. W.A.B. spec. Potentilla argentea (p. 343). Sandy ground near Christchurch. June 80th, 1850. W.A.B. spec. Epilobium roseum (p. 367). Near Petersfield, var. floribus - pallidis. Aug. 20th, 1849. W.A.B. spec. Myriophyllum verticillatum (p. 368). Ditch by the side of the 1860. ] LOCALITIES OF HAMPSHIRE PLANTS. 81 Redbridge canal, about a mile from Romsey. June 27th, 1850. NYOAS Be spec. Chrysosplenium alternifolium (p. 383). Boggy wood at Head- ley, in considerable abundance. May Ist, 1850. W.A.B. spec. Saxifraga tridactylites (p. 383). Abbotstone Down, near Old Alresford, with Cerastiwm arvense and Arenaria tenuifolia. May 29th, 1849. W.A. B. spec. Dipsacus pilosus (p. 428). Damp hedge by Boar-hunt Mill, near Fareham. Aug. 19th, 1850. W.A. B. spec. Gnaphalium sylvaticum (p. 494). Chawton Park, near Alton. Aug. 3rd, 1850. W. A.B. spec. [Wood at Horndean, A. G. M.] Arnoseris pusilla. ‘A mile north of Christchurch, on the Wimborne road.” Aug. 21st, 1850. Bromfield in ‘ Phytologist,’ vol. i. p. 1076 (no spec.). Hypocheris glabra (p. 503). Sandy fields near Christchurch. Aug. 21st, 1850. W.A. B. spec. Tragopogon pratensis. (Spec. 520. See also ‘ Phytologist,’ vol. il. p. 207). A specimen collected by Mr. Notcutt, at Wallington Pottery, near Fareham, appears to be the true 7. pratensis with its florets slightly exceeding the phyllaries. This plant has how- ever not yet been found in the Isle of Wight. A.G.M. Hieracium murorum. On a bank by the roadside at Empshot, near Selborne. June 13, 1850. W. A.B. spec. Campanula Rapunculus (p. 528). Aldershot. Mr. W. W. Reeves, ‘Phytologist,’ vol. 11. p. 1091 (no spec.). Cicendia filiformis (p.558). Gravel-pit at the north-east end of Hatchet Pond, near Beaulieu; in very great abundance. Sept. 13th, 1850. W.A.B. spec. Mysotis sylvatica (p. 579). Stream-side between Lyss and Greatsham, near Petersfield. June19th, 1850. W.A. B. spec. Orobanche elatior (p. 601). In some chalky hollows on the left of the road, a little way out of Kingsclere, towards Itchins- well. July 12th, 1850. W.A.B. spec. [Also at the Grange, near Alresford. Rev. W. W. Spicer in Bot. Gaz. vol. i. p. 326. | Antirrhinum Orontium (p. 620). Sandy fields on Passfield Common, on Wolmer Forest; in plenty. August 29th, 1849. W.A.B. spec. ; and “near Christchurch,” Bromfield in ‘ Phy- tologist,’ vol. 11. p. 1076 (no spec.). Eufragia (Bartsia) viscosa (p. 634). North side of Sowley Pond, near Lymington. Sept. 11th, 1850. W. A.B. spec. N.S. VOL. IV. M 82 LASTREA REMOTA. [ March, Melittis Melissophyllum (p. 665). Woods near Winton. W.A.B. spec. Stachys germanica (p. 685). In an old barren pasture field near Itchin Abbots, near Winchester. July 2lst, * 1850. W.A.B. spec. [See also Rev. W. W. Spicer (in Bot. Gaz. vol. ii. p. 326) who describes the locality as “a field north of Itchin Abbas,” where it seems the plant may have become extinct, ‘ Cybele Britannica,’ vol. ii. pp. 483, 522.] Allium oleraceum (p. 973). Chalky hollow near Itchin Abbots, near Winchester. July 24th, 1850. W.A.B. spec. [See Bot. Gaz. vol. ii. p. 326, “ field north of Itchin Abbas,” Rev. W. W. Spicer.] Found also in the Isle of Wight. A.G.M. Actinocarpus Damasonium (p. 1003). Pool by the roadside, about two miles from Christchurch, on the way to Lyndhurst. Aug. 21st, 1850. W.A.B. spec. (confirming Mr. James Hussey). Lemna gibba (p. 1012). In a pool at Burton, near Christ- church. August 21st, 1850. W.A.B. spec. In Dr. Bromfield’s copy of the ‘ Phytologist,’ at pp. 1000 and 1001 of vol. ii1., those of the “ desiderata ”’ which he had in later years ascertained to inhabit the country, or which had been re- ported to him, are distinguished by being underlined. Among the species thus marked occur the names of Nasturtiwm amphi- bium, Sanguisorba officinalis, and Alchemilla vulgaris. The first, being found in Devon and Sussex, is likely enough to have oc- curred, and the other two are here mentioned to direct attention to their possible existence in Hampshire. Bembridge, December, 1859. LASTREA REMOTA, A NEW BRITISH FERN. By Tuomas Moore. It may be interesting to British botanists to learn that an- other Fern, heretofore known only as a native of southern Ger- many, has been added to our Flora. This addition, the Lastrea remota (Aspidium remota) of Braun, has been found recently at Windermere, by F. Clowes, Esq., and Mr. J. Hudhart ; and I am indebted to Mr. Clowes for specimens. The plant in question bears much resemblance to Lastrea spinulosa in general appearance, and was, indeed, at first con- 1860. ] LASTREA REMOTA. 83 sidered to belong to that species; but its affinity is clearly with Lastrea Filix-mas. The outline of the frond is that of vigorous examples of ZL. spinulosa. The pinnules somewhat resemble L. Filix-mas incisa, but they are more decidedly stalked, more ovate and acute, and so much divided that the fronds become almost or quite tripinnate. ‘The fructification is quite that of L. Filiz-mas. There will no doubt be, as there already has been, a differ- ence of opinion as to the distinctness of this plant. Prof. Braun at first referred it to Aspidium rigidum, but subsequently re- garded it as a distinct species, in which view he was followed by several botanists of high repute as pteridologists, namely, Kunze, Fée, and Mettenius. It appears, however, from speci- mens recently received from Prof. Braun, that he now considers it a variety of Filiz-mas, which is also the view Mr. Clowes was at first inclined to adopt. No doubt the locality will be thoroughly searched in the ensuing season, and the plants sub- mitted to various tests; but in the meantime, I may state that Lastrea remota appears to me to have reasonable claim to be distinguished from all the allied Ferns. The following are its more prominent characters :-— Lastrea remota: fronds oblong-lanceolate, subtripinnate, gla- brous ; pinne acuminate, distant below; pinnules distinct, pyra- midal or ovate-oblong, acute, shortly petiolate below, sessile, with a narrow attachment, or more or less adnate upwards, the basal ones pinnatifid almost to the costa; lobes oblong, blunt, serrated, the serratures acute, mucronulate; sori copious over the whole frond, biserial near the costa; indusium reniform, persistent, ob- scurely eroso-dentate, without glands; caudex stout, ascending ; stipes and rachis stout, scaly. L. remota, Moore, Index Filicum, 102. Aspidium remotum, A. Braun, Verjung. 330; Metten. Fil. Hort. Bot. Lips. 93. Aspidium rigidum, 8. remotum, A. Braun, Doll. Rh. Fl. 16. Polystichum remotum, Koch, Syn. ed. 2, 979. It may be well to mention that the plant, which had at first been gathered as a mere form of one of our common species, was determined too late in the season to admit of being again suc- cessfully searched for. Chelsea. 84 DRABA VERNA. [ March, LOOK AFTER DRABA VERNA. How many of the following six forms are known to English botanists ? 1. Erophila (Draba) brachycarpa, Jord. Leaves oval-lanceo- late, narrowed at both extremities, entire or little toothed, clothed with simple and bifurcate hairs. Flower-stalks slender, flexuose. Sepals oval, hispid. Petals oboval-oblong, their lobes nearly contiguous. Pedicels flexuose, 2-4 times longer than the silicle. Silicles subelliptical-rounded, very obtuse at the summit, a little narrowed at their base. Style slender, very short. Seeds ellip- tical, very finely wrinkled, few in number. On rocks and walls. 2. EH. glabrescens, Jord. Leaves dark-green, lanceolate, nar- row, seldom toothed, gradually tapermg into a long petiole, smoothish or furnished with simple hairs. Flower-stalks flexuose, many-flowered. Sepals oval, a little hairy. Petals oboval-oblong, with slightly spreading lobes. Pedicels hardly three times as long as the silicle. Silicles nearly evenly oblong-elliptical, slightly narrowed at each extremity. Style very short. Seeds oblong- oval, reddish, nearly smooth, 20 to 24 in each hemicarp. Dry open places. 3. E. medioxima, Jord. Characters the same as in E. glabres- cens, ouly the pedicels are longer, 4—5 times the length of the silicle. 4. E. hirtella, Jord. Leaves linear-lanceolate, pointed, nar- rowed into a broad petiole, often furnished on each side with one or two very sharp teeth, covered on both faces with longish, spread- ing, often bifurcate hairs. Flower-stalks flexuose, hispid at their base. Sepals oval-oblong, a little unequal at the base, clothed above with long recurved hairs. Petals oblong, their lobes nearly contiguous. Pedicels not quite twice as long as the silicles, these of an oblong shape, a little narrowed at the summit, much nar- rowed from the lower third of their length. Style conspicuous. Seeds oval, brown, covered with minute points, in number 80-35 in each cell. Sandy places ; uncommon. 5. E. stenocarpa, Jord. Leaves linear, pointed, narrowed into a footstalk of nearly their own width, covered with numerous tri- furcate hairs. Flower-stalks flexuose, numerous, in crowded 1860. | FLEMING SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. 85 tufts. Sepals oblong, hispid. Petals oblong, their lobes slightly spreading. Pedicels twice as long as the silicles, these are linear- oblong, nearly four times longer than wide, narrowed at both ends. Seeds oval, pale brown, a little rough, about forty to the cell. Dry open places. 6. EH. majuscula, Jord. Leaves ashy-green, oblong-oboval, a little pointed, wedge-shaped at the base, with a petiole slightly narrower than their own breadth, entire or more usually bordered with strong teeth, clothed with short, thickly set bi- or tri-furcate hairs. Flower-stalks often hispid in their lower half. Sepals rounded, oval, little hispid at their summit. Petals large, nearly three times the size of the calyx, oboval, veined, with wide obtuse lobes. Silicles moderately broad, about half as long as the pedicel, oblong-elliptical, a little narrowed at their base, tipped with a prominent style. Seeds oval, pale-brown, finely covered with asperities, about forty in each cell. Dry sandy places. The six plants are thus divided dichotomously :— 1. Lobes of the petals more or less apart, spreading . . . . . . 38 itobes of the petals nearly contiguous 5 2 1.8) oe 2 2. Silicles rounded, very obtuse at the top . . . . . #. brachycarpa. Silicles oblong, much narrowed below . . . . . £. hirtella. Saiieaves linear orlanceolate; marrow . 0 2 sss et ete we Leaves oblong, oboval . . . . . . . . « « &. majuscula. Acs Sepals ovals -silicles.oblong-elliptical..) 2% 2.) 245 et re eB Sepals oblong, silicles linear oblong . . . . E. stenocarpa. 5. Pedicels hardly 3 times the length of the lide . . EH. glabrescens. Pedicels 4—5 times as long as thesilicle . . . . L. medioxina. (From Boreau, ‘Flore du Centre de la France,’ oe 3, p. 64, etc. See also Baker, in ‘ Phytologist,’ N.s. vol. li. p. 501: 1857-1858). FLEMING SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. New College, Edinburgh. This Society met, Tuesday, 24th January,—W. B. Thomson, Esq., President,—when Mr. Crossby, M.P.S., read a paper on the relation between plants and animals. Mr. Crossby first showed the vagueness of the common distinctions of these two kingdoms, and then chemically and physiologically traced the essential dif- 86 -FLEMING SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. [ March, ferences existing between them. He also showed how mutually dependent the one was on the other, and that it is to the mys- terious principle called life that both owe their beauty and their character. Mr. Valentine was then admitted a Member of the Society, and Mr. W. Carruthers, F.R.P.S., now of the British Museum, London, was elected an Honorary President. The Society then adjourned. At the usual fortnightly meeting of this Society, held on Tues- day, 7th February, John Sadler, Esq., presiding, the following communications were read :— 1. “Notes on British Crustacea,” by Alexander Kay, drawn from personal observation, and illustrated by specimens collected, during the last summer, on the Scottish shores. 2. “Notes on the Autumnal Flora of Dumfries and the Stewarty of Kirkeudbright,’ by Thomas Brisbane, Esq., Dum- fries, communicated by Robert Brown, F.R.P.S., Treasurer. The Flora of Dumfries has been studied, and by numerous botanists, and some have published accounts of it. Sir W. Jar- dine, Bart., gives a list of the rarer plants in the Statistical Ac- count, and Dr. L. Lindsay has published a paper on the subject in the ‘Phytologist’ for 1855-6. Messrs. Gray and Cruickshank have also published lists in the ‘ Phytologist ;’ but by far the most delightful sketch is given in “The Rambles among the Wild Flowers,” by Mr. John Sadier, one of our presidents. The paper gave an account of several excursions made through the county during the autumn of 1859. A number of interesting plants were noticed, of which the following are the rarer ones :—Aa- nunculus Lingua, Sagina nodosa, Lobelia Dortmanna, Serratula tinctoria (common at Parton, where he also found a viviparous Carex), Cichorium Intybus, Sedum dasyphyllum, Hyoscyamus niger, Allosorus crispus, Dipsacus fullonum (wild in front of Car- laverock Castle and Blackshaw Merse. Cicuta virosa and Bidens cernua, at Lochar Moss, at Collin. Campanula rotundifolia (white variety), Andromeda polifolia and Utricularia minor (Glasstown), Gentiana campestris, Nymphea alba, abundantly in the stream of Lochar, and Nuphar lutea in Castledouglas Loch. Geranium pheum (plentiful at the moat of Troqueer). Sedum Telephium, Chrysanthemum leucanthemum (very rare). Orobanche major (very rare). The district is unusually rich in Lichens, Mosses, and 1860. ] THIRSK NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 87 Jungermannie, some of which were very rare. A lady had ga- thered 50 species of Jungermannie within five miles of Dumfries, and these are now in the herbarium of Mr. J. H. Martin. He frequently found white varieties of Calluna vulgaris. He also ex- hibited two specimens of Hriophorum vaginatum, showing the ef- fect of the dry soil in stunting the growth, and vice versd. Mr. Brown, in conclusion, gave a list of 100 plants found growing on the dock wall of Dumfries, from the foot of Assembly Street to the Castle dykes, a distance of about half a mile. The paper was illustrated by a large collection of plants gathered. 3. Sketch of a botanical excursion to the neighbourhood of Moffat, on July 9th, 1859, by John Sadler, Esq., F.B.S.E.; but as this paper will appear im exvtenso in the columns of the ‘ Phy- tologist,’ we would refer our readers to it. The Secretary noticed the following donation to the Library: ‘Rambles among the Wild Flowers, by John Sadler, F.B.S.E., from the Author. The Society then adjourned. THIRSK NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. Botanical Exchange Club. The monthly meeting of this Society was held on the evening of Monday, the 5thof February. Mrs. Alban Atwood, of Knay- ton, near Thirsk, was admitted a member of the Exchange Club. Mr. J. G. Baker announced the receipt of a parcel from the Rev. W. R. Crotch, and communicated the following notices :— “ Papaver Lecoquii, Lamotte, in Mém. Acad. Clermont, 1851; Boreau, Pl. Cent. edit. 3, p. 80; Crépin, Notes Belg. p. 7. Mr. A. G. More sends an example of this plant from cultivated fields at Bembridge, in the Isle of Wight. Some time ago I gathered a Poppy in the Thirsk neighbourhood, which I suspect to be the same, but I neglected to study it in the living state, and have only a single dried specimen to refer to. It isnearest P. dubium, but in that species the sap is milky-white, whilst in P. Lecoquit it is yellow in colour. The latter is also more robust in growth than dubium, with leaves usually doubly pinnate, with narrow- linear segments. There are three closely allied plants with milky-white sap described by some of the later authors from ad- jacent countries of the Continent, viz. P. collinum, Bogeutr., P. 88 THIRSK NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. [ March, modestum, Jord., and P. Lamottei, Boreau. Unless I am under a misapprehension, the common dubium of our country is iden- tical with the first of these. Of our plant the capsule is oblong- cylindrical in shape, broadest rather above the middle, narrowed very gradually till within a short distance of the base, the stig- matiferous disc (in the mature capsule) flattish at the sides, but raised at the centre into a rounded protuberance, its crenations in- conspicuous, and the stigmas are from five to seven in number, and fall short of the edge of the disc by a little space. In P. Lecoguit the capsule is exceedingly similar in shape, but the stigmatiferous disc is more convex, its crenations much more conspicuous and decided, and the stigmas are eight or nine in number, and reach quite to the edge of the disc. It was originally described from the centre of France, and has since been met with by Messrs. Crépim and Graret in several stations in Belgium. It appears to have a preference for calcareous districts, as is stated to be also the case with P. modestum. “ Fumaria pallidiflora, Jordan. A study of the descriptions in Boreau’s Flora, and comparison with French specimens, shows me that the Fumaria of which I spoke in a recent note as the normal form of capreolata is identical with this plant. The true F. speciosa, Jordan, is very closely allied to it, but has larger, deeper-coloured flowers, and broader based fruit. F. pallidiflora and Borei are no doubt both of them both frequent and widely diffused in Britain, and I hope that by next year we shall be able to get a sufficient stock to meet the requirements of our friends. Both of them are sometimes plentiful enough in this neighbour- hood, but they are uncertain in their appearance, and last year I only dried a small supply of Borez. Barbarea intermedia, Boreau, has been met with by Mr. More in Ireland, in county Armagh. He writes respecting it, ‘ My specimens were collected in 1844, and it is to Mr. Borrer that I am indebted for the name. They differ in no respect whatever from what you sent me from Thirsk last year, labelled Hulme, Lancashire, by Mr. Hardy, but I cannot answer for the plant being a true native. All the de- terminable specimens were gathered in cultivated fields, where it was an abundant weed, and I think some younger plants from roadsides adjoining were the same. I half suspect that the plant is sometimes grown in gardens.’ “ Silene italica, Pers. Mr. J. T. Syme sends a supply of this 1860. ] REVIEW. 89 species from the neighbourhood of Dartford, in Kent; and Mr. John Barton a couple of examples from a ‘ hedge-bank at Cherry Hinton, two miles and a half from Bambridge, possibly an escape from the Botanic Gardens.’ “ Trifolium elegans, Savi. Last year I met with a patch of this alien Trefoil upon the side of the railway embankment, about half a mile north of Thirsk station, and Mr. John Tatham has shown a specimen gathered by himself in the neighbourhood of Settle. © Trifolium resupinatum is sent by Dr. Windsor from rubbish- heaps at Pendleton near Manchester, where it was gathered by Mr. Buxton. “ Setaria viridis. A few plants were found this autumn by Mr T. W. Gissing, in a cultivated field near Wakefield.” Bebicwy, The Natural History Review and Quarterly Journal of Science. London: Williams-and Norgate. April, 1859.* (From a Correspondent.) Three new species of South African plants were communicated to the Dublin University Zoological and Botanical Association by Professor Harvey, M.D., on the 21st of May, 1858. A memoir, or history, and also a description of these botanical novelties are supplied by the Doctor, and are reprinted in the Review, pp. 95-99. They are also figured in the January part of the same periodical, plates 1, 2, 3, 4. The first of these plants is a small tree or shrub with light porous wood, leafy branches, petioled roundish scalloped leaves, with resinous glandular dots, and without stipules. The flowers are in clusters, having persistent, glabrous, dotted sepals, and broadly linear-oblong, thick, glossy, bright-crimson petals. The structural peculiarities of the ovary point it out, the Doctor writes, “as probably the type of a new Order.” It will be a desirable acquisition to our greenhouses and conservatories. It is proposed to name the genus Greyia, in compliment to his excellency the Governor of the Colony, and this species Sutherlandi, to com- memorate its discoverer. It grows in exposed places, near Port Natal, and its elevation is from 2000 feet to 6000. A note warns * This arrived too late to appear at the proper time, and hence it was overlooked. Nem SiO.) sLSV ie N 90 REVIEW. [ March, botanists not to confound it with Grayia, Hooker and Arnott.: The author naively remarks that “ the similar ity of sound certainly is great (are they not identical?) ; but as there are two British peerages (one Grey and the other Gray) which are held to be sufficiently different, we trust that our Greyia and Grayia may without confusion also be admitted.” Shade of Linnzeus, what would you say, if you were to revisit the scene of your former triumphs, and were permitted to speak your mind ? The second novelty is Sterculia Alewandri, and the third is Anagallis Hutioni ; both these are described in the April number of the Review, and figured in the January part. This latter plant does not differ very materially from Anagallis arvensis. It is said that the root is probably perennial. It would be worth while to inquire whether or not the root of A. arvensis would not be- ~ come occasionally perennial in South Africa. This part of the ‘Natural History Review’ (April, 1859, p. 155) contains also another valuable botanical paper by our oc- casional correspondent, D. Moore, the learned Curator of the Botanical Gardens of Glasnevin. This paper, which is on pp. 155-160, is named “ Observations on some plants, considered by M. de Candolle to be alien and introduced into Britain. Also notices of some new species to the Irish Flora (species new to the Irish Flora ?), with additional habitats (localities?) of others hitherto supposed to be rare.” The author of this paper states that on studying the learned author’s chapter on the species naturalized in Great Britain (Ireland is excluded) and also “a very able article ” on the same subject, which appeared in the ‘ Phy- tologist’ for June, 1858, “I was led to consider the conclusions come to respecting several plants attentively, in so far as con- cerns Ireland.” It is not very clear how the author of this very well-written paper could ‘consider the conclusions come to” on a subject where nothing has been concluded by any of the learned botanical geographers referred to by the writer. The first plant noticed is Stratiotes aloides, which Mr. Moore maintains to be a genuine native of England, in direct opposition to Professor De Candolle, who ranks it among the plants which have been naturalized from a great distance. In England, wher- ever this plant is found, as in the eastern lowlands, viz. the counties of Norfolk, Huntingdon, Lincoln, etc.,* it presents the * This plant has been recently reported from Perth. 1860. | REVIEW. 91 appearance of being truly wild. In Europe it is reported from the Scandinavian peninsula, excluding Norwegian Lapland; also from Russia (south and middle) ; Italy, from Rome to the Alps; north of Germany, Holland, Belgium, south of France, Austria, Hungary, ete. De Candolle regards this plant as an introduction from Java, the Moluccas and Malabar. Query,—Has it been observed anywhere between Malabar, its most western native lo- cality, and Hungary, its nearest adopted homein Europe? Is it a denizen of Asia Minor, or of Greece, or Turkey? Is the Flora of the Euphrates and its tributaries well known? Have the stream- lets and valleys of Armenia been well explored? What may be the botanical productions of the countries whence the human race after the Flood departed to colonize the earth after its sub- mersion in the waters of the great deluge. Mr. Moore claims Narcissus biflorus as truly indigenous in Ireland. This is one of the doubtful species which Professor De Candolle conjectures to have been introduced between the Roman dominion in Britain and the discovery of America, or in round numbers, 1,500 years: asufficient period for the naturalization of such a plant as Narcissus, which is very hardy and very durable. Professor De Candolle states that it is indigenous in Italy and in the south of France. Mr. Moore considers it to be a plant of western Europe, and he is probably right. It does not appear in Europe further east than the Tyrol and Italy. Senebiera didyma is one of the ten species which Britain, ac- cording to De Candolle’s theory, has received from America. This plant is far more plentiful in the south-west than in the south-east of England. This is also a plant of Spain and the south of France. Probably Gothland, in the Baltic, is its most eastern range in Europe. Again, Mr. Moore considers Mercurialis annuus and Geranium pyrenaicum as both truly wild in Ireland. In the ‘ Géographie Botanique’ they are in the list of thirty-seven European species supposed to be naturalized in Great Britain. The annual Mercury is very plentiful in the vale of the Thames, and if it be a native of Ireland, where it is said to be very local, it may surely be admitted to be a native of Britain. Its European range is, from north to south, from Norway to Spam; and from east to west, from Turkey to Portugal. Geranium pyrenaicum is not restricted to the vale of the Thames ; it is found near the top of Arthur’s 92 REVIEW. [March, Seat, and in places about Edinburgh. Its European range is Greece, Russia, Germany, Spain, Denmark, Sweden (south), Belgium, Italy, Sicily, Dalmatia, Hungary, etc. It is not very easy to see on what grounds either of these two plants should be considered as interlopers in Britain. Such plants, Mr. Moore continues, as Myrrhis odorata, Sa- ponaria officinalis, Silybum (not Sylibum, as in the Review, where Anachris is printed instead of Anacharis) Marianus, Cheiranthus Cheiri, Antirrhinum majus, Anchusa sempervirens, Sedum dasy- phyllum, S. album, Veronica Burbaumii (not Buxbaumi), though met with plentifully in some parts of the country, are not con- sidered truly indigenous in Ireland. The following are plants only recently detected in ‘Ireland, viz. Lycopodium inundatum, lately discovered by Henry Lubohm, on the margin of a small lake on the property of James Ellis, Hsq., near Letterpack, Connemara, a highly interesting addition to the Flora of Ireland. Hypnum megapolitanum is another addition made by Mr. D. Orr and by Mr. Moore “ between Mala- hide and Portrane.” It had only been previously known as growing sparingly near Shoreham in Sussex, and Liverpool. Query,—Southport, where so many rare mosses grow ? Galium elongatum is another acquisition. It grows in most meadows near the Boyne. Blysmus compressus has been recently found by Mr. John Sullivan, in the county of Cork. It has not hitherto been re- corded from Ireland. Additional stations (habitats) are recorded for Allium Scorodo- prasum (not Scorodaprasum as repeatedly printed) and Lathyrus palustris. Of the former the true plant grows in the county of Cork, at Foate, in great profusion. Allium arenarium (A. Scorodoprasum, Linn.), of the Irish Flo- ras, is not that species, but a state of 4. vineale. Lathyrus pa- _ lustris is no longer a doubtful inhabitant of Ireland. It abounds ‘in the county of Antrim, where it was originally discovered by Mr. Templeton, also in moist meadows, Murrogh, near Wicklow, near Portumna, county of Galway, and in almost every moist meadow on the shores of Lough Erne, in the counties of Ferma- nagh and Cavan. Besides, Mr. Carroll has observed it in the south. There is in this part of the ‘Natural History Review,’ an 1860. | BOTANICAL NOTES, NOTICES, AND QUERIES. 93 address to the Geological Society of Dublin. In this paper the theological theories of the origin of the earth’s crust, or Mr. Gosse’s prochronic existence of organic beings (not a real exis- tence of fossils) as explained in‘ Omphalos,’ also the late Hugh Miller’s theory as laid down in his ‘Testimony of the Rocks,’ and Mr. M‘Causland’s ideas developed in his ‘ Sermons in Stones,’ are stated to be curious illustrations of speculative errors which enjoy great popularity among the non-geological portion of the reading public. BOTANICAL NOTES, NOTICES, AND QUERIES. WAHLENBERGIA HEDERACEA. Sir,—In a report which I- transmitted to you of the plants found in Bewdley Forest, and which appeared in the ‘ Phytologist’ of December last, it is there stated that Wahlenbergia, reported by its old generic name Campanula hederacea, was found in the Forest. It is due to W. Mathews, Esq., of Edgbaston, that I am enabled to correct an error as to the loca- lity of this plant, which has been traced to the Clee hills. Wahlenbergia, therefore, does not at present belong to the Flora of Bewdley Forest. ariinghum, Feb. 20. Witiiam Hinps, M.D. [We are indebted to Mr. Lees for the information that Lactuca virosa is entered by mistake as a Wyre Forest plant. Our esteemed correspondent states that “‘ Wahlenbergia was gathered on the Titterstone Clee Hill near Ludlow, while the Zactwca had been named from recollection, etc.” On the same excellent authority it is stated that ‘‘ Corydalis lutea, if gathered on some garden wall, or near a cottage on the forest border, deserves no status as an indigenous forest plant.” Query.—Have the members of the Birmingham Natural History Society ever heard of Mr. Jordan of Bewdley, who has botanized in Wyre Forest probably threescore years, and is intimately acquainted with its botanical productions ?] Frora oF Dinas Bran AND LLANGOLLEN. I find, on referring to notes of my Welsh trip this last summer, the fol- lowing, which were not noticed by your correspondent. Dinas Bran— Cystopteris fragilis, Sedum Telephium, Lactuca muralis. Limestone rocks near Dinas Bran—Cystopteris dentata. About Liangollen—Daphne Lau- reola, Hieracium maculatum, Orobanche major, Listera ovata, Nepeta Ca- taria, Hypericum Androsemum and pulchrum, Aquilegia. In addition, the Oswestry Field Naturalists’ Club found in July, Arabis hirsuta, Thalictrum minus, Pingwcula vulgaris, Anagallis tenella, Pyrus Aria B intermedia, Cystopteris “regia,” Lycopodium clavatum, and L. alpinum. I copied these last from a local newspaper. dt last 94 BOTANICAL NOTES, NOTICES, AND QUERIES. _[ March, SEMPERVIVUM TECTORUM. Houseleek, Sedum, Sengreen.— With reference to E. M. A.’s note in the ‘Phytologist’ for September, 1859, 1 can positively say that this plant grows as commonly on the thatched roofs of houses and other buildings as on walls. Ina compendious ‘Herbal’ by John Archer, one of his Ma- jesty’s Physicians, London, 1673, he tells us that this herb groweth on the tops of houses, or on walls. It is governed by Jupiter. It is said that the herb preserveth the house it grows on from fire, and is good for all heats, as well inward as outward, in eyes, face, or elsewhere; you may make a posset, and strain the juice into it. Many other virtues are named by Mr. Archer. H. B. LYTHRUM SALICARIA. I see Mr. Sim, p. 356, speaks of the rarity of Lythrum Salicaria in Scotland. It may interest him to know that I found it growing luxuriantly at Borodale, and near Shiel Bridge, in the West Highlands, 1856. i Beni MAGNIFICENT ANGELICA. In a ditch near the margin of the Tay, about a mile below Perth, on the 14th September, 1859, I gathered a large specimen of Angelica sylvestris. I pulled it up by the root. The following were some of its dimensions :— Entire length, 6 feet 6 inches; circumference of stem at base, 37 inches ; diameter ot main umbel, 9 inches; number of umbels, 11; number of um- bellules respectively, 26, 25, 41, 24, 41, 37, 12, 21, 21, 34, 4.5 ,— total, 327. Each umbellule contained on an average about 45 or 46 dicarpous seeds, equal to 90 or 92, which, multiplied by 327, gives in round num- bers no less a sum than 30,000. Amazing production! Astonishing fer- tility! Will some of the readers of the ‘Phytologist’ look out for a larger, if they have nothing better to do? JOHN SIM. Bridge End, Perth, September 15, 1859. LOMARIA ALPINA. Will the following be of any interest in reference to Lomaria alpina as a supposed British plant? A fair and noble cultivator of Ferns has in the grounds at her residence a good Fernery of hardy Ferns; among them Lo- maria alpina in great plenty, on an old bank, well-established, and of several years’ growth. Long ago, and before I knew anything of Mr. Wollaston’s supposed discovery of this plant in Scotland, L , who is well acquainted with this species, formed me that she was guite certain that she had seen the same plant in the Lake district, and truly wild there, although the large patch im her collection of living Ferns was most likely of foreign or garden origin. I enclose a scrap of the cultivated plant, that there may be no doubt as to the correctness of what is intended by L. al- pina. \ have no authority to make use of her ladyship’s name in this communication, nor have | indeed conversed with her but that once upon the subject. K. E. 1860. ] BOTANICAL NOTES, NOTICES, AND QUERIES. 95 MISTLETOE. In ‘ Chambers’ Journal’ for December, 1859, there is an article on this plant, and the writer, previously to quoting “‘ Old Gerarde,”’ says,—‘ This strange plant is the only true parasitic plant indigenous to this country,” and that it is not a native of either Scotland or Ireland. Also “ that Shakspeare has but one solitary allusion to the Mistletoe—an uncompli- mentary one ; he calls it ‘the baleful Mistletoe.’ In revenge for this hard epithet, the slandered plant has fastened on the Limes of Datchet Mead, that may have seen Sir John display his alacrity in sinking, till they are fast decaying, and realize the poet’s description, of “Trees, though summer, yet forlorn and lean, O’ercome with Moss and baleful Mistletoe.” I wish to know whether the statements contained in the first paragraph are correct, or not ? With respect to Shakspeare’s calling the Mistletoe “ baleful,”’ it should be remembered that the scene described is a forest near Rome, where the Mistletoe might have grown abundantly on the trees, and been baleful; but whether it is so on the Lime-trees in Datchet Mead I know not. Some of your readers can tell us how this is. N.B. Mr. Johns, in his ‘ Flowers of the Field,” says the wood of the common, Mistletoe has been found to contain twice as much potash and five times as much phosphoric acid as the wood of the foster tree. Ss. B. GYMNADENIA CONOPSEA. Have any correspondents to the ‘ Phytologist ’ ever observed a state of Gymnad. Conopsea growing in peat bogs? The only place where it is found near here (Oxford) are of that nature, and it appears to me to grow thrice as large, to flower a month or six weeks later, and to be much more fragrant than the ordinary form of ‘“ dry heaths and pastures”? which I once found near Reading. There is probably as much. difference between the two as be- tween Habenaria bifolia and H. chlorantha, but I have been as yet unable to get fresh specimens of both at the same time to make a comparison. The bos plant grows two or three feet high, robust and fragrant in proportion, but perhaps only differs from the plant of the hills and pastures by luxuri- ance, induced by its moisture and more sheltered situation. H.B. Wetso Botany. Llandderfel, Merioneth, N. Wales.—The Alyrrhis odorata grows here- abouts. Our parish clerk, John Jones (who, by the way, is much pleased with your ‘ Illustrated Handbook of British Botany’), has just pointed it out to me. I am indebted to the same kind friend for much local information upon the botany of the neighbourhood, which I will endeavour from time to time to put into order for the pages of the ‘ Phytologist,’ if it be worth notice. The Botrychium Lunaria is pretty genera upon old pastures of moderate elevation all around, and where you do find it, it occurs in abundance. Some specimens were gathered above nine inches in height. Wie. 96 BOTANICAL NOTES, NOTICES, AND QUERIES. [March. CLAYTONIA ALSINOIDES. I have growing ina pot a living plant, or rather, plants, of this beautiful succulent annual. It has, since last May, when I brought it from the Wood , of Scone, been constantly in flower up to the present time. It sheds its seeds immediately after flowering; so I expect next year in my little spot of earth to have a fine crop of my little favourite. JOHN SIM. OsmunpaA Luzon (74) repens Fumarie folio. “‘F. Kamel, amongst his last manuscripts, sent me this, under the title of Fumaria capillaris. I take it to bea flowering Fern, and his description (as well as design) seems to favour my conjecture.’”’—From Petiver, tab. 47, | fig. 8. Can any reader identify this plant ? Mossks, ETC. FROM BEWDLEY Forsst. (From ‘ Transactions of the Birmingham Natural History Society.’) Exhibited in January,—Hypnum proliferum, H. triquetrum, H. confer- tum, H. Schreberi, H. cupressiforme, H. splendens, Bryum ligulatum, B. roseum, B. androzymum, Polytrichum aloides, Trichostomum heterostichum, Tortula muralis, Dicranum scoparium, Jungermannia asplenioides, Peltidea canina. Corrigenda in Welsh Botany, in February Number.—< Pont-y-Beddws,” at page 42 and wherever it occurs in the paper, should be ‘ Pont Cwm Byddew.” “ Brynhilwg,” at page 44, should be “ Bronheulog.” ‘ Bod- weyne,” same page, should be ‘“ Bodwenni.” “Plas Issa,” same page, should be “ Ty Isaf.” ‘ Plas,” near the bottom of page 48, should read thus, ‘‘ Plas Palé.” “ Widdyfa,” near the bottom of page 50, should be “ Wyddfa.” ‘‘ Pennanth,”’ on page 53, should be “ Pennant.” Communications have been received from James Backhouse, Jun. ; Sidney Beisley; John Sim; Rev. R. H. Cole ; A. G. More, F.L.S; Thomas Moore; T. Westwood; E. Edwards; Rev. W. M. Hind, Secretary of the Birmimgham Natural History Society ; J. G., Baker ;, Querist ; 8. B.; Hi. B.; 1. mens Rev teesalmiavas Alexander C. Kay; Dr. Hinds; Edwin Lees, F.L.S.; H. Boswell, Ox- ford -9Giekis Ewan: in Ras Beis Wika; ins imele: BOOKS RECEIVED FOR REVIEW. The Critic ; four numbers. Natural History Review for January, 1860. Harrow Gazette, etc. Gardeners’ Chronicle ; six numbers. Weitere Zusttze zur Flora der Pfalz; von Dr. FP. Schultz. Proceedings of the Natural History Society of Dublin, Vol. I. part 3. = Contributors are requested to send their communications direct to Mr. Irvine, 28, Upper Manor Street, Chelsea, London, 8.W. [ April, 1860.] 97 PLANTS IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD OF DUNKIRK. By BR. E. C. Perhaps the following notice of the Flora of Dunkirk may prove interesting to some of the readers of the ‘ Phytologist,’ as showing the character of the vegetation on the northern extre- mity of the French coast,—how far it agrees with, or differs from, that of our own shores. The plants contained in the following list are all from the im- mediate neighbourhood of Dunkirk,—gathered principally among the dunes, or sandhills, along the coast, from which the town takes its name (Flemish, Duinkercke, ‘Church of the Dunes’), or on the level sandy ground immediately behind them. The flat inland country presents little of interest to the botanist, the few mland plants given below being the only noteworthy species observed there in the course of two summers’ residence. It will be seen that Dunkirk can boast of no plants absolutely unknown on this side the Channel, though it has several, such as Hryngium cam- pestre, Silene conica, Anchusa officinalis, of extremely rare occur- rence amongst us. Tt needs only to add in explanation of the localities mentioned, that Rosendael is the little village which hes next to Dunkirk on the north-east, as do Mardyck and St. Pol on the south-west ; and that the canals spoken of run by the sides of all the prin- cipal roads through that flat country. Thalictrum minus. Sandhills between Rosendael and the sea. Cakile maritima. On the dunes. Senebiera Coronopus. On the dunes. Lepidium ruderale. Cornfields by the sea, near Mardyck. Sisymbrium Sophia. Sandy roadsides and fields about Mar- dyck. Helhtanthemum vulgare. On the dunes. Viola tricolor. On the dunes. Saponaria officinalis. On the ramparts close to the Porte ae Fort-Louis. Silene nutans. Bank of the canal to Mardyck.—Leaves much narrower than in the Nottingham Pant, with which I think I am right in identifying it. US nAotatas. Silene conica. Sandy fields near thie sea. N.S. VOL. IV. 9) 98 DUNKIRK PLANTS. [ April, Spergula nodosa. Sandy ground. Arenaria peploides. On the dunes. Arenaria marina. Sides of the outer moat (salt-water). Parnassia palustris. Moist hollows among the dunes, plenti- fully. Erodium cicutarium. Sandy ground. Medicago falcata. Glacis near Rosendael. Medicago sativa. About the fortifications. Probably sown. Medicago minima. Sandy ground. Melilotus officinalis. Fields by the Canal des Méeres. _ Trifolium arvense. On the dunes, abundantly. Trifolium fragiferum. Moist places among the dunes. Hippuris vulgaris. Side of the canal to Furnes. Hydrocotyle vulgaris. Marshes about Fort-Louis. Eryngium maritimum. Abundant on the dunes. Eryngium campestre. Sea-bank opposite Fort-Mardyck. It seems strange that it should not have established itself better on _ the English coast. I have noticed it at Dunkirk and C Calais, and also plentifully about Boulogne. _Asperula cynanchica. On the dunes, ete. Cichorium Intybus. Fields, waste ground. Lanacetum vulgare. Roadside beyond Rosendael. Bidens cernua. Ditch beyond Rosendael church. Artemisia maritima. Sea-bank to the left (south-west) of the harbour. Gnaphalium luteo-album 2 Cornfields between St. Pol and the sea. Erigeron acris. On the glacis. Aster Tripolium. Salt-water moats and canals. Jasione montana. On the dunes. Chlora perfoliata. Dunes to the right (north-east) of the harbour. Lycopsis arvensis. Sandy ground between Rosendael and the sea. Anchusa officinalis. On the glacis between Porte de Estran and Porte de Nienport. Cynoglossum officinale. About Mardyck. Leonurus Cardiaca. Side of the road to Furnes. Stachys palustris. Cornfields between Fort-Mardyck and the sea. 1860. | ADDITIONS TO THE FLORA OXONIENSIS. 99 Marrubium vulgare. Sea-bank near Mardyck. Lysimachia Nummularia. Bank of the canal to Furnes. Samolus Valerandi. Marshes round Fort-Louis. Glaux maritima. In the basin for clearing the harbour’s mouth. Statice Armeria. Sea-bank to the left of the harbour. Plantago maritima. Basin for clearing the harbour’s mouth. Chenopodium maritimum. Salt-water moats and canals. Atriplex laciniata 2? Sandy shore. Salsola Kali. Loose sandy shore. Salicornia herbacea. Seashore, plentifully. Polygonum Fagopyrum. Coyrnfields, etc., scarcely wild. Triglochin palustre. Edge of canal to Mardyck. Allium vineale. Sandy fields between Fort-Mardyck and the Calais road. Asparagus officinalis. Sand-hills about Rosendael, sparingly. Hydrocharis Morsus-rane. Moat on the right of the Porte du Fort-Louis. Neottia spiralis. Common land between the Mardyck road and the sea. Herminium Monorchis. Moist hollows among the dunes, be- tween Rosendael and the sea. Epipactis latifolia. Sand-hills between the Porte du Mar- dyck and the Basin des Chasses. Ammophila arundinacea. On the dunes. Elymus arenarius. On the dunes. Triticum gunceum. On the dunes. Scirpus maritimus. Salt-water moats and ditches. Blysmus compressus. Canal-bank near Mardyck. Carex arenaria. Loose sand-hills, abundantly. Carex extensa. Under moat of the fortifications near the Porte de ? Estran. Carex ? Marshy places among the dunes. ADDITIONS TO THE FLORA OXONIENSIS. By H. Boswetu. | I take this opportunity of sending you a notice of some few plants I have met with during last summer, which are unmen- 100 ADDITIONS TO THE FLORA OXONIENSIS. [ April, tioned in the‘ Flora of Oxfordshire’ as being found in this neigh- bourhood, and in fact new to the district, as far as I can ascertain. Rosa villosa grows on the edge of Bagley Wood, where I was rather surprised to find it, having thought it a north-country plant. Below the thicket of which it, R. arvensis, and R. canina form part, grow Hierac. vulgatum, and a number of Mosses rare here, as Bariramia pomiformis, Dicranum palustre, etc. The soil is gravel and sand. In another part of the wood Rosa micrantha is found, and close by was one which I think a variety of R. Sabini, but in a state that did not permit me to feel very sure of its species, z.e. the flowers gone, but the fruit unformed. R. micrantha also occurs at Shotover, in a thicket, with Senecio saracenicus and Hypericum Androsemum ; but cultivation seems approaching, and threatening to exterminate these before long. Among this same plantation, and at no great distance, 1 saw a patch of Muscari racemosum, in the warm days of last March, ap- parently as native there as the Violets and Primroses with which it grew; the soil, a light and sandy one (greensand), covered with patches of Tortula subulata and Anacalypta lanceolata. Vicia lathyroides I have seen between Stow Wood and Head- ington Wick, and again in meadows under Bagley Wood, near Bayworth, in which meadows, but further from the shade of the wood, grows also Ophioglossum vulgatum ; this occurs again near Kidlington and Islip, but is usually bitten off, by sheep, I suppose. In fields near Watlington, and again near Goring, I saw Cuscuta Trifolti in patches as large as an ordinary dining-table, and con- spicuous amid the green Clover around, having quite destroyed and withered it up where it grew. This is probably introduced with the clover-seed from abroad; it seemed a matter of equal surprise and dislike to the farmers on whose land it had effected a settlement. Cnanthe fluviatilis is plentiful in some parts of the Isis and Cherwell, and much more frequent here than i. Phellandrium, which I have seen but once or twice. Carex fulva is to be found in the bogs under Stow Wood, Headington Wick, and Bullingdon Green ; most plentiful in the last-named place, accompanied by C. flava, panicea, etc., the ground being a spongy mass of Hypnum stillatum and H. cuspi- datum, Bryum pseudo-triquetrum, and similar Mosses. Sonchus asper is as common here as 8. oleraceus. Anthriscus vulgaris is mentioned in the ‘ Flora of Oxfordshire’ without date or locality, 1860. ] ADDITIONS TO THE FLORA OXONIENSTS. 101 and apparently rather as it might be found than because it had ever been, like Solidago Virgaurea and one or two others, which I could never hear had been seen by any botanist in the neighbourhood. I searched in vain for the Anihriscus till last May, when it was brought to me by a friend who had found it near Shotover and Wheatley, and thought he had Caucalis daucoides, a pleasing illusion I was obliged to dispel after examining the plant. Guided by his directions, I went to the place, and found a small patch of the plant growing, under the shade of a hedge-bank, with Are- naria tenuifolia. In thesame neighbourhood, and again at Bag- ley Wood, and one or two other places, I found Viola flavicornis (var. pumila, Hook. and Arnott), a very near relation, at least, to V. canina. Medicago sativa occurs in several places, and also Trifolium incarnatum, but doubtless introduced. The two seem to have established themselves and assumed a wild aspect in some broken limestone ground near Stow Wood. AHieracium amplexicaule seems firmly seated on the bank of the Cherwell, near the Botanic Garden, and again on the walls of Magdalen College. Of decided aliens I have also seen the following :—AHypericum calycinum, in thickets in Nuneham Park, introduced from the not distant gar- dens. Carum Carui,in a meadow off the Bothy road. Camelina sativa, clover-fields near the Warneford Asylum, with Anihemis arvensis, etc. Linaria purpurea, rubbish near the Great Western Railway station, not hkely to become a fixed inhabitant any more than the Carum. Aster Tradescanti, the Michaelmas Daisy, seems firmly established, for in two or three places it has con- tinued to flower for the last three seasons. Last autumn I met with it frequently, and always far away from houses or gardens, as in several places on the banks of the Cherwell, in Christ Church meadow, whither it had probably come from the Botanic Garden ; on the river-bank, near Louse Lock, and im hedges near the Warneford Asylum, among a thicket of Brambles, amid whose shelter it attained a height of four or five feet, hke the Helminthia echioides, with which it grew. This is a plant I have never seen noticed as introducing itself into the British Flora before. Cornmarket, Oxford, 23rd January, 1860. r 102 “‘ LONG-PURPLES ” OF SHAKSPEARE. [ April, “ LONG-PURPLES ” OF SHAKSPEARE. If your correspondent E. M. A. had ever diligently inquired in the vicinity of Stratford-on-Avon, where Shakspeare spent his youth, the plant the bard intended would have been at once identified. A very finely developed Orchis mascula is as good a “ Long-Purple” as any critic could desire, and moreover it agrees in its flowering-time with the other plants of Ophelia’s garland—Crow-flowers, dead Nettles, and Daisies ; while the Lythrum Salicaria shows itself in purple array at a much later date. The name “ Long-purple” is applied by rustics to several common plants, and the Lythrum has it locally, as mentioned by the Northamptonshire poet, Clare— “ And oft Long-purples on the water’s brink, Have tempted me to wade, in spite of fate, To pluck the flowers.” But though severai plants bear the vernacular appellation of “‘ Long-purples,” we can only truly identify the flower of Ophe- lia’s garland by the “‘ grosser name” given to it, according to the bard, by “liberal,” or rather I should say, vulgar “ shepherds.” This at once decides the point. When spending a fortnight in the country near Stratford a few years ago, I got up some me- moranda in reference to the “ Rural Haunts of Shakspeare,” as may be seen on the table at the Poet’s birth-place at the present moment. I was careful to inquire as to the plants mentioned by the great dramatist, and arrived at the conclusion that the Long-purple, or common Purple Orchis (Orchis mascula), still answers to what Shakspeare has averred respecting it of plain- speaking rustics and “cold maids.’ This “ grosser name,” yet applied to the Orchis in the country, has, I believe, never been brought into view by any of the legion of commentators ; and I am sorry that as it is not quite adapted to appear in type, I must veil it with the same ingenuity that the poet did in Hamlet, though in some of his other plays he has not been quite so care- ful. But here the modesty of a cold maid about to take a cold and melancholy plunge, had to be considered. I give the name in confidence to your private ear, and those not perfectly satisfied on the subject will probably be so if they consult any of the old Herbals, where the English Orchises and their alleged “ virtues ” are enumerated, as well as their common names given. Epwin Less. 1860. | REMARKS ON THE ANNUAL ADDRESS. 103 SOME REMARKS ON THE ANNUAL ADDRESS, IN THE ‘PHYTOLOGIST,’ FOR 1860. By a Correspondent. Barbarea intermedia, Bor., is, I believe, synonymous with B. angustana, Bois., only, and totally distinct from B. arcuata, B. vulgaris, and B. stricta. B. intermedia is in appearance somewhat between B. precox and B. vulgaris, more like in its foliage to the former, but with pods resembling those of B. vulgaris, only ter- minating in a shorter, thicker style. It is not identical with either species. M. Crépin (see ‘ Phytologist,’ vol. iv. n. s. p. 11) distinguishes B. intermedia from B. precoxz by the taste. The former is un- pleasantly bitter, the latter a desirable constituent in salads. As a British plant B. intermedia is only known in the neigh- bourhood of Manchester (Mr. Buxton, Mr. J. G. Baker, etc.), and in Armagh, Ireland (Mr. A. G. More), probably in neither case an indigenous plant. The plant mentioned at p. 3, under the name of Barbarea an- gustifoha of Ehr., is still less likely to be confounded with any of the British species, being placed by Reichenbach in the genus Syrenia, and given by Nymann under the name of Hrysimum angustifolium, Ehr. Beit. (‘ Sylloge,’ p, 194). Galium insubricum (of Gaud.) is mentioned in the third edition of Babington’s Manual, 1851, in the London Catalogue for 1850, etc., if not earlier, only as a variety of G. Mollugo; neither does My. J. G. Baker consider it a distinct species (see ‘ Phytologist,’ N. 8. vol. iii. p. 19). Fumaria muralis, Sond. Should not this rather be considered the substitution of a new name than as an instance of the trans- gression of botanical boundaries? From Mr. Babington’s paper (read before the Linnean Society, Nov. 17, 1859) we learn that F. muralis was first observed by Mr. Leighton, who, in his ‘Shropshire Flora,’ considered it the type of /. capreolata, as known by himself. That F. muralis is not an exclusively southern species is sufii- ciently evident when we are told it is the same as the capreolata, var. media, of Scandinavia, included under its proper name of 104. REMARKS ON THE ANNUAL ADDRESS. —__ [ Aprial, F, muralis, in Fries’s Summa Veget. Scand., p. 146, also occur- ring at Hamburg (Koch, ‘ Synopsis’). Blechnum alpinum. Surely it is time the mystery. about this Fern were explained. It is hardly to be expected that British botanists will accept it as an indigenous species. Will not its finder or possessor kindly inform us whether any mistake is pos- sible about its identity? At any rate the occurrence of a single root should not be held as very conclusive of its wildness; and mistakes have so often arisen from mixing specimens, that it would not be a matter of any great surprise if something of the kind had occurred in this instance. Besides, there are several singular varieties of Blechnum Spicant, which might deceive an inexperienced eye, though not that of Mr. Wollaston. Delphinium Ajacis. May not this prove to be the commoner of the two in Britain, and the more northern or western species ? Muscari racemosum is not, I surmise, any recent discovery in Cambridgeshire. This county is expressly mentioned in the second volume of the ‘ Cybele Britannica ;) and when I was at Trinity, the plant was spoken of as occurrmg near Cambridge, but its nativity there is quite another question. P. 7. Would it not be well to know something more of. the conditions under which those four plants occur, before assuming the range of Cynoglossum sylv., Helleb., Lonicera Xyl., and Stra- tiotes, to have been extended so far at one leapP In ‘Cybele Britannica,’ il. 284, Cynoglossum sylvaticum is noticed as reported from Perth; but mistakes seem often to have occurred about this plant. Yet it may be urged the Perthshire habitat can hardly belong to C. officinale ?, as both species are included in Mr. Sim’s list. Helleb. feetidus, Lonic. Xyl.,and Stratiotes, dre also reported from Province 15, but under circumstances more or less sus- pected by the author of the Cybele. The occurrence too of seve- ral foreign plants in the neighbourhood of Perth would seem to render caution all the more necessary in the present instance, especially in the case of plants which have been all three in turn questioned as natives even in the south of England. ro 1860. ] THE CAPREOLATE FUMARIZ OF BRITAIN. 105 THE CAPREOLATE FUMARIA OF BRITAIN. [We have abridged the following description and remarks from Mr. C. C. Babington’s valuable paper, published in the sixteenth number of the Linnzan Journal of Proceedings, February, 1860. | Four plants have, in Britain, obtained the name of F. capreo- lata, but that name is not properly applicable to any one of our species, which are,— 1. F. pallidiflora, Jord.—Sepals ovate, toothed, about half as long as the corolla, and wider than the flower-tube ; fruit round- ish-compressed, blunt, longer than wide, smooth; the base of the fruit less broad than the tip of its stalk; bracts longer than the pedicels while the flowers are in bloom, afterwards falling short of the pedicels, which latter are reflected in the fruited plant. Flower-spikes lax, short, bearing few flowers. Sepals soon falling, usually entire towards the joint, as broad as or broader than the corolla-tube. Corolla large, cream- coloured, tipped with red or pink; tube thick. Fruit with a short and rather narrow base,* which is very nearly as broad as" the thickened tip of the pedicel; edge not regularly rounded, but the whole vertical outline rather quadrangular ; apical pits small and deep. Fruit-stalks usually curved back, but sometimes only patent or divaricate. The fruit is longer than broad, and its “base” has little of the stalk-like character of that of its nearest ally, F. Borei, from which F. pallidiflora also differs in its paler flowers and recurved fruit-stalks. Devon, Somerset, Glamorgan, Caernarvon, Shropshire ; 2. e. west and south-west of England [to which may be added Galway, in Ireland (A. G. More), thus far showing this plant to belong to Watson’s “ Atlantic” type]. 2. F. Borei, Jord.—Sepals broadly. ovate, toothed, broader than the flower-tube, and one-third shorter than it; fruit round- ish-compressed, flat-topped, broader than long, when ripe slightly wrinkled, its base narrow, not broader than the tip of its own pedicel; bracts often a little longer than the foot-stalks during * The base of the fruit is furnished with a fleshy mass, by which it is attached to the pedicel. This, which is here spoken of as the “ base,” is only properly seen upon the fresh plant, though less distinctly traceable if the seeds are immersed in boiling: water. N.S. VOL. IV. P 106 THE CAPREOLATE FUMARI#£ OF BRITAIN. [ April, flowering, but shorter than the spreading pedicels of the fruited plant; spikes loose, short, few-flowered. Closely allied to the preceding, but its corolla always tinge with pink. Sepals usually more toothed and larger than in F. pallidifiora. Sepals attached above their base, deeply toothed at their base, often throughout ; corolla rather large, pale, often purplish, with a dark purple tip. Fruit with a narrow base, which is usually much narrower than the enlarged tip of the pedicel: the vertical outline of the fruit is rather quadrangular, with the sides rounded and the top trun- cate ; apical pit small and deep. Fruit-stalks patent, atria or rarely slightly reflexed. Probably this is the capr eolata of Smith. Pembroke, Shropshire, Lancashire, Antrim [western, like the former ?]. 3. F. confusa, Jord.—Sepals ovate, apiculate, toothed, equal in breadth to the corolla-tube, and two-thirds shorter than it; fruit roundish-compressed, rounded at the tip, when ripe slightly wrinkled, its base very wide, evidently wider than the pedicel ; bracts as long as the pedicels when in flower, but only one-half as long as the spreading pedicels of the fruited plant; spikes loose, short, few-flowered. Sepals often persistent on the young fruit (not falling soon, as in the two preceding). Corolla rather large, less than in F. pal- lidiflora, dingy-white or pinkish, its tip, and sometimes the back, dark purple; tube rather thick. Young fruit rather obovate- acuminate. . The fleshy base is nearly as broad as the widest part of the fruit, and wider than the enlarged tip of the pedicel ; it is about equally wide where it is attached to the pedicel as where it joins the true carpel. The vertical edge of the fruit is regularly rounded, and the whole outline above the enlarged base is nearly round ; apical pits broad but shallow. If examined fresh, this is easily distinguished from its allies. Channel Isles, Cornwall, Devon [Isle of Wight (A. G. More) ], Pembroke, Cardigan, Caernarvon, Lancashire, and Dublin. 4. F. muralis, Sond.—Sepals ovate, acute, toothed at the base, about equal in width to the tube, and two-thirds shorter than it; fruit obovate-compressed, rounded at the tip, small, and nearly 1860.] THE FLORA OF HARROW AND ITS VICINITY. 107 smooth, its base wide obconical, a little narrower than the tip of the pedicel; bracts of the raceme when in flower equalling the pedicels, but shorter than the erect, spreading pedicels of the fruited plant ; racemes (as in all of the preceding) loose, short, few-flowered. Plant more lax than its allies; corolla smaller than in F. con- jusa, tipped with dark blackish-purple or black. Fleshy base not nearly so broad as the fruit, narrowing conspicuously from above downwards to the pedicel, of which the tip is a little broader than the base itself. The fruit has thus a nearly pyri- form outline. It is equally rounded at the top as elsewhere, and neither pointed nor retuse. The apical pits are very slightly im- pressed, scarcely visible; bracts often not more than half as long as the fruit-stalks. * Surrey, Shropshire, Denbigh, Yorkshire. [We have ventured to omit some of the characters relating to the petals only, as being less observable in the dried plant, and of less importance ; but those of our readers who wish to obtain a complete knowledge of those four species, must necessarily have recourse to Mr. Babington’s admirable paper, from which we will only quote one more remark. | “The only British plant which can be confounded with these capreolate is the diffuse state of J. officinalis. This rampant form of F. officinalis agrees in nearly all respects with the erect and typical form of that species. Its spikes of fruit are very long and lax; its fruits are obovate-retuse, with a very faintly marked base, and decidedly rugose surface. Its lower petal is spathulate, being near, with the exception of a round dilatation at the end. The fruits of the capreolate are never retuse, have always a marked base and a surface which is not rugose, but sometimes slightly rough when dry. Their lower petal is not spathulate, but widens gradually throughout its upper half” (i.e. p. 161). THE FLORA OF HARROW AND ITS VICINITY. The following has been received from a Correspondent. It is a verbatim extract from the ‘ Harrow Gazette’ of January 16th, 1860, and of February 3rd, of the same year. “ There is no district of our native country that cannot boast of 108 THE FLORA OF HARROW AND ITS VICINITY. [ alba, Bess. »» canina, (Ger.) Sm. » tricolor, L. Polygala vulgaris, Z. Silene inflata, Sm. Lychnis Flos-cuculi, Z. » diurna, Sith. Sagina procumbens, L. Spergula arvensis, L. Arenaria serpyllifolia, Z. “5 trinervis, L. Stellaria media, With. nn holostea, Z. » graminea, L, Cerastium glomeratum, Thuil. a triviale, Link. Malva sylvestris, Z. ITS VICINITY. Habitat. Locality. Hedges and borders of fields H. Pastures H. 29 H. Pastures H. Ponds H. Cornfields W.E. Ponds R. ” R. Roadside H. Waste ground H. Old walls H. Gardens and roadsides H. ry) i. Cornfields W.E. Waste ground H. Dry pastures HORS. Canal GF. Pastures H. Banks, etc. H. Borders and fields R. 39 R. Ponds H. Canal GF. Waste places H. Hedge-banks H. Old wall H. Borders of fields H. i W.E. Waste places He Cornfields W.E. Borders of fields R. Banks H. ” H. 39 H. Gardens H. Dry banks H.W. Borders of fields RB. Meadows R. Borders of fields H. Old walls H. Gardens H. Cornfields W.E. Shady places H.P. Roadsides H. Hedges H. Pastures H. »” H. ” H. Waste places H. [April, 1860.] Family. Malvacezs. Tiliaceee. Hypericacese. Aceracess. Geraniacee. Celastraceze. Rhamnacee. Leguminifere. Rosacez. Genus and Species. Malva rotundifolia, Z. *Tilia parvifolia, Zhrh. Hypericum perforatum, LZ. dubium, Zeers. quadrangulum, L. 2 2? ” hirsutum, L. Acer campestre, L. » Pseudoplatanus, ZL. *Geranium pheum, L. ” 39 ” molle, Z. dissectum, Z. robertianum, Z. Euonymus europeeus, L. Rhamnus Frangula, L. Ulex europeus, L. Ononis arvensis, L, Medicago lupulina, Z. oP) 23 Trifolium repens, Z. pratense, LZ. minus, Relh. Lotus corniculatus, Z. ”» major, L. Vicia sativa, L. ” er} 3” 29 angustifolia, A. sepium, Z. hirsuta, Koch. tetrasperma, Koch. Lathyrus Nissolia, Z. 7 pratensis, Z. Orobus tuberosus, Z. Prunus spinosa, L. 0 * * >> 9 insititia, Z. Padus, L. Cerasus, L. Spirea Ulmaria, L. Geum urbanum, ZL. Agrimonia Eupatoria, L. Potentilla anserina, Z. 33 33 PP reptans. Tormentilla, Schk. Fragariastrum, Hirh. Fragaria vesca, D. Rubus Ideus, Z. thyrsoideus, Wimm. discolor, W. & N. leucostachys, Sm. vestitus, hystrix, Weihe. Radula, Weithe. rosaceus, Weihe. THE FLORA OF HARROW AND ITS VICINITY. Habitat. Waste places Plantations Roadsides 39 Prd 39 Hedgerows 32 Meadow Banks be) Hedge-banks Hedges Plantations Roadsides Common Roadsides Pastures ” ? 93 Roadsides Pastures bh) Banks Meadows 39 Brookside Meadows Pastures Hedges ” Plantations. 33 Ditches Shady places Roadsides 29 23 bP) Borders of fields Banks Shady places Hedges 2”? 39 Shady places 33 Hedges. Lan Locality. Bob Bi BoB Bt Bt bt pt bt pt Row # AB See eee ee gp A og fas] ies} 112 Family. Rosacex. Onagraces. Haloragiace. Cucurbitacess. Grossulariacee. Crassulaceze. Araliacese. Cornacez. Uwbelliferae. ’ THE FLORA OF HARROW Genus and Species. Rubus scaber, Wethe. » corylifolius, Sm. » sublustris, Lees. » conjungens, Bab. » purpureus, Bab. ? > altheifolius, Horst. Ey) re - ” ? 23 ? ” ? Rosa villosa, Z. > canina, DL. > sarmentacea, Woods. » surculosa, Woods. » Lorsteri, Sm. » arvensis, LZ. Crateegus Oxyacantha, L. »5 | monogyna. Pyrus Malus, L. ,, Aucuparia, Gertn. Epilobium hirsutum, L. parviflorum, Schr. 35 montanum, Z. i tetragonum, L. Circeea lutetiana, L. Myriophyllum spicatum, L. Callitriche verna, L. 39 Bryonia dioica, L. Ribes rubrum, Z. 5 Grossularia, L. Sedum acre, L. > reflexum, L. Sempervivum tectorum, LZ. Hedera Helix, L. Cornus sanguinea, L. Conium maculatum, L. *Petroselium sativum, Hoff. Sison Amomum, JL. Agopodium Podagraria, L. Bunium flexuosum, With. Pimpinella Saxifraga, Z. Sium angustifolium, Z. AAthusa Cynapium, L. Silaus pratensis, Bess. Angelica sylvestris, L. Pastinaca sativa, D. Heracleum Sphondylium, Z. Daucus Carota, L. platycarpa, Kunitz. Ceratophyllum demersum, ZL. AND ITS VICINITY. Habitat. Hedges Borders of fields Hedges [ April, Locality. HNP RB ew Bo a a Ph or Fae HR He eB Plantations P. Ditches Canal F. Banks Ditches Shady places H.P. Canal and ponds GF. Ponds H. ” H. Canal H. & GF Hedges H. Thickets H.P. . H. Old walls H. 29 H. Roofs H. Hedges and Thickets 4. Hedges H. Roadsides H. Old walls H. Ditches H. Hedge-banks H. Banks H. Meadows H. Canal QF. Waste ground H. Meadows H. Damp places Pe Pastures R. Borders of fields H. Meadows H. 1860.] Family. Umbbelliferse. Caprifoliacee. Valerianacere. Dipsacee. Composite. THE FLORA Genus and Species. Torilis Anthriscus, Gertn. Scandix Pecten, L. Anthriscus sylvestris, Hoffm. Cherophyllum temulentum, L. Sambucus nigra, L. Viburnum Opulus, LZ. * » Lantana, Z. Lonicera Periclymenum, Z. Galium verum, Z. » ulignosum, L. Ay saxatile, L. 5 Mollugo, L. at Aparine, LD. Fedia olitoria, Vahl. Dipsacus sylvestris. L. Scabiosa succisa, Z. Knautia arvensis, Couwlt. Tragopogon pratensis, L. . porrifolius, Z. Helminthia echioides, Gaertn. Thrincia hirta, Roth. Apargia autumnalis, Willd. Hypocheeris radicata, L. Lactuca virosa, Z. Sonchus arvensis, Z. se asper, Hoffm. 35 oleraceus, L. Taraxacum officinale, Wigg. Lapsana communis, L. Arctium majus, Schk. Carduus Marianus, L. » lanceolatus, L. » palustris, Z. » arvensis, Curt. Centaurea nigra, L. Bidens cernua, L. » tripartita, 2. Tanacetum vulgare, L. Gnaphalium uliginosum, LZ. Tussilago Farfara, L. Senecio vulgaris, L. >» erucefolius, L. » aquaticus, Huds. Pulicaria dysenterica, Gerin. Bellis perennis, LZ. OF HARROW AND ITS VICINITY. Chrysanthemum Leucanthemum. LZ. ,, Pyrethrum Parthenium, Sm. = inodorum, Sm. Matricaria Chamomilla, Z. N. S. VOL. IV. 113 Habitat. Locality. Banks and hedges H. Cornfields w.b. & K. Hedge-banks H. Mi H. Hedges H. be W.E Plantations H.P Hedges H. Borders of fields K. &R. Ponds R. Dry pastures H.W. Hedge-banks ie ” H os R. Roadsides H. Pastures P. as GF. Meadows R. Roadsides K. ” H. Pastures H. ey) H. ” H. Hedge-banks GF. P.&S. Cornfields W.E. & R. Roadsides H. 29 H. $y) H. Hedge-banks H. Thickets and banks H. & W.E. Gardens R. Roadsides H. Damp pastures H. Pastures H. ” H. Ditches and pools H. ”? H. Waste places H. Roadsides P, Cornfields W.E. Waste places H. Roadsides H. 33 H. ” H. Pastures H. H. Waste ground H. ” H. H. 23 114 Family. Composite. Ericaceze. Tlicacese. Jasminacese. Apocynacez. Convolvulacee. Solanacese. Scrophulariacee. Verbenacesce. Lamiacexe. Boraginacee. Genus and Species. Achillea Ptarmica, Z. Achillea Millefolium, Z. Erica Tetralix, Z. Calluna vulgaris, Salisb. Tlex aquifolium, LZ. Ligustrum vulgare, Z. Fraxinus excelsior, Z. Vinca minor, L. Conyolvulus arvensis, Z. ny sepium, L. Solanum nigrum, Z. » Dulcamara, L. Verbascum Thapsus, Z. Veronica arvensis, L. ‘ serpyllifolia, Z. 3 Beccabunga, L. 3 montana, L. a Chamedrys, L. 3 hederefolia, Z. - agrestis, L. a polita, Fries. oe Buxbaumii, Ten. Bartsia Odontites, Huds. Rhinanthus Crista-galli, Z. Pedicularis sylvatica, Z. Scrophularia nodosa, Z. Digitalis purpurea, Z. *Antirrhinum majus, LZ. Verbena officinalis, Z. Lycopus europeus, LZ. Mentha piperita, Z. " aquatica, LD. » pratensis, “ Sole.”’ 5 arvensis, Z. Ajuga reptans, L. Ballota nigra, Z. Lamium Galeobdolon, Crantz. oA album, Z. "6 purpureum, Z. Stachys palustris, Z. 5 sylvatica, Z. Glechoma hederacea, L. ~ Prunella vulgaris, Z. Scutellaria galericulata, Z. Myosotis palustris, With. 5 cespitosa, Schultz. a sylvatica, Hhrh. ef arvensis, Hofim. 5 versicolor, Lehm. THE FLORA OF HARROW AND ITS VICINITY. Habitat. Waste ground Roadsides Heaths Thickets Hedges Hedgerows Roadside Borders of fields Hedges Waste places Hedges Near gardens Cornfields Pastures Ditches Shady places - Borders of fields 3° Roadsides Gardens Canal towing-path Roadsides Meadows Heaths Ditches Dry banks Old walls Roadsides Ponds Side of canal Roadsides 9 Shady places Borders of fields Hedge-banks Borders of fields Waste ground Side of canal Borders of fields Hedge-banks Pastures Side of canal 33 Pastures Roadsides bb] Pastures [ April, Locality. GF. mH q4F Bh Se 2 BB BB Be Bo 3 ky Hop ot oe 1860. ] THE FLORA OF HARROW AND ITS VICINITY. 115 Family. Genus and Species. Habitat. Locality. Primulacee. Primula vulgaris, Huds. Hedge-banks H. Primula elatior, Jacq. Pastures H. AE veris, LZ. . H. Lysimachia Nummularia, Z. 33 H. Anagallis arvensis, L. Waste ground H. Plantaginaceee. Plantago major, L. Roadsides H. Pe media, L. Pastures GF. i minor Meadows H. Chenopodiacee. | Chenopodium polyspermum Waste ground H. ie rubrum, Z. ify H. ay album, Z. 2 H. si ficifolium, Sm. os K. Fr glaucum, L. 5 K. 3 Bonus-Henricus, L. ‘eB H. Atriplex Babingtonil, Woods. 3 R. » hastata, L. 55 H. > deltoidea, Bab. ef H. » patula, Z. BE H. » angustifolia, Sm. Roadsides W.E. erecta, Huds. Cornfields W.E. Polygonacee. Poly genta lapathifolium, Z. Waste places H. 5 Persicaria, Z. a H. 55 Hydropiper, LZ. Ditches H. 5 aviculare, L. Roadsides H. 3 Convolvulus, L. Cornfields W.E. Rumex Hydrolapathum, H. Canal GE. » crispus, L. Roadsides H. » obtusifolius, ZL. a H. » conglomeratus, Mu. 33 H. » Acetosa, L. Pastures H. 5 Acetosella, Z. Dry banks H. Euphorbiacez. Euphorbia helioscopia, LZ. Gardens H. 5 exigua, LD. Cornfields W.R. 3 Peplus, L. Gardens H. » Lathyris, L. i R. 3 amygdaloides, L. Hedge-banks R. & HOR. Mercurialis perennis, L. 5 R. & HOR. Urticacee. Urtica urens, L. Waste ground H. » dioica, L. Hedge-bauks, ete. H. Humulus Lupulus, Z. Hedges H. Ulmus montana, Sm. Hedgerows Be » suberosa, Hhrh. 5 H. Amentiferz. Quercus Robur, L. PA H. Fagus sylvatica, L. Plantation H. *Carpinus Betulus, L. H. Corylus Avellana, Z. Hedgerows H. *Betula alba, Z. Plantations H. *Populus alia, L. % H. Salix fragilis, L. Hedgerows H. », decipiens, Hoffin. a R. 116 Family. Amentiferz. Coniferee. Orchidacez. Tridacez. Amaryllidacese. Liliacez. Trilliacece. Tamacece. Hydrocharidacez. Alismaceee. Fluviales. Araceze. Juncacese. Cyperaceee. Graminee. Genus and Species. Salix russelliana, Sm. » vViminalis, Z. » smithiana, Lng. Bot. 5) cinerea, L. » aquatica, Sm. 5, Oleifolia, Sim. »» caprea, L. Taxus baccata, Z. Orchis Morio, L. » maculata, Z. Tris Pseudacorus, L. *Narcissus Pseudonarcissus, L. Hyacinthus nonscriptus, LZ. Paris quadrifolia, Z. Tamus communis, Z. *Anacharis Alsimastrum, B. Alisma Plantago, L. Sagittaria sagittifolia, Z. Butomus umbellatus, Z. Triglochin palustre, Z. Potamogeton densus, L. ‘ pusillus, Z. > crispus, L. af perfoliatus, Z. x natans, L. Lemna minor, L. » gibba, Z. » polyrrhiza, L. » trisulca, Z. Arum maculatum, Z. Sparganium ramosum, Huds. Typha latifolia, Z. Juncus conglomeratus. > effusus, LZ. » glaucus, Szbth. Luzula campestris, ‘“‘ B.” Carex muricata, L. » remota, L. >» divulsa, Good. » Vulpina, Z. » sylvatica, Huds. » hirta, Z. » paludosa, Good. 5 Yiparia, Curtis. Anthoxanthum odoratum, Z. Phleum pratense, L. Alopecurus pratensis, Z. 9 geniculatus, Z. THE FLORA OF HARROW AND ITS VICINITY. Habitat. Hedgerows 3. Various Pastures 32 Canal Meadows Borders of fields Shady places Hedges Pond and canal 22 Canal Pond and canal Side of canal Canal 33 Pond and canal Canal Ponds 3 Banks Ponds Canal Ditches ” Roadsides Pastures Damp places bb) Ditches Shady places Pastures Side of canal 33 Meadows ” bb) Borders of pools [ April, Locality. H. He OAR oA SBE BB H.W. 1860. ] THE FLORA OF HARROW AND ITS VICINITY. 117 Family. Genus and Species. Habitat. Locality. Graminez. Alopecurus agrestis, Z, Meadows H. Agrostis vulgaris, With. Pastures H. 3 alba, L. - H. Aira cespitosa, L. Borders of fields H. Avena flavescens, L. Meadows H. Arrhenatherum avenaceum, Beau. Hedge-banks H. Holcus lanatus, Z. Meadows H. » mollis, Z. Borders of fields R. Melica uniflora, Retz. Shady banks H.P. Glyceria aquatica, Sm. Side of canal GE. 5 fuitans, Br. Pools H. » rigida, Sm. Old walls H. Poa annua, L. Waste ground H. », pratensis, L. Meadows H. 5 trivialis, Z. 35 H. Briza media, L. 5 H. Cynosurus cristatus, D. Pastures H. Dactylis glomerata, L. Meadows H. Festuca Pseudomyurus. Old wails H. is pratensis, Huds. Meadows H. 55 loliacea, Huds. 5 H. Bromus giganteus, L. Shady places H.P. BS asper, LD. Borders of fields R. 33 sterilis, Z. Hedge-banks H. n mollis Meadows H, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Beav. Borders of fields H. Triticum repens, L. fy H. Lolium perenne, Z. Meadows H. Hordeum pratense, Huds. a H. % murinum, L. Roadsides H. Filices. Polypodium vulgare, L. Hedge-banks P. Aspidium aculeatum, Sw. 3 P, 55 angulare, Sim. a P. Lastrea Filix-mas, Prest. ee H. Scolopendrium vulgare, L. e P. Ophioglossum vulgatum, L. Meadows H. Equisetaceee. Equisetum arvense, L. Fields and hedge-banks u. The review of the above catalogue does not present many points which demand special notice. It is, in fact, more remarkable for its omissions than for its contents. One-third of the families included in the Flowering Plants of Great Britain have no repre- sentatives in the local Flora. Three-fifths of the British genera, and three-fourths of the British species, are also unrepresented. Further and closer search will doubtless add considerably to the above list, but 1t is feared not to an extent sufficient to alter mate- rially the above proportions. Among the rarer plants occurring 118 THE FLORA OF HARROW AND Its Vicinity. [April, In the neighbourhood may be noticed the yellow Fumitory, Cory- dalis lutea, which occurs on old walls at Miss Hill’s, above the Cricket Ground, and in a few other places. This, though well established in its present habitat, was most likely introduced as a garden flower. The Grass Vetch, Lathyrus Nissolia ; the vil- lous Rose, Rosa villosa, a native of the northern counties, but apparently indigenous in a field near the railway station ‘at Greenhill. Parsley, Petroselinum sativum, on old garden walls in the rear of houses in Crown Street. Bastard Stone Parsley, Sison Amomum, and Pepper Saxifrage, Si/aus pratensis, occur plentifully : though in the more northern parts of Great Britain they are comparatively rare. The common parsnip, Pastinaca sativa, a chalk plant, isfound sparingly. The Salsafy, Tragopogon porrifolius, is found in several spots in the neighbourhood of Greenhill and Kenton. The Ox-tongue, Helminthia echioides, is tolerably frequent by the waysides. The hairy Thrincia, Thrincia hirta, is common in pastures, and especially in the Cricket Ground, the south end of which is in summer studded with its bright star- like flowers. The acrid Lettuce, Lactuca virosa, a poisonous plant of unfrequent occurrence, is very plentiful in some parts of the neighbourhood, especially in the Greenford Lane and Pinner road. The Mountain Speedwell, Veronica montana, is abundant in Harrow Park. Buxbaum’s Speedwell, Veronica Buxrbaumii, is found sparingly near Perivale. The great Snapdragon, Antir- rhinum majus, is very abundant on the garden wall at the Grove. Vervain, Verbena officinalis, may be found near the canal bridge in the Greenford road. The narrow-leaved Mint, Mentha pra- tensis, grows on the roadside leading to Pinner. Archangel, Lamium Galeobdolon, occurs on the hedge-bank in Horsington Lane. The Oxlp, Primula elatior, is occasionally found in the meadows. The hoary Plantain, Plantago media, is to be found in the pastures near the canal at Greenford. The fig-leaved and oak-leaved Goosefoot, Chenopodium ficifolium and glaucum, cccur in afarmyard near Kenton. Caper Spurge, Euphorbia Lathyris, springs spontaneously in gardens about Roxeth. Wood Spurge, Euphorbia amygdaloides, occurs on hedge-banks in Horsington Lane, and near the footpath leading from Roxeth to Pinner Lane. The Hornbeam, Carpinus Betulus, is not unfrequent, but only in places which render its claim to spontaneous growth questionable. The same may be said of the Abele, Populus alba. UHarrow is 1860. | FLEMING SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. 119 peculiarly barren of the Orchis tribe, of which there are only two representatives. The rarer of these is the green-winged Meadow Orchis, Orchis Morio. The Lily tribe is no better represented, the Blue-bell or wild Hyacinth, Hyacinthus nonscriptus, being the only plant of that family in our local Flora. The Arrow- head, Sagittaria sagittifolia, the flowering Rush, Butomus umbel- latus, and the opposite-leaved Pondweed, Potamogeton densus, are found in the canal. The greater, and gibbous Duckweed, Lemna polyrrhiza and gibba, are tolerably common in pools. The grey Sedge, Carex divulsa, is the only plant of its family in this neighbourhood which can advance a claim to be set down as rare. Its occurs at the edge of a pool in Roxeth. The hard Meadow Grass, Glyceria rigida, and the wall Fescue Grass, Festuca Pseudomyurus, both occur on the garden wall at the Grove. The tall Brome Grass, Bromus giganteus, occurs in quantity in - Harrow Park. Willdenow’s Fern, Aspidium angulare, grows in the lane leading from Pinner to Harrow Weald. The Adder’s- tongue, Ophioglossum vulgatum, is to be found in the moist parts of the Eighty Acres. FLEMING SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. New College, Edinburgh. nl This Society met on the 2ist February, and the following were the papers communicated :— 1. Paleontological Botany, by William Carruthers, Esq., F.R.P.S.E. In this paper the author gave an account of the different conditions in which fossil plants are found, and re- marked that as it is only the harder tissues that are preserved, the probability is that we have but a very imperfect record of ancient plant-life. He then gave a rapid sketch of the different plants found in each of the great geologic formations, and summed up by urging the testimony of the rocks as fatally objectionable to Mr. Darwin’s recent theory, for they tell of no condition of life represented by simple organisms, which gradually by dif- ferentiation become altered to higher beings. But they record the appearance on the earth at the same time of many highly developed representations of different subdivisions of the animal kingdom, and the earliest certain remains of plants testify to the 120 FLEMING SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. [ April, simultaneous appearance of the great divisions of the animal kingdom. Besides these, other difficulties would be suggested by a little reflection, such as the unexpected stop in the development of some organisms, as in the Diatomacee, the earliest forms of which are as perfect in every particular as those now living ; or the retrograde development in others, as in the singularly diminutive Lycopods, descended in accordance with the “selective power of nature” from the giant Lepidodendrons of the coal measures. At the close of this paper, Professor Bialloblotzky, of Gottingen, was introduced to the Society, and amongst other remarks said that he did not think that Lyell’s superficial division of the Tertiary system would stand long, now that the more scientific division of Dr. Fleming had been published. After two papers on geology, Mr. Sadler read two lyrical effusions communicated by Professor Balfour from Mr. James _ Hardie, the first of which was an ode to the Drabaverna, and the - second a translation of Sibbald’s ode to Rosa ciphiana. Mr. Robert Brown then read a note concerning the recent capture of Corrynactus viridis on the coast of Caithness; and after the transaction of some business the Society adjourned. On March 6, the Society held its usual fortnightly meeting, John Sadler, Esq., president, when the following were the com- munications read :— : 1. Part 1 of a paper on the Algz in relation to Medicine, the Arts, Manufactures, and Domestic Economy, by Robert Brown, Esq., F.R.P.S.E. The paper treated of the medical properties of the Alge of various countries, and their economic application to the arts and manufactures; but as Part 2 will be read at the next meeting, a fuller report of the paper will then be given. 2. Thermometrical Observations made in the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, from 1854 to 1860, by Mr. Wm. R. M‘Nab, in remarks on which the Rev. James Stewart said that he thought it would be found that the temperature of this country followed a regular curve, as most certainly the data afforded by the see! paper would lead us to suppose. 8. Botanical Rambles, being a Sketch of an Excursion to Strathmiglo, Balvaird Castle, Glen Farg, and Bridge of Karn, by John Sadler, Esq., Sec.B.S.E. In this paper the author gave a graphic description of one of Professor Balfour’s class excursions, and noticed among the various plants found the Cerastium arvense, tt, 1860. | THIRSK NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 121 occurring near Strathmiglo, and the Malva moschata, Dianthus deltoides, Geranium pheum, Scrophularia vernalis, Lychnis Vis- caria, and Cystopteris fragilis, all of which, though comparatively rare in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh, were found abundantly in Glen Farg. Specimens of the plants were exhibited, and Mr. Sadler at the same time presented to the herbarium a collection of Lichens and Mosses made by him on the Breadalbane moun- tains in August last. He also exhibited a collection of Lichens which had been collected by William Murray, Esq., in California, and remarked that it was somewhat singular that they were all British species except one, and the most of them common to Scotland. Mr. Sadler also exhibited a remarkable specimen of a Fungus, growing between two plates of glass. After the trans- action of some business the Society adjourned till March 20th. THIRSK NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. Botanical Exchange Club. The monthly meeting of this Society was held on the evening of Monday, the 5th of March. Mr. J. G. Baker communicated the following notices. “‘ Violet intermediate between hirta and odorata. A Violet with the following char acters occurs on ess banks and by the near the village of "Tanfield, in mid- mest VG Root- eos strong, thick, scaly, subligneous, branched, sending out creeping lateral stolons, which sometimes take root and bear flowers. Leaves deeply cordate, with a narrow basal sinus when the plant is in flower, the length usually being somewhat greater than the breadth, as broad, somewhat pointed, finely inciso-crenate, more or less hairy upon both sides, with densely hairy petioles; when mature, blunter and with a more open sinus, less hairy and with less hairy petioles. Stipules large, lanceolate, with short glan- dular ciliations. Peduncles almost invariably longer than the _ petioles, and leaves at flowering-time finely pubescent below, sometimes subglabrous towards their summits, with linear-lan- ceolate, glandular bracts. Flowers bluish-violet, white within, large, open, faintly odorous. Sepals obtuse, glabrous or slightly N.S. VOL. IV. R 122 THIRSK NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. [April, ciliated at the margin towards the base. Petals obovate; upper pair crenate, but scarcely emarginate at the apex, overlapping at the base; lateral pair rather larger than the upper, with a hairy line at the throat, like the broad lowest petal emarginate at the apex ; spur much exceeding the calycine appendages, curved and keeled, bluntish at the point. From hirta it differs mainly by its creeping stolons, shorter leaves, and odorous flowers; from odorata, by its less creeping habit of growth, by its differently shaped and differently toothed leaves, and more hairy leaves and petioles, paler, bluer, and more faintly odorous flowers, and pe- dicels at the flowering-time usually exceeding the petioles and leaves. Probably our plant is identical with V. sepincola, Jord. Fragm. vi. p. 8; Boreau, Fl. Cent. 3rd edit. p. 76; V. tolosana, Timb.; but I have no authenticated specimens from the Conti- nent to which to make reference, and there are two or three points of minor importance in which it does not precisely accord with the descriptions. ‘“‘ Viola sabulosa, Boreau!, ‘ Notes et Observations sur quel- ques Plantes de France,’ p. 335. V. Curtisii, Mackay !, not Forster. For a small supply of this Pansy from ‘the New Brighton Sandhills,’ we are this year indebted to Mr. W. Bean, Jun. From the true V. Curiisii, of Forster, which it closely resembles in its habits of growth, it differs by its purple petals, more hairy stems and leaves, and by having the terminal lobe of _ its stipules more decidedly larger than the others, and sometimes toothed. These two (Curtisit and sabulosa) resemble each other in their small flowers, and slender ceespitose stems; filiform; and ~ much creeping below the surface of the ground. From Mallagh- more, county Sligo, Mr. J. T. Syme sends another plant, with much more robust stems, broader and more deeply crenated leaves; petals full yellow and much longer than the sepals (as large as in the ordinary mountain form of V. lutea) and stipules still more like those of tricolor than is the case in sabulosa, the terminal lobe much longer and broader than the others, some- times almost leaf-like and deeply crenated.. So that we have in fact in Britain three different and probably distinct coast sand- hill Pansies :—(1) V. Curtisi, in Devonshire and Anglesea; (2) V. sabulosa, in Cheshire and county Dublin; and (3) V. Symez, in county Sligo. Upon the Continent, V. sabulosa has been met with on the coast sandhills of Holland, Belgium, and the north- west of France (Dunkirk and the estuary of the Somme). 1860. | REVIEWS. 123 “ Sonchus oleraceus var. S. lacerus, Willd. Sp. 1518. I have distributed a few specimens of this from the neighbourhood of Coatham, north-east Yorkshire. The leaves are cut almost to the midrib, their lobes sinuated and sharply incised, the terminal lobe scarcely larger than those of the sides. It is stated by Boreau to be quite constant in its characters under cultivation. “ Polygonum mite. Mr. John Hardy sends examples of this species gathered with P. minus, at Mere, in Cheshire. It is new to the Mersey province. *“ Festuca Broteri, Boiss. and Reut. Pug. 128. Mr. A. G. More has identified his coast sandhill plant, of which mention was made in January under the name of F. Pseudo-myurus, var. mari- tima, with this Spanish and Mediterranean species.” Note.—In the last Report, under Silene italica, for Bambridge read Cambridge. Kebiews, Everybody’s Journal (now amalgamated with the London Journal). (From a Correspondent.) The editor or editors of a recently established weekly periodi- cal, in his address “‘ to the readers,” among other things has the following :—“ Let us bespeak, if we can, their sympathy, their goodwill, their kindly judgment, for we cannot flatter ourselves that we shall never deserve their censure, though we would fain hope that we shall never receive it.” The charity of our con- temporary is worthy of admiration, and imitation also; but if he had had as many proofs of the fault-finding propensities of mankind as we have, or if his experience be not modified by an excess of charity, or an overflow of the milk of human kindness, he would not lay that flattering unction to his soul. His hope that he shall never receive censure even when censure is merited, will surely be a delusive hope. Fault-finding is as easy as lying. They that want to hurt a dog will easily find a stone, and they will not select a smooth one nor a sofé one to fling at him. The rédacteurs of this new weekly candidate for popularity, if any of them should perchance see this, will excuse a notice of some errors or inaccuracies which are recorded as evidence that good-natured persons sometimes draw on the bank of benevolence 124. REVIEWS. | April, bills which will not be accepted in the commercial mart of literature. One of the authors of these would-be witty articles, having occasion to quote Mr. Hughes, the author of ‘Tom Brown’s School Days,’ calls the said author “the author of ‘Tom Moore’s School Days.’ ” This is doubtless a lapsus calami, a slip of memory. The Polyglot proverbs of the Elegant Extracts and Bohn might make Mr. Bohn himself open his eyes or scratch his ears, Jn order to see or hear the meaning of the author. This, how- ever, is a very pleasant article about proverbs, and worth reading, though the writer is not very profound in the subject, “ Literature of Proverbs.” This is not written to enlighten him on the Polyglot collection of proverbs, but to give him a hint that he draws too liberally on the credulity of his readers, when he expresses his hope that though he “‘ may need censure he will never receive it.” The Physical History of the Vale of Mowbray. By Joun GILBERT Baker. Printed for private circulation. Ripon: printed by A. Johnson & Co., 1858. An apology is due to our estimable correspondent, the author _ of this monograph, as it may be called, for delaying to notice it for several months. It is only a small book, but it is on a large subject, which is very satisfactorily treated. The botanist will find within its twenty-eight pages all that he can reasonably desire to see in a guide to this fertile district. The physical geography, viz. the mountains or hills, the rivers (streams), the climate, with the plants and animals, are all suc- cinctly enumerated. The geological nature of the strata is oolite, upper and lower, with a large extent of new red on the west. These are well depicted on a geological map, on which is described the streams, roads, towns, villages, altitudes, ete. ete. The following list of rare plants, with their localities, is extracted from p. 14 :—* The valley of Yowlasdale, opposite Boltby, is one of the best localities in north Yorkshire for those plants which require the dry character of habitation which hmestones best afford. Here grows abundance of Actea spicata, on the edge of woods blue 1860. ] REVIEWS. 125 with wild Columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris), fringed with Cam- panula glomerata, Geranium sanguineum, and Spirea Filipendula, and concealing in their hidden recesses the lurid berries of the Deadly Nightshade (Atropa Belladonna). Interspersed amongst the thickets may be found Rhamnus catharticus, Rosa Sabini, R. tomentosa, Viola hirta, Hypericum hirsutum, and Lithospermum officinale, and sometimes straggling plants of Epipactis ensifolia ; and by the stream below flourishes Parnassia palustris, Schenus nigricans, and a profuse growth of bog Mosses, Hypnum commu- tatum, H. stellatum, Bartramia fontana, and Bryum ventricosum.” A list of Mosses follows on p.15. On p. 17 it is recorded that, “ According to the late Archdeacon Pierson, the thicket which contains the source of Kilburn Beck produces Ranunculus Lingua.’ Would it be very difficult to ascertain if this interest- ing plant still grows here ? The following is a list of plants produced on the calcareous rocks about Boltby, Rolston, etc., viz. :— “ Helianthemum vulgare, Arabis hirsuta, Anthyllis Vulneraria, Geranium sanguineum, Scabiosa Columbaria, Hieracium murorum, Carlina vulgaris, Gentiana Amarella, Avena pratensis, Neckera crispa, Tortula tortuosa, Enca- lypta streptocarpa, E. vulgaris, Orthotrichum anomalum, O. cupulatum, Trichostomum flexicaule, Anomodon viticulosum.” Whitstonecliffe, in its ravines and clefts, produced the follow- ing Ferns, viz. :— * Polypodium vulgare, P. Phegopteris, P. Dryopteris, Cystopteris fra- gilis, Aspidium aculeatum, A. angulare, Lastrea Oreopteris, L. Filix- mas, L. dilatata, Athyrium Filix-foemina, A. rheeticum, A. molle, Asple- nium Trichomanes, A. Ruta-muraria, A. Adiantum-nigrum, Scolopendrium vulgare, Blechnum boreale, Pteris aquilina.” Note.—Spire, p. 15, should be Spirea. Gormire, in this vicinity, is celebrated for producing an Epi- lobium called by Mr. Baker LE. ligulatum or E. lingulatum, for it has had both these names ; also for Lysimachia thyrsiflora. Our readers will thank the learned author of this useful tract, and we apologize for not telling them about it at an earlier period. 126 BOTANICAL NOTES, NOTICES, AND QUERIES. [ April, Fr BOTANICAL NOTES, NOTICES, AND QUERIES. VIOLA HIRTA AND V. ODORATA. Boreau, in his third edition (1857) of the ‘ Flore du Centre de la ance, D bdealiies no less than fifteen species of Violets belonging to a sec- tion where in England we acknowledge only two distinct plants.* As the detailed descriptions are somewhat lengthy, and might not be acceptable to all the readers of the ‘ Phytologist,’ we need not inflict them in > full. Suffice it to say that, however fanciful may appear the distinctions of the foreign botanists, no one who is desirous of claiming a thorough acquaint- ance “with a variable species, can afford to remain ignorant ‘of what are by some eminent botanists considered important characters. Whether these be sufficient to establish a species or not, it should surely be our endeavour to test their value upon our own soil, and so try to disprove their permanence, rather than to scout them without investigation. The so-called species are thus arranged dichotomously. 3. Stem sending out long, creeping, leaf-bearing scions . % Creeping scions absent, or nearly so 4 AnOvaryvor fruit downyior hairy. 2/0. 6. 2450. 5) tee 5 Ovary or fruit glabrous 2) ies cai a2 ¢ F. sciaphila. 5. Flower slightly scented, stipules fringed with hairs as long as their own width V. collina. Flower scentless, cilia not so long as the diameter of the stipule . . . . 6 6. Plant hairy, flowers bluish-violet . . . : . . . =. . #£«'\V. HIRTA. Plant closely downy, flowerslilac . ...... . =. #44. Foudrasi. 7. Adult leaves ovate-oblong, more or less pointed. . . ... =.=... 9 Teayes nearly orbicular, very blunt. ... . . . . °. <>.) oes 8. Flower bluish-violet or white, capsule depressed . . . . V. ODORATA. Flower flesh-coloured or lilac, capsule ovate. . . . . . V. Subcarnea. 9. Peduncles glabrous, or clothed withclose down ....... . .10 Peduncle pilose throughout . . .... =... =. =. + #£V. dumetorum. 10. Stipules with frmges.of theirown width . . ......... ~ J Fringes far shorter than the diameter of stipule . ... .... .12 11. Adult leaves dull green, spur and capsule violet ... . . V.'scotophila. Leaves bright green, spur ndt Coloured, capsule greenish. . V. virescens. 12. Stipules hairy all over, stolons numerous, rooting . . . . V. multicaulis. Stisules‘frmged only, stolonsfew 2... 2°. 2... Se ne 13) Sepals ptringediat themledgesi.) js ja: sn ler Sepals glabrous at theiredges . . . .. . > + 5 Serle 14, Flowers scentless, petals much attenuated at the ae capsule small or abor- (WG To) ae ; pad Ole SNe 1 ee «Vi abortiva. Flowers scented, oe little narrowed, oe rounded . Vz. vinealis. * The specific distinctness of these two has been doubted by some eminent Br p- itish botanists. See ‘Phytologist,’ N.s., vol. i. p. 76, and Cybele Brit. vol. i. 175. 1860. ] BOTANICAL NOTES, NOTICES, AND QUERIES. 127 15. Flower scented, white within as far as one-third up . Ane he aie Flower nearly scentless, a little white atthe base . . . . . V. permizta. 16. Flower little scented, petals spreading, narrowed at their claw ‘Vz. sepincola. Flower highly scented, petals little, narrowed, and so close as to form a ELON Sicp ie es 8 7A aaa ee V. Beraudit. (Boreau, vol. ii. pp. 73, etc.) VIOLA HIRTA AND V. ODORATA. Some correspondents of the ‘ Phytologist ’ have doubted the distinctness of Viola hirta and odorata. They would doubt no longer, I think, if they saw them growing side by side, in alternate patches, as they do here; V. odorata in several different forms and varieties of size and colour, but always easily distinguishable from /. firta. This latter is much the more frequent plant here, and by no means peculiar to chalk, as we have none near Oxford. It occurs upon clay, gravel, and limestone ; in woods, sides of fields under hedges, in peat bogs, on hillsides, and even in clay pits dug out for bricks. GOLD-FLOWEBRS. “ Guilde quhilk is ane pernicious herbe, or rather ane wide, as we learn from the statutes of King Alexander the Second, who began to reign in the zear of the warld 5184 of Christ 1214, and reigned 35 years.’ Chap. 18. “Gif the fermer puts anie guilde into the lands pertaining to the King, or ane Baron; and will not clenge the land: he sould be punissed as ane traitour quha leades and convoyes ane hoist of enemies, inthe King’s lands, or the Barones: (Item) Gif thy native bondman hes Guilde within thy land: for ilk stock he sall give to thee, or to anie other Lord of the land, ane Muton, as ane unlaw: and nevertheless sall clenge the land of the Guilde.’” The Corn Marigold is common in cornfields throughout the counties of Fife and Forfarshire, which is pronounced by the country people as Guilde and Meryguild. G. Howiz. CAUTION TO BOTANISTS. By an Act of Parliament made in the 15th year of the reign of Geo. IL., c. 22, all persons who shall cut, pull up, or carry away any Starr or Bent planted on the north-west coasts of England to keep the sandhills from being driven away by the winds, are liable to a penalty of 20s. for every first offence, and to imprisonment and whipping for a repetition of the same offence. The sort of Rush or shrub called Starr or Bent, as the Act calls it, is doubtless well known by the inhabitants and owners of lands in Lan- cashire, and the coasts aforesaid ; but as I and many of your readers would like to escape fine or punishment for gathering a plant (which might be unknown to us), will you be kind enough to give us the botanical name of this kind of rush or shrub called Starr or Bent. 5S. B. Dean FOREST. List of the rarer plants of the Forest of Dean, chiefly in the north-east portion, from Nicholls’ ‘ Forest of Dean :’—Lathrea squamaria: Scordes, above the Lining Wood. Narthecium ossifragum : Mitcheldean Meand 128 BOTANICAL NOTES, NOTICES, AND QUERIES. [ April. enclosure. Gentiana Amarelia : limestone quarry, near Silverstone. Pyrola media : Hare Church Hill. Anagallis tenella: Purliew road. Eriophorum angustifolium, Viola lactea, Drosera rotundifolia and longifolia, Salix repens : Mitcheldean Meand. Genista anglica : waste between the Dam-pool and the Speech House. Lithospermum officinale : throughout the Forest. Ophrys apifera: road to Bishopswood. Pyrus Aria and pinnatifida: Bicknor rocks. Cotyledon Umbilicus: Purliew road. Narcissus biflorus: Hope Mansel. Mentha piperita: Bishopswood. Ceteruch officinarum, Sclo- pendrium, Blechnum, Pteris, Polypodium vulgare, P. Phegopteris, P. Dry- opteris, Polystichum lobatum, Lastrea Filix-mas, L. spinulosa, L. dilatata, Asplenium Ruta-muraria, A. Trichomanes, A. Adiantuimn-nigrum, Athyrium Filiz-fomina: Forest generally. In coppices on limestone, Daphne Mezereon, Polypodium ealcareum. Ds Bes Harty Names oF PLAnts. Good old Izaak Walton gives the name of a plant called Benione, which he says drives away otters. What is this plant? I find in Gerarde that one of the names of Columbine is Culverwort ; but this does not prove that Culverkey is the Columbine. I do not know if any of the wild Columbines is of an azure colour. PHLEUM ASPERUM. Would any contributor to the pages of the ‘ Phytologist’ give the re- quired direction to the locality for Phlewm asperum, L., at Kingsweston, near Bristol ? ' A RESIDENT Botanist aT CLIFTON. The Editor hereby thankfully acknowledges the receipt of a printed communication from Mr. A. Stansfield, ‘‘On the new and rare varieties of Blechnum Spicant, found in the neighbourhood of Todmorden and other places during the summer and autumn of 1859, being a paper read before the Todmorden Botanical Society, by the President, Mr. A. Stansfield, March 5th, 1860.” An epitome of this paper will be given in an early number of the ‘ Phy- tologist.’ Communications have been received from H. C.; R. E. C.; Edwin Lees, F.L.S.; A. G. More, F.L.S.; Thomas Moore, F.L.S.; H. B.; John Sim; Sidney Beisly; W.P.; J. Sadler; R. P. Burcham ; Edwin Green; T. Kirk. . BOOKS RECEIVED FOR REVIEW. The Gardeners’ Chronicle, from January to March, 1860. Hooker’s Species Filicum, Part X., or Vol. III. Part 11. ERRATA. On page 91, last paragraph, for Mercurialis annuus read M. annua; and on page 92, for Silybum Marianus read S. Marianum. [May, 1860.] 129 BOTANICAL RAMBLES. No. 1.—Ezxcursion to the Neighbourhood of Moffat, Dumfries- shire. By Joun Sapurr, Sec. B.S.E., etc. (Abstract of a paper read before the Fleming Society of Natural Science, New College, Edinburgh, 7th February, 1860.) Since Dr. Balfour was appointed Professor of Botany in the University of Edinburgh—now some thirteen or fourteen years ago—it has been customary for him to spend the Saturdays of the summer session with his class* in the fields and woods. And no one who has joined in these pleasant rambles, can but feel a peculiar secret satisfaction and delight in looking back upon them, and calling to remembrance the sylvan and romantic scenery, and all the pleasing incidents that characterized and diversified these country walks, in the prosecution of so fasci- nating a science. These class excursions, moreover, have added in no small degree to our acquiring a correct knowledge of the flora of many parts of Scotland, and more particularly within a range of about sixty miles of the metropolis. The neighbourhood of Moffat, then, with all its pastoral beauties, as well might be expected, has been frequently visited :—first, I believe, in 1851; again in 1856, when the Grey Mare’s Tail and the desolate tarn of Loch Skene, with its surrounding hills, were the localities of our re- search; and again on the 9th of July, 1859, of which the fol- lowing is a brief sketch. About seventy of us met that morning in Edinburgh, at the Caledonian Railway station, so early as a quarter past six, and proceeded to Beattock, a distance of sixty- two miles, which we reached a little before ten. It was truly a morning of surpassing beauty and loveliness—all Nature seemed gladsome, lavish, and luxuriant: it was just such a one as our hearts could have desired, * To climb Some breezy summit’s brow sublime.” I think I can hear some of our non-botanical members cen- suring us for our enthusiastic love of “ weeds,’? and humming * Which consisted this last session of 255 (!) students. ‘N.S. VOL. IV. S 130 BOTANICAL RAMBLES. [ May, over to themselves a verse of the “ Botanist’s Battle of Glen Tilt :’— “ Some folk ’Il tak’ a heap o’ fash For unco little end, man, Av’ meikle time an’ meikle cash For nocht ava they’ll spend, man, Thae chaps had come a’ hunder mile For what was hardly worth their while— "Twas a’ to poo Some gerse that grew On Ben M‘Dhu, That ne’er a coo Would care to pit her moo till.” Nevertheless I would not apologize for our seeming monopoly of enthusiasm, but simply repeat our leader’s motto, “‘ Excursions are the life of the botanist !” After partaking of a sumptuous breakfast at the Beattock Hotel, which is a little way off from the railway station, we were joined by the Rev. Mr. Little, of Kirkpatrick-Juxta, who very kindly conducted us along the hillside to a beautiful wild ravine, known as the Girpel Linn, where we were likewise met by the Rev. J. G. M‘Vicar, D.D., of Moffat. On the hill slopes we gathered a few good plants, perhaps not unworthy of notice. Jasione montana, a somewhat rare plant in the country, occurred here and there pretty abundantly. Campanula rotundifolia, An- tennaria dioica, Galium saxatile, G. verum, Digitalis purpurea, Erica cinerea, Triodia decumbens, Blechnum boreale, and Lastrea Oreopteris, were all common on the drier parts, while in wet spots Erica Tetralix, Myosotis palustris, Pinguicula vulgaris, Orchis latifolia, Narthecium Ossifragum, etc., occurred plenti- fully. We searched in vain for Ophioglossum vulgatum and Botrychium Lunaria on the banks where we had seen them growing on a former occasion. I fear, however, that some sordid nurseryman’s collector has been in that neighbourhood, as well as in many others; hence the mysteriously rapid disappearance of not a few of our rarest gems froin their wonted hiding-places. On the moist rocks at the Linn we met with, in great abun- dance, Hymenophyllum Wilsont, as well as with Cystopieris fragilis, Polystichum aculeatum, Asplenium Filix-feemina, Hype- ricum perforatum, Valeriana officinalis, Lysimachia nemorum, and many others of less note. Mosses, as well might be expected ~ 1860.] BOTANICAL RAMBLES.' 131 from the damp situation, were very exuberant, upwards of forty species being collected. The more interesting kinds were Neckera crispa, N. complanata, Tortula tortuosa, Zygodon Mougeotit, Aulacomnion palustre, Mnium punctatum, M. undulatum (the latter occurred very large, but in a barren state), Fissidens adi- antoides, Anomodon viticulosus, Isothecium alopecurum, Hypnum plumosum, H. ruscifolium, ete. On reaching the lower extremity of the ravine, we crossed the railway, and retraced our steps in a somewhat different path to Beattock Inn. Here our party divided, some going direct to Moffat village, others across the dale to the Beld Craig, while the greater number accompanied Mr. Little to the manse, to see his admirable collection of growing native Ferns. We all met again, however, at the Beld Craig Linn about two o’clock in the afternoon, where we partook of luncheon, seated by the margin of the gurgling waters. It is a moist secluded dell, a wild ravine nestling in the bosom of a hill, containing a lofty exposed cliff (hence its name), over which a sparkling brook precipitates itself down a narrow channel, worn deep in the Silurian rock by the action of the waters, and through which the descending torrent brawls and tears with resistless impetuosity in wild and gloomy grandeur, till reaching the bed of the burn, where, “ Having sunn’d itself Amid its beauty—as a tear might sleep In joy awhile upon a maiden’s cheek,” it wanders on its way, down the rocky furrow, among flowery banks, soothing itself with its own gentle music. This little wooded glen is a rich garden to the botanist. It was here that many of us met, for the first time in our lives, the rare Pyrola secunda and the beautiful Asplenium viride, which had forsaken their highland homes to dwell beside this romantic lowland waterfall. In the more immediate vicinity of the cas- cade Stellaria nemorum grew in considerable abundance ; while on the banks, and in the surrounding thickets, we met with such plants as Lychnis diurna, L. Flos-cuculi, Stellaria graminea, Geranium sylvaticum, Geum rivale, Epilobium montanum, Va- leriana officinalis, Pyrola minor, Melampyrum pratense, Mentha sativa, Stachys sylvatica, S. Betonica, Lysimachia nemorum, L. Nummularia, Habenaria chlorantha, Carex binervis, C. sylvatica, 132 PLANTS OF PERTH. [May, Milium effusum, Lastrea dilatata, L. Oreopteris, Polypodium Dryopteris, Lycopodium Selago, etc. Among the Mosses and Lichens we picked were Blindia acuta, Orthotrichum Drum- mondiu, Bartramia fontana, Dicranum squarrosum, Physcomi- trium polyphyllum, Sticta pulmonaria in fruit, S. fuliginosa, Nephroma resupinata, Alectoria jubata, Usnea florida, and some others, which we had gathered at Girpel. The roadsides between the Beld Craig and Moffat furnished us with beautiful specimens of Ranunculus hederaceus, Geranium pratense, Malva sylvestris, Montia fontana, and Achillea=Ptar- mica, along with a few other commoner plants. By the time we arrived at Moffat, “loveliest village of the plain,” the afternoon was far spent, so that we had to hurry for the railway station. Two or three of us, however, managed to pay a hasty visit to the famous sulphuretted mineral well, which is about two miles distant from the town, and partook of a tumbler of its health-giving water. We left Beattock by the 5.20 p.m. train, and reached “Auld Reekie” about nine, all fully satisfied with our pleasant ramble. PLANTS OF PERTH. Addenda and Explicatory Remarks to the Flora of Perth. By Joun Siu.* During my Botanical Rambles last summer, I had the plea- sure of discovermg several plants new to me in this neighbour- hood, as also additional stations or localities for several of those already recorded in my Perth List. I therefore deem it proper, in addition to their announcement in my Rambles, to give them in an additional or supplementary form to the List already published, with some explanatory remarks relative to their fre- quency or rarity, and claims as indigenous plants. But let it be distinctly understood, that while I unhesitatingly venture my opinions, I ever hold it a rule to allow another the same Daas lege of independent thought I claim to myself. Whatever diversity of opinion may exist among Botanists re- lative to the distribution and aboriginal claim of many of our * See ‘Phytologist,’ n.s. vol. iii. p. 38. 1860.] PLANTS OF PERTH. 183 British plants, it will be agreed upon by all who peruse these Lists (the former and present) that the flora of the Fair City is both “ rich and rare.” That the floral gems of this neighbourhood exist, and are to be found, is a point easily settled, being plain matter of fact. How they are here, or how they came, is a very different matter ; and neither question, I fear, will ever be satisfactorily answered. The Great Creator, whose omnipresence and omniscience are commensurate with his omnipotence, can alone solve such mys- teries. In the following list I have, as on the former occasion, adopted the alphabetical arrangement, as a ready mode of reference. Those plants whose names have an asterisk prefixed, have not been the subjects of personal confirmation, but may, by the reader, be relied on as a very near approximation (in every in- stance) to truth. The words Barzhill toll-bar, in the list at p. 33, vol. ii., have, in all cases where they should*have been written, been by mis- take on my part written Kinfauns toll-bar; the reader will there- fore be pleased in every case where he finds the latter printed to expunge it, and insert Barnhill toll-bar. Anchusa sempervirens. South side of Moncrieffe Hill, near the foot. - * Adoxa moschatellina. Redgorton parish. Allium oleraceum. Left bank of the Tay, from opposite Perth city to nearly a mile below it; abundant. Anagallis arvensis. Cornfields; frequent. Aquilegia vulgaris. Wood north side of Birnam Hill, near the foot, about a mile to the west of Dunkeld; not plentiful. Atropa Belladonna. Plantation at the foot of Moncrieffe Hull, south side. Astragalus hypoglottis. Waste ground near top of Kinnoul Hill; sparingly. Avena praiensis. Borders of fields ; plentiful. * Bidens tripartita. Near Mill of Luncarty, Redgorton parish. *Calamintha acinos. Redgorton parish. *Camelina sativa. Fields near Pitcairn Mill, Redgorton parish. Catabrosa aquatica. Margin of a stream, foot of North Inch; is probably now extirpated, as the stream has lately been cleared out. 134 PLANTS OF PERTH. [ May, Ceterach officinarum. Rocks near top of Kinnoul Hill; very sparingly. This fern, so plentiful in Ireland, is a great rarity in Scotland. *Cichorium Intybus. Fields of Pitmurthly and Redgorton Hill, Redgorton parish. Chrysosplenium ailternifolium. Wood of Methven. Cnicus eriophorus. Near Kinnoul School and roadside at Craigie. Only in both places did I detect a single plant; alsoin Den of Redgorton; luxuriantly. Convallaria majalis. Wood of Methven; plentiful. Corallorrhiza innata. Wood of Methven; plentiful. Cynoglossum sylvaticum. This very rare plant, mentioned in my Perth List as growing near Kinfauns toll-bar, should have . been stated as growing near Barnhill toll-bar. It is, I be- lieve, found nowhere else in Scotland, and is rare in England. Here it grows plentifully on the right-hand side of the road, about a mile and a half from Perth, occupying a space of twenty or thirty yards wnder an old hedge, on a steep incline elevated about 100 feet above the level of the Tay; a few straggling plants are found near the same place, on the opposite side of the road. I am firmly persuaded, taking all things into consideration, that it has not been in- troduced to its present position by human agency. Doronicum Pardalianches. South side of Moncrieffe Hill. Doronicum plantaginea. South side of Moncriefie Hill, along with Anchusa sempervirens ; both certainly wild; plentiful. Empetrum nigrum. Birnam Hill. *Kpipactis ensifolia. Methven Wood. *Kpipactis grandiflora. Methven Wood. *Epipactis latifolia. Methven Wood. *Erigeron alpinus. Shelving rocks, banks of the Almond, near Leynedoch House. *Hupatorium cannabinum. Redgorton parish. Also right bank of Tay, old shore of Perth, J. Sim. Festuca bromoides. Pasture ground, near top of North Inch; sparingly. Genista anglica. Methven Bog. *Geranium lucidum. Redgorton parish. *Geranium columbinum. Moncrieffe Hill, and also near Inver- may. 1860.] PLANTS OF PERTH. 135 *Hypericum barbatum. Side of a hedge, near to Aberdalgie. Strathearn. Habenaria albida. Birnam Hill; sparingly. Hesperis matronalis. Moncrieffe and Kinnoul Hills; abundant. Linnea borealis. Wood of Scone, under an aged Scotch Pine, covering an area of three or four square yards. Distant from Perth city about three miles and a half, in a north- easterly direction. *Listera Nidus-avis. Wood of Methven; also wood near Blair- gowrie. *Lychnis viscaria. Den of Balthayock, Glen Farg, and near to the river Earn, about three miles west from Perth. *Nuphar lutea. Redgorton parish. Nuphar pumila. Loch of Moncrieffe. *Nymphea alba. och of Mullion, Redgorton parish. * Medicago sativa. Border of a field, near top of Kinnoul Hill. *Paris quadrifolia. Invermay, Den of Balthayock, and Meth- ven Wood. *Peplis Portula. Gravel-pit, Pitcairn Green, Redgorton parish. Ornithopus perpusillus. Craigie Moor; and also found a little to the west of Perth. Plantago maritima. Margin of Tay, near top of North Inch. Poa nemoralis. Wood, Kinnoul Hill; plentiful. Poa compressa. Bank of Tay, old shore, Perth. Polygonum viviparum. Birnam Hill, and Wood of Scone; fre- quent. Ranunculus hirsutus. Near Perth penitentiary, on waste ground ; plentiful. Sanicula europea. Corner of a plantation near top of Craigie Hill; sparingly. *Scolopendrium vulgare. Supposed to be on Moncrieffe Hill; but as I have not seen it there in a growing state, nor had specimens from that locality, I will not assert positively its existence there. This fern, like Ceterach officinarum, is rare in Scotland, but abundant in Ireland. Scrophularia vernalis. Abundant and luxuriant on the southern side of Moncrieffe Hill, under trees, and undoubtedly wild, and not an escape from cultivation, as no gardener or florist would ever tolerate such a noxious and offensively scented plant in his garden. 136 PLANTS OF PERTH. [ May, *Sedum anglicum. Rocks, Craigend, one mile south of Perth. * Stratiotes aloides. 1 have not, from ill-health, been able to visit the bog in Methven parish, where this singular plant grows ; but that it is found there is an undeniable certainty, as I had years ago a fresh specimen of the plant in full blossom. The existence of this plant in Scotland has been ignored (I mean as indigenous), for what reason I cannot divine. It is as likely, and more so, to be a native of Scotland, than of England, as it is a northern plant, and found all over Northern Europe, from Lapland to Siberia. And, more- over, Hooker, in his ‘ Flora Scotica’ of 1821, records its occurrence in two or three places without any note or com- ment relative to its introduction; presumptive evidence, I think, that he considered it a native of Scotland. The bog in question is about four miles and a quarter to the west of Perth city, and near the other bog where the Scheuchzeria — grows. *Teucrium Chamedrys. Near Dunkeld road-side, about four miles north from Perth. Valeriana pyrenaica. Plantation, foot of Moncrieffe Hill, south side. Vinca minor. On rocky soil in Moncrieffe Hill wood. Vaccinium Myrtillus. Kinnoul Hill; most abundant. Vaccinium Oxycoccus. Methven Bog, where the Scheuchzeria palustris grows; abundant. Vaccinium Vitis-idea. Birnam Hill. Viola hirta. Wood near top of Kinnoul Hill; plentiful and luxuriant.