BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF THE BRITISH ISLES. wane an Insti, Ratroness: H.R.H. THE PRINCESS ROYAL. a IAN 30 1951, OFFICERS 2995/1. RupBiaA PEREGRINA L.; rare, Sherkin and Clear Island. §*+370/13. CHRYSANTHEMUM PARTHENTIUM (L.) Bern.; laneside, Sher- kin Island. As in Kerry most certainly an escape from gardens. Not listed in Praeger (1934). §*+371/2. Marricanta CHamomitta L.; rare, arable week, Clear Island. Not listed in Praeger (1934). Det. A.J.W. 476/1. Crcenpia FitirorMis (L.) Delarb.; locally abundant in damp and boggy ground on Sherkin and Hare Islands. Occurs only in West Cork and Kerry. Det. R.D.M. and N.Y.S. 480/9. GENTIANA cAMPESTRIS L.; rare, Horse Island. Some speci- mens are annuals with cotyledons present. Det. N.Y.S. 545/83. EupHRASIA BREVIPILA Burnat & Gremli; locally abundant, all islands; addition to Praeger (1934), but see Pugs- ley (1940, J. Bot., 7, 13) for earlier record. Det. A.J.W. §*545/10. ‘EUPHRASIA OCCIDENTALIS Wettst.; P rare, Sherkin, West Calf Islands. Det. A.J.W. 546/4. Barrsra viscosa L.; frequent to locally abundant in poor pastures on all islands. 362 WATSONIA, I, PT. vi, 1950. §*552/2. UTRICULARIA NEGLECTA Lehm.; often abundant in small pools and tarns, Sherkin and Clear Islands. Re- corded for neighbouring v.-c.’s. Identification from flowering state. Det. R.D.M. and N.Y.S. §*+558/4. MentHa viripis L.; rare, grassy field, Sherkin Island. Det. R.A.G. 508/9b. x MeEntuHA veRtTIcILLATA L. var. paLtuposa (Sole) Druce; grassy field, Sherkin Island. Det. R.A.G. 588/51. PLanraco MARITIMA L. var. BRACTEATA Blytt; one large plant of this striking form on rocky bank at edge of small salty pool at cliff-edge, Sherkin Point, Sherkin Island. See Druce (1918, B.E.C. 1917 Rep.., 49), Pilger (1937, Engler, Pflanzenreich, 1V, 269, 175) treats it as ‘‘ monstr.’’? bracteata (Blytt) Pilger of var. communis Williams f. dentata (Roth) Pers. ex Williams. Det. N.Y.S. §*600/1. CHENOPpopIUM RUBRUM L.; rare, Sherkin and West Calf Islands. Growing on dried-up boggy pools near sea. Very rare and uncertain in Kerry, and absent in East Cork. Det. A.J.W. §*606/8. ATRIPLEX LACINIATA L.; one station on sandy shore, Tra- bawn Bay, Sherkin Island; previously only recorded on the East Coast of Ireland. Det. R.D.M. and INGYcS. 606/75. ATRIPLEX GLABRIUSCULA Edmondst. x HastaTa L. 606/73. ATRIPLEX GLABRIUSCULA Edmondst. x patuna L. Both on gravelly shores, Sherkin Island. Det. A.J.W. 618/3x6. RuMex crispus L. x ostusirotius L.; on exposed rocky coast; ‘‘ lowest plant on spray-covered rock ”’ ; Horse Island. Recorded once for Kerry. Not pre- viously recorded for v.-c. H.8. Det. J.H.L. 628/1. EupHorBIA HYBERNA L.; common along sheltered lanes and walls; probably on all islands, +650/3x2. Satix aLuBA L. x FrRacinis L. (Satrx RussEeniiana Sm.); Hare Island. There is an old record from Carrigaline in Power (1845, The Botanist’s Guide for the County of Cork), but it is not included in Praeger’s Census List. Det. R.D.M. +650/6(2). xSanrx pDAsycLapos Wimm. (S. acuminata §Sm.); Hare Island, P. J. Newbold. Recorded as common near Cork (as S. acwminata) in Power (1845, l.c.) but regarded as a doubtful Irish plant by Colgan and Scully (1898, Cybele Hibernica, ed. 2, 509) and not mentioned by Praeger (1934). Det. R.D.M. (as S. calodendron Wimm.). §*722/1. SpaRGANIuM NEGLECTUM Beeby; ? frequent on Sherkin Island. Det. A.J.W. and N.Y.S. NOTES AND ADDITIONS TO THE FLORA OF THE ISLANDS OF S.W. CORK. 363. 722 /5. §*745 /2. §*753/1. 753/18. §*+780/3(2). §*809/1. 814/ 1b. §*824/4. 824/14d. §*825/3. 826 /7c. Ge e21 | 17. $8294. 830/14 SPARGANIUM MINIMUM Fries; rare, marsh west of Clear Island; rather rare in Kerry. Det. A.J.W. HELEOCHARIS UNIGLUMIS (Link) Schult.; ? rare, muddy pool, Sherkin Point, Sherkin Island. Recorded in Kerry but not E. Cork, Det. S.M.W. (as ? Western type). CaREX PSEUDO-cYPERUS L.; two localities, swampy ground on edge of tarn, Sherkin Island. Does not occur in Kerry. Det. E.N. CaREX PUNCTATA Gaud.; sparingly, heathy country, Horse Island. Det. E.N. AGROSTIS GIGANTEA Roth; Horse Island. Not listed in Praeger (1934). Det. C.H.H. KOELERIA GRACILIS Pers.; frequent, close turf by the sea, Sherkin, Clear, Horse and Hare Islands. Rather common and locally abundant by the sea in Kerry. Det. C.E.H. CaTABROSA AQUATICA L, var. LiTTORALIS Parn.; one locality on fine but firm sand, Trabawn Bay, Sherkin Island. The first coloniser of sandy strand. No speci- mens of the typical species were collected on the islands; it is rather rare in Kerry. Det. C.E.H. Poa rrRricaAtA Lindm.; Sherkin Island. Not listed in Praeger (1934). Det. C.E.H. Poa annua L. var. REPTANS Hausskn.; occasional, sandy and shingle shores, Sherkin Island. Det. C.E.H. GLYCERIA DECLINATA Bréb.; marsh, Sherkin Island; the marsh is separated from the sea by a sand-bar. Long Island. Not listed in Praeger (1934). Det. C.E.H. Festuca RuBRA L. var. BARBATA (Schrank) Richt.; ex- posed cliffs, Hare Island. Recorded for Kerry. Det. C.E.H. Bromus commutatus Schrad.; rare, cornfield, Sherkin Island. It occurs in Kerry and East Cork. Det. C.E.H. LoLIuM MULTIFLORUM Lam.; occasional, cultivated ground, Sherkin and Hare Island. Not given in Praeger (1934) nor in Comital Flora. Det. C.H.H. . AGROPYRON JuNCEUM (L.) Beauv. X REPENS (L.) Beauv. ; Hare Island. Det. C.E.H. 364 WATSONIA, I, PT. vi, 1950. NITELLA MUCRONATA NKiiq. VAR. GRACILLIMA Gr. & B.-W. IN WARWICKSHIRE By G. O. ALLEN. N. mucronata, a rare British species, is distinguishable mainly by the twice-forked branchlet, two-celled dactyl* and the reticulate decora- tion of the odspore membrane. Its name is derived from the apex of the lower cell of the dactyl being rounded and the end-cell being small and narrow, so that a conspicuous mucro is formed. Rarely the dactyl is three-celled, but Groves was inclined to attribute this to suppressed forking. N. mucronata var. gracilluma Gr. & B.-W. (1917, J. Bot., 55, 324) was described from a plant found by Miss Roper in 1917 near Wick- war, W. Glos., in which the dactyls were often three-celled and the penultimate cell tapered gradually to the apex so as to be little broader than the base of the apical cell. I understand that it has not been found there since then and it has not been recorded elsewhere. In April 1949, Mr J. L. Lyon found a plant in an old arm of the Oxford Canal, Newbold-on-Avon, near Rugby, which from the frequency of the three-celled dactyls and the tapering of the penultimate cell appears to me referable to this variety, though it tends to be somewhat stouter. It was gathered on several occasions and by August bore ripe odspores. A few instances of four-celled dactyls were found, and I noticed one in the material from Wickwar. The branchlets are extremely variable. Three-celled dactyls occur most frequently on sterile branchlets where there is often only one fork, which lends support to Groves’s suggestion about suppressed forking. I found this to be the case also with Wickwar specimens, *Dactyls are the rays at the final fork of the branchlet in Nitella. These rays are two or more in number and when there are several they somewhat resemble fingers. The term dactyl is only applicable to Nitella, the branch- lets of which are always once or more forked, whereas in Tolypella and the Chareae the growth of the branchlets is constantly monopodial. NITELLA MUCRONATA MIO. VAR. GRACILLIMA GR. & B.-W. 365 Nitella mucronata var. gracillima (xc. 20). From a specimen collected by J. L. Lyon, 30th April 1949. 366 WATSONIA, I, PT. v1, 1950. ORCHIS CRUENTA Miil. IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS By J. Hestorp Harrison. A short note on the finding of Orchis cruenta O. F. Miiller in the counties of Galway and Mayo has already been published (Harrison, 1949). The present paper serves to expand the description of this in- teresting boreal species, and provides additional distributional and cytological data. Orchis cruenta was described by Miiller in Oeder’s Flora Danica in 1782 from Roéros in central Norway. Synonyms, icones and exsiccata are cited by Pugsley (1935) and by Vermeulen (1947). By the latter author the species is renamed Dactylorchis cruenta (Miill.) Vermeulen, following his elevation of Klinge’s subgenus Dactylorchis to the rank of genus. Vermeulen states that he has been unable to locate the type-specimen of Miiller, and the description given in his paper of 1947 is based upon a plant from Frésén, Jimtland, Sweden, 170 miles E.N.E. of Roros, which he names as the lectotype, in Herb. L. M. Neuman, Lund, and is augmented from comparison with Swiss, Russian and other Scandinavian material. It is couched in general terms, and may thus be said to refer to a population rather than to an individual. Other descriptions of O. cruenta which may be said to define populations in that some attempt is made to indicate the ranges of variation of taxonomic characters are those of Klinge (1898), Ascher- son and Graebner (1907, where the plant is named VU. mcarnatus subsp. cruentus) and E. and A. Camus (1928). The latter accounts seem largely to be based upon Klinge’s original work. The earlier treatment of O. cruenta by the two Reichenbachs (H. G. L. Reichenbach, 1832; H. G. Reichenbach, 1851) is marred by numerous inconsistencies. The ‘‘ Orchis cruenta Roch.” of the former should, according to Ascherson and Graebner (1907) and Vermeulen (1947), fall under O. cordigera Fries. O. cruenta Miill. is represented by the elder Reichenbach’s ‘‘ Orchis haematodes,”’ although the diagnosis of this plant is by no means identical with that of the original. The younger Reichenbach provides a plate (t. 48, I) purporting to depict O. cruenta Mill. The species is, however, treated in the text in his complex system of subgrouping under Orchis incarnata as 2. Swublati- foliae, a. brevicalcaratae bb. rhombeilabia cruenta. The ‘‘ 0. haema- todes’’ of his father is relegated to 1. Incarnatae verae, where it features as a synonym of a. lanceata. Again the caption appended to the plate of this plant shows little agreement with the text, since tthe plant is there entitled ‘‘ O. matodes Rchb.” (sic) under the general heading: ‘‘ Orchis incarnata L.’’ Neither the figure of O. cruenta Miill. (t. 43, I) nor that of O. matodes Rchb. (t. 46, I) shows the feature most characteristic of the species: the presence of anthocyanin pigmen- tation on both surfaces of the leaf. The only case in which this character j (a) Upper and (b) lower surfaces of a pair of leaves from two dif ferent plants of O. cruenta. (Natural size), Lips from homologous flowers from fifty different individuals (c natural size). Spurs from fifty-seven different individuals (c. natural size). s ~ we ORCHIS CRUENTA MULL. IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 367 is illustrated is in a supplementary plate (t. 170, II) of Orchis salina Turez. This figure might well represent a form of O. cruenta Miill., and it is significant that O. salina is placed in the supplementary text with OU. haematodes Reichb. p. under 1, Incarnatae verae, a. lanceata (that is, O. cruenta Mill. sensu Reichb. p.). Five varieties of O. cruenta Mill. are recognised by L. M. Neuman (1909) in his treatment of the Scandinavian forms of the species. These are: a subelliptica, B subtriangularis, y brevifolia, 8 lanceolata and ¢ haematodes. The first two are broad-leaved forms (maximum leaf width 2-2.5 cm.), differing from each other in a labellum character. Vars. brevifolia and lanceolata are narrow-leaved plants (maximum leaf width 1-1.5 em.), the former with exceedingly short, recurved leaves. Var. haematodes is a resuscitation of the elder Reichenbach’s ‘‘ O. haema- todes,’’ differentiated, according to Neuman’s brief diagnosis, mainly through the possession of a greater number of bract-like leaves between the upper foliage leaf and the spike. The continental range of 0, cruenta was greatly extended by Pugs- ley’s discovery in 1933 of a plant undoubtedly connected with that of Miller in two regions near Zermatt in Switzerland. Two years later the plant was found in Graubiinden by Gsell (1935). Pugsley’s descrip- tion of the Swiss plant (Pugsley, 1935) is apparently based upon selected specimens, and gives little indication of variation—certainly it is not adequate to associate the Swiss race with any particular one of Neu- man’s varieties. That of Gsell gives some useful biometrical data and an indication of the range of variation of certain characters. The most recent continental find has been that reported by Wilmott (1938), who identified the plant in material from the French Alps. The excellent photograph which accompanies his description portrays a plant which may have affinities with Neuman’s var. subtriangularis. The inter- relationships of the continental forms are discussed further below. Brief consideration must be given here to certain erroneous former records of O. cruenta from the British Isles. The first record of the species from a British locality occurs in a note by H. Goss (1899) in which it is stated to occur on the Cumberland fells at an altitude of 1000 ft., the identification having been made by Rolfe. Druce (1910) subsequently recorded the plant from Teesdale, Durham, again on the basis of identifications made by Rolfe. In 1916, T. A. Stephenson re- ported O. cruenta from Hawkshead, N. Lancs., and from the Isle of Arran—“ corroborated at Kew,’’ presumably also by Rolfe. Druce ap- parently had some suspicion of these last records, since he saw differ- ences between the plant concerned and that illustrated in Miiller’s original Flora Danica plate. All of these records preceded the establish- ment by the Stephensons in 1920 of their Orchis purpurella as a distinct species. After that date it became clear that all the previous records of ‘‘ Orchis cruenta’’ from the British Isles referred to O. purpurella, and moreover that it had been the practice of certain continental authorities to refer plants of O. purpurella to O. cruenta, no doubt as 368 WATSONIA, I, PT. vi, 1950. Vermeulen (1947) suggests, as the result of the misleading plate pub- lished of the latter species by the younger Reichenbach. This point was demonstrated by Druce (1920), for whom plants of O. purpurella were named as O. cruenta by Lindman. In a further elucidation of the re- lationship of O. purpurella with other marsh orchids, the Stephensons (1921) pointed out the marked differences between their plant and the O. cruenta of Miiller. From examination of Druce’s herbarium material, they decided that O. cruenta is nearer to O. incarnata (O. latifolia L. sec. Pugsl.) than to O. purpurella—“ as compared with the minute dots of purpurella it has not only more angular markings, but also bright purple blotches on both sides of the leaves.’? They finally concluded (1922) that ‘‘it is now certain that previous records of cruenta from Britain are incorrect; the plants found must be assigned to pur- purella.’’ Druce had already reached this conclusion (1921), and had shown that the original record of Goss was at fault as a result of Rolfe’s misnaming. He withdrew his own record for O. cruenta in Teesdale, stating that the plants there, too, fall under O. purpurella Steph. The nomenclatural confusion which surrounds O. cruenta arises, as in the case of so many other dactylorchids, largely from the extreme inherent variability of the species. Among the dactylorchids, the obser- vation of Camp and Gilly, in a recent discussion on the structure and origin of species (1943), applies with particular force: ‘‘ the species is not necessarily a particular kind of organism; the species is a kind of population.’’ To be of use in comparative studies, descriptions of taxonomic units within the group must necessarily take into account the range of variation found in natural populations. The following description is based upon two random mass collec- tions of more than one hundred individuals each from the colonies of O. cruenta on the limestone shores of Lough Carra and Lough Mask. For assistance in recording biometrical data I am indebted to Prof. A. R. Clapham and to Dr Y. Massey. DESCRIPTION LEAF CHARACTERS. : Number. There are normally two or three membranous leaves en- sheathing the stem just above the tubers. Counting the lowest green leaf as the first, and that below the first floral bract as the last, even though it may be bract-like, the distribution of the number of leaves per plant in the populations examined is as follows: 3 leaves, 1%; 4 leaves, 22%; 5 leaves, 68%; 6 leaves, 8%; 7 leaves, 1%. The modal class for leaf number among the Irish plants is thus 5, with about a third as many with 4. Size and shape. The leaves are characteristically lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, slightly keeled and broadest about one-third of their length from the base. They are normally erect, slightly recurved, and dispersed regularly along the length of the stem. Population para- meters for the dimensions of the largest leaf are as follows: ORCHIS CRUENTA MULL. IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 369 Length (from top of sheath to tip): Range, 5-15 cm.; mean, 8.42 cm.; standard deviation, 2.49 cm. Width (at broadest point): Range, 0.9-2.1 cm.; mean, 1.25 cm.; standard deviation, 0.29 cm. Marking. Leaf marking was absent from 35% of the plants examined. The majority of the remainder showed the extraordinary distribution of anthocyanin pigmentation exclusive to O. crwenta among the European orchids. The marking is of a reddish-purple or violet hue, dispersed in fine dots or larger spots and blotches, sometimes form- ing dark bars running parallel to the leaf venation, sometimes forming fields or zones of colour interrupted only occasionally by small rect- angular greenish islands, and often covering the entire leaf surface. Except in about 2% of the individuals examined, this marking was repeated on both surfaces of the leaf. The pigment seems to be located in sub-epidermal cells on each surface, and the patterning on the two surfaces is thus not necessarily coincident. This point is illustrated in the photograph of upper and lower surfaces of a pair of leaves re- produced in Plate I, i. The intensity of pigmentation can only be assessed visually; separating the range of variation into five arbitrary classes and taking no account of variation in pattern, the distribution of the Irish plants is as follows: Nil, 35%; Light, 28% ; Medium, 14% ; Heavy, 12%; Very heavy, 11%. STEM. Measured from immediately above the tubers (the point at which the stem parts with a vertical pull at the level of the lower leaves) the stature of the plants examined varied from 19 to 46 cm. The mean of all plants was 31.42 cm., and the standard deviation, 4.80 cm. The stem is invariably hollow, the cavity usually exceeding half the total diameter. In those individuals with heavily marked leaves, the stem is generally suffused with a similar violet or purple coloration, par- ticularly in the upper parts. In others it is striated or flecked with pigment, the markings being continuous with those of the upper leaves or floral bracts. INFLORESCENCE AND FLOWERS. The inflorescence of Irish plants of O. crwenta is somewhat less dense than in native O. latifolia L. sec. Pugsl., and ranges in length from 3 to 7.5 cm., with 11 to 42 flowers. The bracts, which are spotted lke the upper leaves, exceed the flowers in the lower part of the inflorescence. The flowers are small and possess a range of lilac-purple colours, with no trace of the flesh or maroon tint of O, latifolia. The lateral sepals are erect or slightly reflexed, marked with a pattern of fine dots or short bars. The labellum is entire or obscurely tri-lobed, often reflexed laterally in the fresh state. The range of variation in shape is illustrated in Plate I, ii. The dimensions are as follows: 370 WATSONIA, I, PT. vi, 1950. Width (at broadest point): Range, 4.5-9.0 mm.; mean, 6.38 mm. ; standard deviation, 1.04 mm. Length (measured from spur mouth): Range, 4.25-7.50 mm.; mean, 5.82 mm.; standard deviation, 0.74 mm. The spur is thick, curved and bluntly conical (Plate I, iii). The dimensions are: Length: Range, 5.5-9.25 mm.; tion, 0.76 mm. Width (flattened): Range, 2.0-4.0 mm.; mean, 2.91 mm.; stan- dard deviation, 0.47 mm. mean, 7.65 mm.; standard devia- The ovaries are strongly ridged, and commonly flecked with reddish- purple in the manner of the floral bracts and upper part of the stem. CyTOLOGY. Root- and tuber-tips were fixed in the field in Lewitsky’s modifica- tion of Navaschin’s solution, and sections were cut at 12 uw. The chromosomes of the dactylorchids are small, and tend to lie in compact groups, or even to form chains (e.g., O. ericetorwm; Hagerup, 1944). This makes accurate determination of their number difficult. The dis- advantage may to some extent be overcome by staining with Johansen’s methyl violet method, and carrying the differentiating and destaining action of the final picric-alcohol and clove oil baths to the point where only the outlines of the chromosomes remain visible. Overlapping and clumped groups may then be separated into their individual compon- ents with far greater ease than when the chromosomes are stained deeply and uniformly. Forty plates were counted in material from four plants. The chromosome number was found uniformly to be ye oo 05° & \) r 2 Fig. 1. Orchis cruenta Miull.: metaphase plate from root tip. xc. 3000. 2n = 40. A well-spread metaphase plate is illustrated in fig. 1. This finding is in accordance with that of Heusser (1938) for Swiss material of O. cruenta, and places the plant in the diploid series to which belong the other members of Pugsley’s Latifoliae verae. O. CRUENTA IN RELATION TO OTHER BRITISH DACTYLORCHIDS. With O. latifolia L. sec. Pugsl. (O. incarnata auct. mult.), O. cruenta forms the subsection Latifoliae verae of the subgenus Dactylorchis ORCHIS CRUENTA MULL. IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. vel Klinge in Pugsley’s classification (1985). O. latifolia L. sec. Pugsl. is represented in the British Islands by a wide range of varieties, almost all of which are clearly distinguished from QO. cruenta by the complete absence of leaf markings. As has been seen, populations of O. cruenta always contain a high proportion of individuals in which the charac- teristic marking is present on both sides of the foliage leaves, and in which the bracts and upper parts of the stem are ‘‘cruentate’’—flecked with reddish-purple pigment. Other differences which distinguish O. cruenta from the O. latifolia forms are found in flower colour and shape, and in the size, shape and distribution of the leaves. The lilac-purple flower colour is quite distinct from the straw, flesh, salmon, crimson-red series of tones found in many JO. latifolia forms (var. Gemmana Pugsl. ; var. ochroleuca (Boll) Pugsl.; var. coccinea Pugsl.), and in fact is almost as distinct in the fresh state from the reddish-purple colours of the other latifolia varieties (var. pulchella (Druce) Pugsl. and var. cambrica Pugsl.). Closest to O. cruenta amongst the O. latifolia forms is var. pulchella, some populations of which contain individuals with light pin-point leaf spotting reminiscent of that found in VO. purpurella T. & T. A. Steph. But the leaf marking in pulchella is restricted to the upper surface of the foliage leaves, never extending to the bracts or the stem. The labellum of pulchella is considerably larger than in QO. cruenta (c. 8x8 mm., in contrast with c. 6x6.5), the leaves are broader, more re- curved and more numerous, and the stem less fistular. The var. pul- chelia is, moreover, an early flowering plant of mildly acid sphagnum bog (frequently with Sphagnum squarrosum in Ireland), while cruenta flowers in late June and early July, and is apparently restricted to the highly calcareous type of marsh habitat described below. CoMPARISON WITH CONTINENTAL O. CRUENTA. It is clear from the continental literature that UO. cruenta is as vari- able throughout its range as are O. latifolia L. sec. Pugsl. and O. majalis Reichb. Nevertheless, there is a substantial body of agreement between the various descriptions of the species, and there can be little doubt that the Irish plant here described falls within the ‘‘Rassenkreis’’? to which the northern forms of Miiller, Klinge and Neuman, and the Alpine forms of Pugsley, Gsell and Wilmott belong. As in the O. majalis complex, there seems to be a wide variation in leaf size and shape. The original plate of Miller portrays a rather broad-leaved plant, close to Neuman’s var. subelliptica (the leaf dimensions given by Neuman for this variety, which was based upon plants from Frésén, Jamtland, are 6-7 cm. xX 2cm.). I understand from Dr H. Smith of Uppsala that the broad-leaved plant is the more common in southern Sweden. Jamtland was, however, also the source of the material upon which Neuman’s varieties subtriangularis and lanceolata were based, the former with a leaf size given as 5-7 cm. X 2-2.5 cm., and the latter, 6-12 cm. x 1-1.5 cm. It is difficult to tell from Neuman’s account how well defined were the populations to which these dimensions refer, and it should be noted that Vermeulen (1947) states that the material he saw from this important 372 WATSONIA, I, PT. vI, 1950. Swedish locality showed a very wide range of variation in leaf width*. Klinge, presumably describing Russian material, quotes the dimensions of the largest leaf as 6-8 cm. x 1-1.5 cm.; dimensions which are accepted without modification in the accounts of Ascherson and Graebner (1907) and of Camus (1928-9). Gsell’s dimensions for the Graubiinden plants (5-9 cm. X 1.5-1.8 cm.) define a broad-leaved race, no doubt similar to that represented by the broad-leaved plant illustrated by Wilmott (1938). Summarising the above: (1) Narrow-leaved and broad-leaved races of O. cruenta occur in the Scandinavian region, the former tending possibly to have a more northerly and the latter a more southerly distribution ; (2) the narrow-leaved form is probably the more common in northern Russia ; (3) the Alpine form is characteristically broad-leaved. While the Irish plants show considerable variation in leaf width (0.9-2.1 cm.), the mean width is 1.25 cm., and the race must therefore be regarded as relatively narrow-leaved. If Neuman’s varieties are accepted, then the Irish race is closest to his var. lanceolata. DISTRIBUTION AND ECOLOGY In Ireland, 0. cruenta appears to be limited to suitable habitats around the lakes of the Galway-Mayo limestone basin. Its distribution in this area has been explored in some detail by Mrs H. Gough, Mrs D. Teacher and Major R. F. Ruttledge (June, 1950). The localities now known are as follows: East Mayo (v.-c. H.26). Lough Carra: plentiful near Keel Bridge at the south end of the lake, extending up the west shore north of Partry and occurring on some of the islands; also plentiful at Cloonee and on the east shore north of Cloonee. Lough Mask: abundant at Aghinish, and occasional on the lake shore further north. Lough Cor- rib: occasional on the north-east shore near Castletown. North Galway (v.-c. H.17). Occasional at Annaghdown, on the north- east shore of Lough Corrib. The main continental range of O. cruenta (sens. lat.) lies between latitudes 55° and 65° N., although at the head of the Gulf of Bothnia and possibly in western Russia it approaches the Arctic Circle. The plant is now known from six or seven Alpine localities, following Pugs- ley’s initial discovery of it near Zermatt in 1933. A record for a ‘‘race”’ of the species (O. cruentus B Seemenia Ascherson & Graeb- ner, 1907) exists for a locality on the Isle of Borkum. Schulze (in Ascherson and Graebner, p. 721) considered this to be a form of O. in- *My own measurements of leaf size made in July 1950 on 25 plants from a colony near Hammerdal in Jamtland, one of the type localities for Neuman’s var. lanceolata, gave the following results: length 914 cm., mean 11.40 cm.; width 0.9-1.9 cm., mean 1.145 cm. In a collection of 100 plants from Omberg in Ostergotland some 350 miles south of this locality, the dimensions of the largest leaf were as follows: length 6-14 cm., mean 9.24 cm., width 0.7-2.2 cm., mean 1.29 cm. The distinction between these two Swedish populations in this character is thus hardly significant. ORCHIS CRUENTA MULL. IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. oe! carnata (O. latifolia L. sec. Pugsl.). This race is now extinct (fide Vermeulen). For reasons outlined above, the Scottish and northern English records quoted by Ascherson and Graebner, Camus, and other continental authors must now be disallowed. The European distribution of the species, as now known, is thus as shown in the accompanying map, fig. 2. For the spot records of the Fig. 2. Orchis cruenta Miull.: European distribution. plant from the Scandinavian area I am indebted to Dr E. Hultén, who kindly supplied me with an advance map from his remarkable Atlas (1950).* To these I have added a record from Gotland (Pettersson, 1947). *O. cruenta is placed by Hultén in his Group 14: ‘‘North-European plants witit a boreal-montane tendency’’, among the species without a central European range. Its presence in the Alps means that it should feature, rather, in the second section of this Group, in which are listed plants possessing central European (often sub-alpine) ranges in addition to their more extensive northern areas. 374 WATSONIA, I, PT. vi, 1950. East of the area shown on the map, the range of the species extends through central and northern Russia, reaching, according to Nevski, east of Lake Baikal. Details of the eastern Siberian range are not available. O. cruenta generally occurs in small colonies in calcareous marshes and fens, and occasionally in salt-marshes. In Ireland, as for example about Lough Carra, it is a member of an open association dominated by Schoenus mgricans. This occurs in a belt of varying width extending down to the water’s edge, and is subject to frequent inundation. The substratum is a white, highly calcareous deposit, soapy in texture, with a pH ranging from 8.2-8.4 in the samples examined and a solubility in acid of 70-85% dry weight. Characteristic associates include Ranunculus Flammula, Lythrum Salicaria, Cirsium dissectum, Ana- gallis tenella, Samolus Valerandi, Pinguicula vulgaris, Juncus acuti- florus, Scirpus pauciflorus, and occasionally Cladiwm Mariscus. The plant rapidly thins out in the drier closed associations, at and just above the flood level, which have a richer orchidaceous flora including Gymna- denia conopsea, Anacamptis pyramidalis, Orchis Fuchsu, and, locally, Epipactis palustris. The foregoing distributional data suggest that O. cruenta must be added to the problematical little group in the flora of the British Islands which Matthews (1937) has termed the Northern-Montane. This in- cludes plants with a fairly wide lowland distribution in northern Europe which possess disjunct localities further south, mostly in sub-alpine areas. Other examples in the Irish flora with this type of distribution are Potentilla fruticosa, Calamagrostis neglecta and Salix phylicifolia. The comparative sparsity of O. crwenta in central Europe suggests that it is of northern origin, and that the Alpine and Irish colonies represent relict stations from late glacial times when the species probably occupied a more extensive region south of the glaciated zone. During the en- suing climatic amelioration the main mass of the species is likely to have migrated northwards to its present station, while the immigration of a vigorous lowland flora eliminated the species in its southern stations except for isolated areas in which it is fitted by specialised ecology to meet competition. In Switzerland, one may suppose that such condi- tions are found in calcareous sub-alpine marshes. Gsell emphasises the fact that the Graubiinden stations are all above the 1800 m. level, that is, at a greater altitude than that at which O. incarnata is commonly found. In Ireland, the present distribution may be explained on the assumption that survival was possible in calcareous marsh areas due to the early check to the immigration of potential competitors caused by the opening of the English Channel and the widening of the Irish Sea. ASCHERSON, P., & GRAEBNER, P., 1907, Synopsis der Mitteleuropdischen Flora, 3, Leipzig. CAMP, W. H., & GILLY, C. L., 1948, The Structure and Origin of Species, Brit- tonia, 4 (3), 323-385. CAMUS, E. G. & A., 1928-29, Iconographie des Orchidées d’Europe, Paris. ORCHIS CRUENTA MULL. IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 375 DRUCE, G. C., 1910, Rep. Bot. Soc. & E.C., 2, 521. ——, 1916, Rep. Bot. Soc. & E.C., 4, 503. —, 1920, Rep. Bot. Soc. & E.C., 5, 48. ——, 1921, Rep. Bot. Soc. & E.C., G, 314. GOSS, H., 1899, Orchis cruenta in Cumberland, J. Bot., 37, 37. GSELL, R., 1935, Uber bundnerische Orchideen, Jahresber. Naturf. Ges. Grau- biindens, 74, 3-32. HAGERUP, O., 1944, On Fertilisation, Polyploidy and Haploidy in Orchis macu- latus L. sens. lat., Dansk Botan. Arkiv, 11, 1-25. HARRISON, J. H., 1949, Orchis cruenta Mull.: A New Irish Marsh Orchid, Irish Nat. Journ., 9, 329-340. HEUSSER, C., 1938, Chromosomenverhaltnisse bei Schweizerischen basit. Orchi- deen, Ber. Schweiz. Bot. Ges., 48, 562. HULTEN, E., 1950, Atlas of the Distribution of Vascular Plants in N.W. Europe, Stockholm, p. 57, map 515. KLINGE, J., 1898, Dactylorchis, etc., Acta Horti Petropolitani, 17. MATTHEWS, J. R., 1937, Geographical Relationships of the British Flora, J. Ecol., 25, 1-90. NEUMAN, L. M., 1909, Anteckningar ro6rande nordiska Orkis-former, Bot. Not., 1909, 151-159. OEDER, F. C., 1782, Icones Plantarum sponte nascentium in regnis Daniae et Norvegiae, etc. (Flora Danica), Havniae, 5, fasc. 15, 4, t. 876. PETTERSSON, B., 1947, On some Hybrid Populations of Orchis incarnata xX maculata in Gotland, Svensk Botanisk Tidskr., 41, 115-140. PUGSLEY, H. W., 1935, On some Marsh Orchids, J. Linn. Soc. (Bot.), 49, 553-592. REICHENBACH, H. G., 1851, Icones Florae Germanicae et Helveticae, 13/14. Lipsiae. REICHENBACH, H. G. L., 1832, Flora Germanica Excursoria, Lipsiae. STEPHENSON, T. & T. A., 1921, Rep. Bot. Soc. & E.C., 6, 311-314. ——, 1922, Hybrids of Orchis purpurella, J. Bot., 60, 33-35. VERMEULEN, P., 1947, Studies on Dactylorchids, Utrecht. WILMOTT, A. J., 19388, Un Orchis nouveau pour la flore de France, Bull. mens. Soc. Linn. Lyon, 7 (3), 84-86. 376 WATSONIA, I, PT. vi, 1950. ABSTRACTS FROM LITERATURE Compiled by A. H. G. Atston. Thanks are due to D. E. Allen, J. G. Dony, K. S. Hodges, W. lh. Price, A, E. Wade, S. M. Walters and D. P. Young for their help. SYSTEMATIC, Erc. : 6/14. RanuncuLus auricomus L. Schwarz, O., 1949, Beitrage zur Kenntniss kritischer Formenkreise im Gebiete der Flora von Thiiringen, Mitt. Thiiring. Bot. Ges., 1 (1), 120. Ranunculus auricomus L. has been shown to be a collective species, with several constant apomictic miicrospecies. Nine are recorded for Thuringia and separated by a key.—[A.H.G.A. ] 39/1. CARDAMINE PRATENSIS L. Clausen, R. T., 1949, Checklist of the Vascular Plants of the Cayuga Quadrangle, 42°-43° N., 76°-77° W.., Cornell Univ. Agr. Exp. Sta., Mem, 291, 8-9. Two subspecies are dis- tinguished: subsp. typica Clausen occurs in dry situations and subsp. palustris (Wimm. et Grab.) Clausen in moist, boggy places. Although they have geographical pattern of subspecies in North America, in Europe their relationships are more complex.—[D.E.A.] 39/1. CARDAMINE PRATENSIS L. Hussein, F., 1948, Chromosome number of Cardamine pratensis, Nature, 161, 1015. The normal plant of damp meadows constantly has 2n = 56, Plants with semi-double flowers have been found in fifteen localities in wet places, chiefly in the North of England. They too have 2n = 56. Plants with 2n = 30 seem to be characteristically from southern England. An ecological difference found by Lévkvist holds good in most cases: the iarge plant (2n = 30) is characteristic of damp banks, whereas the smaller darker- leaved plant grows in wet meadows.—[D.E.A.] 44. EropHina. Matuszkiewicz, W., 1948, Taxonomic Researches on Erophila verna DC., Ann. Umv. Mariue-Curie, Lublin, 3, 19-47. (Polish with English summary). The author concludes that there is little statistical correlation between the characters.—[A.H.G.A.] 61/3. Lepripium Drasa L. Shove, R. F., 1948, Thanet Weed (Cardaria Draba), School Nature Study, 43, 11-12. A short account of its history in Britain, morphology and biology.—[A.E.W. ] 96. Sizene. Marsden-Jones, E. M., & Turrill, W. B., 1948-9, Re- searches on Silene maritima and §. vulgaris, XXVIII, XXVIII, XXIX, XXX, Kew Bull., 1948, 29-33, 33-42, 253-263, 264-276; XXXI, 1949, 319-339. The first paper deals with the examination of Swedish material of S. maritima. 429 plants were grown and scored and the authors conclude that they are all to be classified into §. maritima, rosulting from the continued back-crossing of a 8S. maritima x BS. vul- ieee “/ se — ABSTRACTS FROM LITERATURE. BYTE garis F1 with S. maritima; this would result in “ infiltration ’’ of S. vulgaris genes into a S. maritima population. The second paper deals with S. vulgaris material from the Pyrenees. The genetic behaviour of populations derived from this material is described; of particular interest is the genetic behaviour of a short bristly type of indumentum, the very inflated calyx, certain capsule characters usually associated with S. maritima and a modification of the tubercled character of the coat. Paper X XIX gives the results of three crosses between a plant of S. maritima, peculiar in having long cylindrical calyces, and two plants of S. vulgaris. It is shown how very rarely either grandparental habit appears in the F2 generation. Paper XXX describes work on crosses between S. vulgaris plants from Loch Tay and both S. maritima and S. vulgaris plants of different origin. F2 families from interspecific crosses showed a high degree of sterility. Paper XXXI suggests that mutation and selection connected with the car-age and its oncoming led to the isolation of S. maritima in north Europe.—[K.S8.H.] 112/16. Hyprricum Linarurotium Vahl. Sandwith, N. Y., 1947, Trans. Radnor Soc., 17, 13. Its occurrence in Radnorshire is dis- cussed.—[A.E.W. ] 117. Marva. Hedlund, T., 1949, Notes on the Appearance of New Biotypes Closely Related to Malva parviflora L., Hereditas, 35, 507-520. 123/1. Tit1a PLATyPHYLLOS Scop. Burchell, J. P. T., & Erdtman, G., 1950, Indigenous T. platyphyllos in Britain, Nature, 165, 411. Peat from Addington, Kent (v.-c. 16), contained pollen-grains of Tilia cor- data and platyphyllos (frequency 10%, proportions 75: 5), besides alder, birch, hazel, oak, elm, and other trees and herbs in small amounts. The peat layer is assigned to the neolithic period.—[D.P.Y.] 127/38. Geranium sytvaticum L. Lundman, B., 1948, Some Notes on the Regional Variation of Flower Colour in Geranium silvaticum L., Svensk Bot. Tidskr., 42, 153-157 (in Swedish), Light-coloured flowers are common in the northern parts of Sweden, in Norway and in parts of Finland, but rather rare in southern and central Sweden, where they have been found only in mountain districts.—[A.H.G.A. ] 185. Rusus L. Bailey, L. H., 1949, Rubus Studies, Gentes Her- barum, 7, 480-526. The author gives an account of the theory of species in Rubus. He places R. Leesit Bab. under R, idaeus var. obtusi- folius Willd.—[A.H.G.A.] 186. Dryas. Porsild, A. E., 1947, The Genus Dryas in North America, Canad. Field-Nat., 61, 175-192. The North American species are revised and compared with those of Eurasia.—[D.H.A.] 189/8. PorentTinua procuMBENS Sibth. Dix, W. L., 1949, Potentilla procumbens in the United States, Rhodora, 57, 390-391. P. procumbens Sibth. is recorded as an escape. The correct name is said to be P. anglica Laich.—[A.H.G.A.] 195. Sorsus. Hedlund, T., 1948, Om uppkomsten av nya livstyper inom slaktet Sorbus (Concerning the Rise of new Biotypes within the genus Sorbus), Bot. Not., 1948, 381-391. 378 WATSONIA, I, PT. vi, 1950. 199/17. SaxIFRAGA GRANULATA L. Jones, E., & Turrill, W. B., A quantitative Study of Petal Size and Shape in Saxifraga granulata L., J. Genetics, 48, 206-218. The paper deals with the Hog’s Back popula- tion. Knvironmental conditions have little or no influence on the L/B ratio of the petals, but this varies with the age of the flowers. Female flowers, without viable pollen, were not frequent in the material studied.—[A.H.G.A.] 207. Rises. Hedlund, T., 1948, Om Ribes vulgare och Ribes rubrum, Bot. Not., 1948, 39-48. The cultivated plants of Ribes called R. rubrum by Linnaeus and characterised by ‘ floribus planiusculis ”’ and by separate antheral spaces on the stamens were given the name KR. vulgare by Lamarck in 1789. R. rubrum L. has been used to signify a collective species having campanulate flowers with wholly inferior ovaries and stamens with the antheral spaces close together. The sub- species of R. rubrwm L. which differ mainly in degree of pilosity and are arranged in order of decreasing pilosity are R. pubescens (Sw.) Hedl., R. scandicum Hedl., R. glabellum (Trautv. et Mey.), and R. glabrum Hedi. They are found mainly in northern Europe and nor- thern Asia. A key to some species of Ribes, 8 in number, is given.— [A.E.W.] 207/2. Rises nigrum L. Vaarama, A., 1948, Cryptic Polyploidy and Variation of Chromosome number in Ribes nigrum, Nature, 162, 782. R&R. nigrum has been found to have an oscillating chromosome num- ber varying from 4 to 32. The most frequent number is diploid 2n = 16. All numbers divisible by four are more frequent than might be ex- pected. If the basic number for the genus is x = 4, the recent species are presumably derived tetraploids. The meiosis of certain Ribes hybrids indicates that hybridization and amphidiploidy have played a part in the speciation of this genus.—[D.H.A.] 220/1. Epitopium aANGustTIFoLium L. Fernandes, R., Uma Espécie de Epilobium nova para a Flora de Portugal, Bot. Soc. Brot., ser. 2, 22, 5-14. Epilobium angustifoium L. var. brachycarpum (Leight.) is figured, described and recorded as new to the flora of Portu- gal. The Portuguese plant is said to agree with specimens from Colin- ton Woods, Edinburgh, collected by Syme.—[A.H.G.A.] 223. OxrNnoTHERA. Parrot, A. G., 1948, Les Onagres (Oenothera L.) au Pays Basque francais, Bull. Soc. Hist. Nat. Toulouse, 83, 83-87. 247. Apium; 253, Stum. Berton, A., 1947, Sium et Helosciadium. Tussilago et Petasites. Structure des Petioles; determination par les feuilles, La Feuille des Naturalistes, N.S. 2, 95. Helosciadium has fewer leaflets on the radical leaves (4-6 pairs). The leaflets of the first pair are at least as large as the others (the contour of the leaf is more or less triangular). No articulations on the petiole. No inverted (inversé) vascular bundles. Round cavity in transverse section. Sium angustifolium has 6-12 pairs of leaflets. The lowest pair smaller than the others (contour of leaf lanceolate). Rhachis articulate. Central cavity blocked at the articulation. Petasites: petiole angular with two ABSTRACTS FROM LITERATURE. 379 wings on ventral surface. Numerous vascular bundles in transverse section. Tussilago: petiole without angles or wings. Vascular bundles in a single arc. Petasites fragrans is similar to Tussilago, but there are vascular bundles within the main are.—[A.H.G.A.] 258 / 1. CHAEROPHYLLUM AUREUM lL. Hakansson, A., 1948, Syncytiebildning i anthererna av Chaerophyllum aureum, Bot, Not., 1948, 425-429. An unusual kind of pollen sterility is discussed. ‘Meiosis is as a rule regular with 11 II’s at diakinesis, but at the end of the second division disturbances set in. In most cases no sepa- rate pollen cells are formed, the four ‘ tetrad’ nuclei remaining to- gether in the same cell. The nuclei increase in size and often a vacuole is found as in a normal pollen grain. Often larger syncytia are formed through fusion of a different number of ‘ tetrads.’ Germinable fruits are found, and as agamospermy does not occur, they must be the result of pollination from pollen that must be formed rarely.’’—[A.E.W. ] 277/2. Weracteum SpHonpytium lL. Duwen, J. M., 1949, De Bereklaun, De Levende Natur, 52, 70-73. The paper illustrates and discusses the dissected forms.—[A.H.G.A. ] 295/1. RuBIA PEREGRINA L. Guillaume, A., 1948, La limite de répartition du Rubia peregrina, Bull. Soc. Bot. Frang., 95, 265-272. The writer seeks to demonstrate that the areas occupied by Rubia pere- grina and Ruscus aculeatus, which are south-west European species with a range from Southern England to Northern Italy, are mainly determined by their past history rather than by climatic factors. Salisbury’s (1926, The Geographical distribution of plants in relation to climatic factors, Geographical Journal, 48, 312) theories are criti- cised.—[A.H.G.A. ] 296/5. Gatium puminum Murray. Ehrendorfer, F., Zur Phylo- genie der Gattung Galium. J. Polyploidie und geographisch-ékologische Einheiten in der Gruppe des Galium pumilum Murray (Sekt. Lepto- galium Lange sensu Rouy) im Osterreichischen Alpenraum, Osterr. Bot. Zeitschr., 96, 109-138. 300. SHERARDIA. Garjeanne, A. J. M., 1948, Sherardia, De Levende Natur, 51, 163-168. 301. VALERIANA. Walther, E., 1949, Zur Morphogie und Syste- matik des Arzneibaldrians in Mitteleuropa, Mitt. Thiiring. Bot. Ges., Beiheft, 1, 7-105. A revision of the Genus Valeriana Section Officinalis based on cytology and herbarium specimens. Four species are recog- nised and their distribution shown on a map. A fifth, V. pratensis Dierb., is confined to the Rhine Valley. Three of these are reported from Britain, while the fourth, V. sambuctfolia, has a more easterly range from Scandinavia to Jugo-Slavia. The species are separated as follows :— A. Plants with stolons above ground (‘‘flagellen’’?) and subterranean (‘‘stolo~- nen’’). Epidermal cells of the upper surface of the leaf with wavy walls (‘stark gewellt’’). Leaflets at right angles to the rhachis. Flowers 4-8.3 mm. long. Pollen grains 52-654. Fruit glabrous and 4-5 mm. long. Series Sambucifoliae. 380 WATSONIA, I, PT. vi, 1950. Plants early-flowering, small, 40-80 cm. Leaves in the middle of the stem with: (2)3-4(5) spairs of Leaflets, oe)... eee 1. V. sambucifolia. BB. Plants late-flowering, usually 80-150 cm. Leaves in the middle of the stem with (2)4-6(8) pairs of leaflets, under surface with long hairs. 2. V. procurrens. AA. Plants with stolons subterranean or almost wanting. Epidermal cells of the upper surface of the leaf with almost straight walls (‘‘wenig gebogen’’). Leaflets making an acute angle with the rhachis. Flowers 2-5.7 mm. long. Pollen grains 37-50u. Fruits 2-4.4 mm. long. Series Collinac. 1Bi Under surface of leaves with long hairs. C. Plants early-flowering, with short stolons. Leaves in the middle of the stem short-stalked, with (6)7-12(14) pairs of leaflets. ......... 3. V. collina. CC. Plants late-flowering, almost without stolons, 70-150 cm. Leaves in middle of stem long-stalked, with 6-9 pairs of leaflets. Fruit always SLADLOUS aa keeeeoe Bee HORE ea Se UR Ee OPHEG Gceadcinicdnbanacanac 4. V. exaltata. BB. Under surface of leaves glabrous or with short bristles. Plants early- flowering, usually without stolons, 50-100 cm. Leaves in middle of stem with 6-8 pairs of Teatlets. 2 ...Z...5.0:0.cecehocessdoscaces eueee teen ene 5. V. pratensis The British records and the chromosome numbers are :— 1. V. sambucifolia Mikan (non British). n=28. 2. V. procurrens Wallroth (V. sambucifolia auct.). n=28. V.-c. 6. N. Som.: Cheddar Gorge, Skalinska & Sandwith; Ross-Craig, Burtt & Sealy. Dorset: Wareham, hedgebank, Makins. S. Hants.: S. of Minstead, New Forest, Ross-Craig, Burtt & Sealy. Surrey : towing-path above Kew, Fraser. Berks. : Kennington, near Oxford, wet places, Hubbard. Oxon.: near Shipton-on-Cherwell, Turvill. Beds. : King’s Wood, Heath and Reach, Milne-Redhead. E. Glos.: Mercombe Wood; Perrott’s Brook, by roadside at bottom of hill and by R. Churn, Sprague; Chescombe Wood, Sprague & Skalinska. Renfrew: Earn Water, between Mearns and Fenwick, Mackechnie. Roxburgh: Newcastleton, in state forest. Suwmmerhayes. Skye: near Portree (Staffin Road), N. & H. M. Montford. Kerry : between Ross Island and mouth of the R. Flesk, Killarney, Ross-Craig, Burtt & Sealy. 3. V. collina Wallroth (V. officinalis L. emend. Maillefer). n=14. 6. 17. 25. 29. 30. 39. N. Som.: Leigh: Woods, J. W. White. Surrey : Hascombe, E. S. Marshall; chalkpit, south of West Clandon, Britton: Mickleham Downs, in open chalk pasture, Sandwitnh. E. Suffolk: Burgate, FE. S. Marshall. Cambridge: Cherry Hinton, Babington. Beds. : Knotting, Milne-Redhead. Stafford: limestone, Manifold Valley, Edees; Biddulph, Hb. Haus- sknecht; ‘‘Kuypersly”, Hb. Haussknecht. 4. V. exaltata Mikan. n=7. 23. Oxon.: marsh near Slade’s Bottom, Woodstock district, Hubbard & Turrill. 5. V. pratensis Dierbach (non British). Hybrid V. collina x V. procurrens. 6. N. Som.: Avon Gorge under Leigh Woods, Skalinskha & Sandwith. Surrey : Clandon Downs, Wallace; Sheerwater, Byfleet, Fraser. Oxon.: damp valley bottom near Kiddington, Turvill. Bucks. : chalk slopes above High Wycombe, Sandwith. E. Glos.: Lower Hilcot, Sprague & Skalinska. [A.H.G.A.] [The spelling of the British localities has been checked by the speci- mens at Kew by Mr N. Y. Sandwith.—A.H.G.A.] Spee ABSTRACTS FROM LITERATURE. 381 320. Ericreron. Cronquist, A., 1947, A revision of the North Ameri- can Species of Erigeron north of Mexico, Brittonia, 6, 121-302. EH. canadensis is placed in the genus Conyza, the chief generic difference being in the numbers of central hermaphrodite flowers, which are stated to be few in Conyza and many in Frigeron. Three North American varie- ties of EH. acris are described.—[K.S.H.] 370/4. CurysantHEMuM LevcantrHemum L. Gombault, R., 1948, Notules sur la flore francaise de l’Ouest, Bull. Mus. Paris, 20, 478-480. Describes Chrysanthemum Leucanthemum var. odoratum with a scented root and trimorphic leaves from Basses-Pyrénées.—[ A.H.G.A. ] 379. Tusstraco; 380, Prerastres. See 247; 253. 396/2. Crrstum vuLtearE (Savi) Ten. Arénes, J., 1948, Les races francaisés du Cirsivm vulgare (Sav.) Ten., Bull. ‘Soc. Franc. Ech. Pl. Vasc., 1947, 42-45. The species is subdivided into three subspecies :— Apex of median and outer bracts of capitulum 10-15 mm. long, erecto-patent, arcuate or recurved after flowering, tipped by a strong spine 3-7 mm. long ......... subsp. crinitum (Boiss.) Rouv Apex of median and outer bracts of capitulum 5-10 mm. long, erect, erecto- patent or patent before flowering, sometimes afterwards, more or less arcuate :— Leaves concolorous or subconcolorous, glabrous, glabrescent, pubescent or more or less arachnoid (?) beneath. Spines of involucral bracts 1-5 mm. ...... subsp. Savianum J.Ar. Leaves not concolorous, strongly araneo-tomentose or woolly on the lower RIGA R OPE NS Cee cis ob u'c sdadisias adclessiu'es vaavoac testes wssedees subsp. silvaticum (Tausch.) These subspecies are further subdivided into varieties.—[A.H.G.A. ] 396/4. Crrstum AacauLon (L.) Weber. Arénes, J., 1948, Les races francaisés du Cirsium acaule (L.) Scop., Bull. Soc. Franc. Ech. Pl. Vase., 1947, fasc. 1, pt. 2, 38. The species is subdivided as follows :— Leaves with rather numerous more or less flat lobes which are patent or erecto- patent. Marginal spines whitish, medium, not erect. Rosettes solitary or united IRIE SM AMMEN SOG KS lo side Puce css asndeauisasibnsvcescntenedredeunseliashacssacsenad ovens var. vulgare Naeg. Stem short or wanting (5 cm. or less) Capitulum rounded and more or less truncate at base ...............ccccce cece eee ee subvar. vulgare J.Ar. Capitulum attenuate at base ..................... subvar. araricum (Gaud.) J.Ar. Stem exceeding 5 cm. Capitulum rounded and more or less truncate at DaSe .......... eee subvar. collivagum (Gaud.) J.Ar. Capitulum attenuate at base .................. subvar. disjunctum (Gaud.) J.Ar. Leaves with many contiguous lobes separated by deep sinuses with thickened margins. Marginal spines erect, yellowish, long and numerous. Outer bracts of capitulum more cartilaginous and stiff. Rosettes numerous, united in large MERCOLA LUSSOCKS icc scaccccsvscsecedssccd ceceensseeseeoees var. gregarium (Boiss.) Brig. & Cav. (A.H.G.A.] 396/8. Crrstum ARVENSE (L.) Scop. Arénes, J., 1948, Les races francaises du Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop., Bull. Soc. Frang. Ech. Pl. Vasc., 1947, fasc. 1, pt. 2, 39-40. The species is subdivided into two subspecies :—eu-arvense J. Ar. (glabrescent) and incanwm (Georgi) J. Ar. (leaves pubescent beneath). These are further subdivided into varieties and subvarieties.—[A.H.G.A.] 423. Taraxacum. Tschermak-Woess, E., 1949, Diploides Taraxa- cum vulgare in Wien und Niederdsterreich, Osterr. Bot. Zeitschr., 96, 382 WATSONIA, I, PT. v1, 1950. 56-63. The Taraxcaca found near Vienna include both triploid and dip- loid forms of the T. vulgare and T. laevigatum groups. The diploid form of T. vulgare is not apomictic. The pollen-grains and stomata are larger in the triploid forms than in the diploid.—[A.H.G.A.] 423. ‘Taraxacum. Chevalier, A., 1948, Essai élémentaire sur les Taraxacum de la flore de France, Bull. Soc. Bot. France, 95, 257-259. The author states that the aipladd chromosome numbers may be 16, 24, 32, 40 and 48. Nine sections are keyed out.—[A.H.G.A.] 445/1. Catuuna vuLceaRris Salisb. Poel, L. W., 1949, Germination and development of heather and the hydrogen ion concentration of the medium, Nature, 163, 647-648. Germination and subsequent develop- ment of heather seeds on an artificial medium (agar) is optimum at pH 4.—[D.P.Y.] . 458. ARMERIA. Lawrence, G. H. M., 1947, The Genus Armeria in North America, Amer. Midl. Nat., 37, 757-779. It is believed that the circumboreal thrifts of the Old and New Worlds represent a single polymorphic species, A. maritima (Mill.) Willd.; that a single element of this species, var. sibirica (Turcz.) Lawr., is essentially circumboreal, and that the plants of the southerly projecting ranges represent evolu- tionary developments of it. The author has been unable to treat A. vulgaris Willd. as specifically distinct from A. maritima. The genus does not afford an abundance of sharply differentiated morphological characters. Despite Druce’s contention in 1901 that the vesture of the calyx-tube is a reliable character, it was found that, while it may be reliable in the separation of some of the more stable species, it is very variable in the more polymorphic units. Several geographical races of var. typica Lawr., which is limited in America to South Greenland, can be discerned in Old World populations; var. purpurea (Mert. et Koch) Lawr. is equivalent to A. vulgaris Willd. The differences be- tween these two varieties may be tabulated as follows:— Outer involucral bracts more than half as long as the inner ones, usually mucro- nate; inner bracts mucronate to mucronulate and occasionally obtuse; calyces with intercostal spaces glabrous or pubescent; leaves usually 1 mm. wide or TESS Ie. : caved es cetuutee saselgelns doe Gal elenbeteaee mes ualaiaabemeapoatostecta celeste Bs Oates ie terme var. typica Lawr. Outer involucral bracts usually shorter than the inner ones, obtuse; inner bracts acute or obtuse; calyces with intercostal spaces glabrous; leaves usually 1.5 mm. WIGS) OF MOTE Hie .csescsacuacscue someone seleceigvadcctsiecss nes var. purpurea (Mert. et Koch) Lawr. Other varieties occurring in America are described.—[D.EH.A. ] 460. Primvuna. Smith, W. Wright, and Fletcher, H. R., 1948, An account of the genus Primula: Section Vernales Pax., Trans. and Proc. Bot. ‘Soc. Edin., 34, 402-468. PP. elatior, P. veris, and P. vulgaris are dealt with, es hybrids and described forms aoe varieties are enumerated, Fouorher with brief notes on their characteristics.— [A.E.W.] 476. Microcata. Garjeanne, A. J. M., 1949, Microcala, De Levende Natur, 52, 104-110. 511/2. CatysTecia syLvestris (Willd.) R. & S. Hylander, Nu: 1949, Calystegia silvestris, en férbisedd kulturflykting i Sveriges och Dansaarics flora, Bot, Nots 1949, 148-156. The occurrence as a fnteres ABSTRACTS FROM LITERATURE. 383 naturalised garden escape of a pink-flowered form in Sweden and Den- mark is discussed. This form had hitherto been confused with the cor- responding pink-flowered form of OC. sepium (L.) R. Br., var. colorata (Lge.) which the author finds indistinguishable from the var. americana (Sims) Kitag. This variety is considered to be only sub-spontaneous. The first record for Sweden of C. sepium var. colorata made in 1876 proves to be the pink-flowered form of C. sylvestris —[A.E.W.] 515. Cuscura. Denffer, D. von, 1948, Uber die Bedeutung des Bliihtermins der Wirtspflanzen von Cuscuta Gronovii Willd. fiir die Bliitenbildung des Schmarotzers, Biol. Zentralbl., 67, 175-189. On certain hosts the Cuscuta takes over the long or short day character of the stock.—[A.H.G.A.] 515/2. Cuscura ruropara L. Verdcourt, B., 1948, Notes on the Scottish Records of Cuscuta europaea, Trans. and Proc. Bot. Soc. Edin., 34, 469-471. It is considered that the five certain occurrences of this species in Scotland, from the counties of South Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Roxburgh and Perth were all introductions.—[A.E.W. ] 517. Soranum. Stebbins, G. L., & Paddode, E. F., 1949, The Sola- num nigrum complex in Pacific North America, Madrofio, 10, 70-81. Seve- ral species have been included under S. nigrum. They have different chromosome numbers and often hybridise with difficulty. The true S. nigrum L. has a chromosome number 2n = 72, and, though widespread in Europe, is an uncommon introduction in America. It is replaced in N. America by S. americanum Mill., which has an umbelliferous (not subracemose) inflorescence and smaller seeds and stamens. SS. nodi- florum Jacq. is the pantropic representative of S. nigrum, while S. Douglasii Dunal is common in western North America. S. villosum Mill. is a tetraploid (2n = 48) species found in Europe and sometimes introduced into the U.S.A. 8S. furcatum Dunal and S. sarachoides Sendt. are introduced species, and the latter has become widespread in U.S.A. It is distinguished by its green berry with large seeds and the swelling of the calyx after flowering. S. furcatuwm Dunal is a spar- sely pubescent plant with bifurcate inflorescences, deflexed peduncles, large flowers and comparatively few seeds in the berries.—[A.H.G.A.] 543. Veronica. Garjeanne, A. J. M., 1948, Veronica, De Levende Natur, 51, 101-108. 569. GxiecHoma. Kuprianova, L., 1948, The genus Glechoma L. and its species, (Russian), Bot. Zhurn. SSSR, 33, 230-238. Five species are included in the revision. Glechoma hirsuta W. & K. is maintained as a species, but is not recorded from Britain. The map shows it as con- fined to S.E. Europe, so presumably the British records are excluded.— [A.H.G.A.] 596. AmarantHus. Contré, E., 1947, Un nouvel hybride d’Amar- anthus: xAmaranthus Ralletii E. Contré (A. retroflexus L. x A. Boudronii Thell.), Za Feuille des Naturalistes, N.S., 2, 11. Found in a garden at Paizay-le-Tort (Deux-Seévres) with the parents.— [A.H.G.A.] 384 WATSONIA, I, PT. vi, 1950. 596. AMARANTHUS. Kloos, A. W., 1949, Dix espéces d’Amaran- thus nouvelles pour la flore belge, Bull. Jard. Bot. Bruzx., 19, 243-250. The author records and describes several species. England figures in the distribution for A. quitensis H.B.K. and A. Dinteri Schinz var. uncinatus Thell.—[A.H.G.A.] 600/4. CHENOPopIUM HyBRIDUM L. Fernald, M. L., 1949, Cheno- podium hybridum L. var. Stanleyanum (Aellen) comb. nov., Bhodors: 51, 92. The common American representative is C. jain L. var. HiOGMLoepenan (Aellen) Rouleau, with seeds 1.5-2 mm. Those of var. Stanleyanum are 2-3 mm.—[A.H.G.A.] 615. Potyconum. Garjeanne, A. J. M., 1948, Varkensgras- bloempfer, De Levende Natwr, 51, 17-22. 618. Rumex. Rechinger, K. H., 1948, Beitrige zur Kenntnis von Rumex, TX, Candollea, 11, 229-241. Describes xR. eriogenus (R. cris- tatus DC. x R. Patentia l..) from near Vienna as new. Redescribes xR. Trimenta Hausskn. (R. pulcher L. x R. rupestris Le Gall) from White Sand Bay, E. Cornwall. In notes on nomenclature, R. longi- fous DC. is substituted for R. domesticus Hartm., and recorded from Scotland. R. cristatus DC. non Fries replaces R. graecus Boiss. & Heldr., and is recorded from Kew Bridge. R. altissimus Wood is re- corded from Colchester and Middlesex, and R. fweginus Phil. from Galashiels and Glasgow.—[A.H.G.A.] 622. ARISTOLOCHIA. Prell, H. H., 1948, Uitbreiding van de Pijpbloem, De Levende Natur, 51, 116-121 and 135-141. 625/1. HirpropHar Ruamnores LL. Darmer, G., 1948, Neue Beit- rige zur Oekologie von Hippophaé rhamnoides L., Biol. Centralbl., 67 342-361. The map shows that this is a coastal species in northern Europe, but occurs inland in South Europe and Central Asia.— [A.H.G.A.] 633/6. Utmus stricta Lindl. var. saRNIENsIs (Loud.) Lawrence, G. H. M., New Combinations and names of cultivated plants, Gentes Herbarum, 8, 77. The names include Ulmus carpinifolia var. sarniensis (Loud.) Bailey, based on U. campestris 8 sarniensis Loud., and includ- ing U. foliacea var. Wheatleyi Rehd.—[A.H.G.A. ] 641/1. Myrtca Gate lL. Bond, G., 1949, Root nodules of Bog Myrtle or Sweet Gale, Nature, 168, 730. Experiments in artificial growth media confirm that the root nodules are associated with nitrogen fixation.—[D.P.Y.] 646/2. QuERcUS PETRAEA (Matt.) Liebl. Weimarck, H., 1947, Bidrag till Skanes Flora, 37: Distribution and ecology of Quercus petraea, Bot. Not., 1947, 189-206. The sessile oak seldom forms pine woods in Scania, and as a rule is associated with other trees, especially Q@. Robur. The distribution in the provinces is unequal and is restricted to acid soils in broken country, mountain precipices, hill tops and upper slopes. Analyses of a number of soil profiles in sessile-oak woods are given and cultural experiments to determine behaviour in different soils are described.—[A.E.W. ] ; fi ees ABSTRACTS FROM LITERATURE. 385 650. Satrx. Harrison, J. Heslop, 1949, Intersexuality in Irish Willows, Irish Nat. Journ., 11, 269-272. Both ‘‘ androgyna ” and ‘‘metamorphosans ”’ forms are found in Ireland, The former have perfect male and female florets in the same catkin, and the latter florets in various degrees of transition between male and female. The former were found in S. Caprea and S. atrocinerea, and the latter in S. Caprea, S. aurita and 8S. atrocinerea.—[A.H.G.A. ] 669. Orcuis. Harrison, J. Heslop, 1949, Orchis cruenta Miill.: a new Jrish Marsh Orchid, Irish Nat. Journ., 11, 329-330. An orchid identified as O. cruenta was found around the shores of lakes overlying the limestone plain of E. Mayo and N.E. Galway. The species belongs to the majalis group, but is easily distinguished by anthocyanin pig- mentation of the stem and leaves. Outside Ireland it occurs in Scan- dinavia, Russia, Siberia and the Alps.—[A.H.G.A.] 669. Oncuis. d’Alleizette, C., 1948, Les Orchidées de Souppes (Seine et Marne), Bull. Soc. Frang. Ech. Pl. Vasc., 1947, fasc. 1, pt. 1, (14-18. The locality is remarkable for the large number of hybrids, which include xO. carnea G. Cam. (elodes x incarnata), xO. Ascher- soniana Hausskn. (incarnata x latifolia), xO. ambigua Verm. (incar- nata x maculata), xO. Uechtritziana Hausskn. (incarnata x palustris), xO. Braunii Halacsy (latifolia x maculata), x Orchiplatanthera Chevallieriana G. Camus (0. elodes x Platanthera bifolia) and lx Orchigymnadenia souppensis G. Camus (0. elodes x Gymnadenia conopsea).—[ A.H.G.A.] 669. Orcuis. Vermeulen, P., 1949, Varieties and forms of Dutch Orchids, Ned. Kruidk. Arch., 56, 204-242. Dactylorchis is maintained as a genus, several new varieties are described and a few British speci- mens are cited.—[A.H.G.A.] 706. Scrrua Non-scripta (L.) Hoffmansegg & Link. Peace, T. R., and Gilmour, J. S. L., 1949, The effect of picking on the flowering of Bluebell, Scilla non-scripta, New Phyt., 48, 115-117. It is concluded from experiments at Oxford and at Kew that no harm can be done hy moderate picking or pulling, preferably spread over a wide area; trampling on leaves causes marked deterioration.—[K.S.H. ] 719. Luzuta. Nordenskiodld, H., 1949, Somatic chromosomes of Luzula, Bot. Not., 1949, 81-92. The chromosome numbers of thirteen species are given of which the following occur in Britain. J. campestris (L.) DC., 2n = 12; L. multiflora (Retz.) Lej., 2n = 36; L. pallescens Sw., 2n = 12; ZL. spicata (L.) DC., 2n = 24; DL. arcuata (Wahlenb.) Sw., 2n = 36; L. pilosa (L.) Willd., 2n = c. 70; LD. sylvatica (Huds.) Gaud., 2n = 12; L. luzuloides (Lam.) Dandy & Wilm., 2n = 12. The material examined was collected in Sweden. Some of these numbers differ from those previously determined by other workers. It is suggested that the divergence may be due either to the existence of different chro- mosome races or to the use of wrongly named material. ‘‘ The 386 WATSONIA, I, PT. vi, 1950. chromosome numbers form a polyploid series with three as the basic number. In spite of this fact, some species have a chromosome size remarkably different from that of other closely-related species. The different chromosome lengths occurring among the species studied are found around the following magnitudes (expressed in p»): 1.9, 1.1, 0.7, 0.4, and the smallest about 0.3. The most common chromosome size is 1.lu. This size throughout in the cells is found in L. campestris, L. multiflora, L. frigida, I. arctica, and L. parviflora. L. sudetica and L. pilosa have the smallest chromosomes, the former having 0.4u and the latter about 0.34. JL. spicata has a chromosome size of 0.7p, L. silvatica, L. luzuloides, and LZ. nivea, on the other hand, have a chromosome size of about 1.94. L. arcuata seems to have three dif- ferent chromosomes sizes in the cells of about 1.94; 1.14; 0.74. Pro- bably there are 12 chromosomes of each size in the cell.’’—[A.E.W.] 723. Arum mMaAcuLATUM L. Sowter, F. A., 1949, Arum maculatum L., J. Ecol., 37, 207-218 (Biological Flora). 749. Zostmra, Parish, E. L., 1949, Vanishing Eelgrass- a pro- blem affecting wild-fowler and fishermen, Country Sportsman, 26, 221- 222. The disappearance of large areas of eelgrass is a catastrophe, be- cause it teemed with marine life and was valuable to fish and fowl. Prawns, widgeon and Brent geese are affected. A two-mile stretch from Selsey Bill to Pagham Harbour had disappeared by 1919. The chief cause of decrease seems to be the wasting disease caused by the fungus Labyrinthula. Oil pollution is also considered in this connec- tion.—[A.H.G.A. ] 740. Zostera. Parish, E. L., The Eel-Grasses of Britain, Shooting Times, 28 Jan. 1950. The author illustrates the species of Zostera and describes their differences. He states that fishermen have seen plants 6 to 8 feet long and up to 12 mm, wide, and asks that any plants of this size found growing round the British coast should be sent to the Natural History Museum.—[ A.H.G.A. j 745. Exeocuaris R. Br. Walters, S. M., 1949, Eleocharis R. Br. (Biological Flora), J. Ecol., 37, 192-206. The general account of the genus, defined as by Svenson to include Eleocharis pauciflora (Lightt.) Link and EZ. parvula (R. & S.) B., N. & S., includes information on the general morphology and cytology of the six species, and indicates differences in their habitat preferences. In the account of LE. palustris (L.) R. Br. emend. R. & §., two new subspecies are published, viz., ssp. vulgaris and ssp. microcarpa. The former is’ the common plant throughout the British Isles, whilst ssp. microcarpa seems to be re- stricted to S. and S.E. England and the Midlands, being recorded for v.-c.s 7, 13, 15, 16, 17, 19, 21, 22; 28, 25, 28, 29, 33) 37.) i mope both subspecies occur, but ssp. microcarpa becomes commoner to the south and east. The differential characters of the two subspecies are quantitative, as follows :— ABSTRACTS FROM LITERATURE. 387 ssp. vulgaris ssp. microcarpa spikes usually 20-40 flowered. spikes usually more crowded, 40-70 flowered. glumes (from middle of spike) 3.5-4.5 glumes 2.75-3.5 mm. mm. in length. fruit, excluding style-base, usually fruit usually 1.2-1.4 mm. 1.4-1.8 mm. long. stomatal length 0.065-0.850 mm. stomatal length 0.05-0.065 mm. chromosomes 2n=88. chromosomes 2n=16. The account of H. wniglumis includes a differential description of this species, in which the following characters are mentioned as distin- guishing it from EH. palustris: —Haulms slender, even under favourable growth conditions; rhizomatous development strong. Basal leaf-sheaths deeper reddish purple. Spike few (15-30) flowered; single sterile basal glume surrounding base of spike. Style-base of fruit often broader than long; bristles 4(5): fruit surface usually more strongly and coarsely punctate under lens.—[S.M.W. ] 746/7. Scirpus caresprrosus L. Duwen, J. M., 1948, De Veenbies. Trichophorum caespitosum Hartm., De Levende Natur, 52, 168-171. 746. Scirpus. Beetle, A. A., 1949, Annotated List of Original Descriptions in Scirpus, Amer. Midl. Nat., 41, (2), 458-493. 1,550 specific and 322 subspecific names are lsted with references and re- ferred to their place in synonymy when the species are not accepted. S. compressus (L.) Pers. is referred to Nomochloa compressa (L.) Beetle. —[A.H.G.A.] 750/1. Cranium Mariscus (L.) R. Br. Hansen, §., 1949, Bidrag til Skanes Flora, 43, Cladium mariscus in Skane, Bot. Not., 1949, 127-1386. The distribution and ecology of the species in Scania, Sweden, is discussed.—[A.E.W. ] 753/15. Carex BINERVIS Sm. Nelmes, E., The Utricle of Carex binervis Sm. and its two submarginal ribs, Kew Bull., 1949, 318. The prominent green submarginal ribs are not characteristic as stated by Smith, but are found in many other species, for example C. laevigata Sm.—[A.H.G.A.] 777. Puurum. Litardiere, R. de, 1948, Sur l’existence dans les Pyrenées d’une nouvelle race chromosomique du groupe du Phleum alpinum L., Comptes Rendus Acad. Scv., 226, 1327-1329. Two species have been distinguished. P. alpinum L., self-fertile, 2n = 14, arista ciliate, and I’. commutatum Gaud., self-sterile, 2n = 28, arista scabrid. The new plant has the chromosome number of P. alpinum with the morphological characters of P. commutatum.—[|A.H.G.A.] 791. Descuampsi1A. Nygren, A., 1949, Studies in vivipary in the genus Deschampsia, Hereditas, 35, 27-32. 791/83. Descuampsta spracea (Huds.) Hackel. Buschmann, A., 1948, Charakteristik und systematische Stellung von Deschampsia setacea (Huds.) Hackel, Phyton, 1, (1), 24-41. D. setacea is an Atlan- tic species found from the north coast of Europe from Spain to Hol- stein, Riigen, Bornholm, southern Scandinavia and the British Isles. 388 WATSONIA, I, PT. v1, 1950. The author places it in the section Campbella. The structure of the epidermal cells of the root is considered useful for the separation of the species. A key is given. There are also keys, accompanied by illus- trations, which are based on the leaf-structure and on the palea (Deck- spelze) and the glumes. Differences in the anthers and caryopsis are aiso discussed. A chromosome number of 2n = 28 igs given for D. flecuosa, and 2n = 14 for D. setacea—[A.H.G.A.] 813/1. Morrta carRutea (L.) Moench. Matuszkiewicz, A. & W., 1948, A Contribution to the taxonomy of the Genus Molinia Schrk., Ann. Univ. Mariae-Curie, Lublin, 3, 347-367. (Polish with English summary). The scheme of classification is :— a. Large plant (77)-111.8-132.1-(215) cm., with broad leaves (5)-7.6-8.7-(14) mm. b. Large panicle, (35)-43.0-(54) cm. long; long leaves (45)-57.2-(69) cm. Spike- lets (4.9)-5.07-(7.0) mm. long; lower outer glume (2.4)-2.59-(2.8) mm. long; upper glume (2.7)-3.07-(3.4) mm. long; lower flowering glume (3.2)-4.02-(5.2) TANTS LOD Re ecratocncne erence eee eens ae ee eo 1. subsp. arundinacea Schrank. bb. Smaler panicle (19.5)-25.2-(38) cm. long; leaves shorter (21)-34.6-(45) cm. long. Spikelets large (5.4)-6.71-(8.0) mm. long; lower outer glume (2.3)-3.02- (4.4) mm. long; upper outer glume (2.8)-3.55-(4.6) mm. long; lower fiower- ing glume (3.7)-4.6-(5.5) mm. long ..............cte..0 2. subsp. litoralis (Host). aa. Smaller plants 52-124 cm. high, with narrow leaves (3.5)-5.05-5.53-(7.9) mm. broad; spikelets (3.2)-4.76-5.06-(6.3) mm. long; lower flowering glume (2.7)- BUOV ASM CS) OOOO: TION OVEF et bas ca duasndiooonooadubnossedcsenbacboosdes 3. subsp. minor Besser. aaa. Very small plants. Leaves (2.1)-3.4-(4.0) mm. broad, (2)-10.8-(16.5) cm. long; small spikelets (3.5)-4.31-(5.8) mm. long; lower outer glume (4.5)-2.02-(2.8) mm. long, upper outer glume (1.9)-2.42-(3.0) mm. long; lower flowering glume (3:0)-3:44-(3:8) sm: OMG... eh Bdeaaan eee ee 4. subsp. minima Mat. [A.H.G.A.] 824/14. Poa annua L. Litardiere, R. de, Recherches sur les Poa annua subsp. exilis et subsp. typica, Rev. Cytol. et Cytophysiol. vegét., 3, 135. 824/14. Poa annua L. Magron, T., 1947, Bull. Soc. Bot. Fr., 94, 317-319. The adaptation of Poa annua L. to high altitudes in the Cen- tral Pyrenees is discussed. It is suggested that the perennial mountain form (P. annua subsp. varia (Gaud.)) is derived from the lowland plant (P. annua subsp. typica (Beck.)) by adaptation to mycorrhiza. The lowland plant is without mycorrhiza or the mycorrhiza is destroyed soon after it invades the roots. Quoting M. de Litardiére P. annua subsp. typica is stated to be tetraploid (2n = 28) whilst P. annua subsp. varia includes two ‘‘varieties’’?: P. swpina (Schrad.) Reichb. a diploid (Qn = 14) and P. rivulorum (Maire et Trab.) R. Lit. et Maire, emend. a tetraploid (Qn = 28).—[A.E.W. ] 825/3b. Guycrr1a pEcLINATA Bréb. Walters, S. M., 1948, Glyceria declinata Bréb., En forbisedd nordisk art, Bot. Not., 1948, 480-440. The occurrence of the species in Denmark, Norway and Sweden is dis- cussed. He states that ‘‘ the plant seems to have a S.W. distribution in Scandinavia. Ecologically it may be confined in Sweden to eutrophic regions; although this is not the case in Britain. Many Scandinavian localities resemble the typical localities for the plant in Britain, i.e. disturbed or trodden ground by water. Its general European distri- bution is by no means clear, but it appears to be western (material from ABSTRACTS FROM LITERATURE. 389 France, Portugal and N.W. Germany has been seen), and no certain records are known from Central or eastern Kurope’’.—[ A.E.W.] 825(2)/2x1. Pucctneniia pistans (L.) Parl. x P. maritima (L.) Parl. Jansen, P., 1949, Floristische Aantekeningen, No. 5, x Puccin- ellia Krusemaniana Jans. & Wacht., Ned. Kruidk. Arch., 56, 248. Glyceria maritima xX G. procumbens, which was originally described from Chichester, Sussex, by Druce, is referred to this hybrid, which was for- merly described and figured in the same journal in 1932. There the description reads (translated):—‘‘ Larger than P. maritima, which it resembles in habit and superficial sterile stolons, but differs from it by the flat, narrow and flaccid (not rigid and folded) leaves of the stolons. Panicle hke P. maritima but rigid, basal branches with sessile spike- lets. Verticils composed of two long and one short branches, the longer alternating, the shorter secund (as in P. rupestris). Spikelets large (8-9 mm. long), glumes 1-3-nerved, lemma (when dry) prominently nerved; anthers large (2 mm. long) with a few abortive pollen grains. Fruit sterile.’’—[A.H.G.A.] 826. Frstuca. Litardiere, R. de, 1947, Festuca nouveaux ou rare des France et d’Espagne, Bull. Soc. Hist. Nat. Toulouse, 82, 110-122. Deals mainly with varieties of F. ovina.—|[ A.H.G.A. | 827/4. Bromus tectorum L. Stewart, G., & Hull, A. C., 1949, OCheatgrass (Bromus tectorum L.), An ecologic intruder in southern Idaho, Ecology, 30, 58-74. An adventive from Europe, first recorded in the U.S.A. about 50 years ago, and from southern Idaho about 1900, has, in that State, become a dominant species over large areas. At first it occurred on roadsides, and in cultivated land, etc., and then spread to range lands wherever the plant cover was badly injured by drought, fire or overgrazing. The biological and ecological relationships of this grass and its control are discussed. It is said to be valuable for soil protection, but is highly inflammable and allows fires to spread rapidly.—[A.E.W. ] 828. BracHypopium. Jouvet, P., & Bouby, H., 1949, Brachypodium phoenicioides Roem. & Schult., La Feuille des Naturalistes, N.S., 4, 68. This species is recorded from near Paris, perhaps introduced on a rail- way bank. It was previously known from Southern France and the west Mediterranean. It looks like B. pinnatum, but is glaucous with inrolled leaves shortly mucronate.—[A.H.G.A.] 835. Horpgeum. Covas, G., 1949, Taxonomic Observations on the North American species of Hordeum, Madrofio, 10, 1-21. The North American representatives of H. nodosum are separated as H. californi- cum and H. brachyantherum. H. Stebbins and H. leporinum are separated from H. murinum. H. marinum Huds. is only a casual in U.S.A.—[A.H.G.A.] 847/1. Preriptum aquitinum (L.) Kuhn. Conway, E., & Arbuth- not, M., 1949, Occurrence of endotrophic mycorrhiza in roots of Pteri- dium aquilinum Kuhn, Nature, 163, 610. Bracken roots from two areas in W. Scotland (v.-c. 75 and 99), one acid moorland and the other cul- 390 WATSONIA, I, PT. v1, 1950. tivated ground, contained hyphe of an endotrophic fungus. Affected roots were often rather fleshy and larger than normal._{[D.P.Y.] FLORAS, Etc. Bretetum. Lawalrée, A., 1949, Catalogue des Ptéridophytes de Bel- gique, Lejeunia, 13, 21-27. A revised catalogue arranged by Copeland’s system. Isoetes echinospora Durieu is reduced to J. tenella Lem. Bel- gium has Lycopodium tristachyum Pursh, Selaginella helvetica (L.) Spreng, Botrychium simplex Hitche., Azolla caroliniana Willd. and Asplenium foresiacum (Le Grand) Christ, which do not occur in Britain.—[A.H.G.A. ] Hotiann, Heukels, H., 1949, Geillustreerde Schoolflora voor Neder- land, ed. 13 (by W. H. Wachter & S. J. van Ooststroom), Groningen, 900 pp. In Dutch. It has keys and illustrations. Many aliens are also described.—[A.H.G.A. ] PaLesTINE, Duvdevani, 8., & Osherov, S. Analytical key for the identification of wild plants in yard, garden and field, from their leaves, stems and roots, (in Hebrew), Kew Bull., 1948, 45-46. W. B. Turrill reviews the work and points out that such a key could be of value to specialists, e.g. ecologists and horticulturists, who have to follow their plants through their whole life histories. There are special difficulties in the preparation of a key based on vegetative characters, for ex- ample, change in leaf shape with age of the individual plant, but it is felt that many will agree with the author’s conviction that very much more use should be made of vegetative characters in floras and mono- graphs.—-[K.S.H. ] HISTORY. Dony, J. G., 1949, A Bobart Herbarium at Bedford, Beds. Nat., 3, 15-16. Quotes Proc. Iinn. Soc., 160, Pt. 1 (Nov. 1946).—[J.G.D.] Dony, J. G., 1949, Bedfordshire Naturalists: III, Charles Abbot, Beds. Nat., 3, 38-42. An account with original information of the work of Abbot (1761-1817), author of Flora Bedfordiensis (1798), etc.— [J.G.D.] Eprss, E. S., 1948, The Early History of Field Botany in Stafford- shire, 1597-1839, Trans. N. Staffs. F.C., 82, 81-110. Evers, E. §., 1949, Richard Forster of Stone, Trans. N. Staffs. F.C.., 83, 96-97. Gives some biographical details relating to the late 18th cen- tury Staffordshire botanist, Richard Forster.—[ A.E.W. ] Grant, V., 1949, Arthur Dobbs (1750) and the Discovery of the Pol- lination of Flowers by Insects, Bull. Torr. Bot. Club, 76, 217-219. The discovery of the pollination of flowers by insects has usually been attri- buted to J. G. KéGlreuter, but the author points out that the Irish amateur botanist Dobbs preceded him.—[A.H.G.A.] Rumitty, R., Le Frere Marie-Victorin et son temps. Brother Marie-Victorin, whose real name was Conrad Kirouac, was a teacher at the College of Longueuil at Westmount, Canada. His deeply reli- ABSTRACTS FROM LITERATURE. 391 gious and mystic personality, combined with an enthusiasm for the teaching of Science, made him many friends and admirers. Specialis- ing in Botany, he was given the Chair in Botany at the University of Montreal. This book describes in detail this period of Canadian his- tory, a period which may be said to have produced in him one of the most famous men of French Canada. The book consists of 500 pages and the price is $2. The most important of a number of Marie-Vic- torin’s publications appears to be La Flore Laurentienne, published in 1935, price $10. Both the above books are to be obtained from Les Fréres des Ecoles Chrétiennes, 949, rue Coté, Montreal, 1, Canada.— [W.R.P.] Sarton, G., 1948, Introduction to the History of Science, 3, pt. 2, Carnegie Inst. The second half of the third volume, which brings the work done to the end of the fourteenth century. The author states that the Silesian doctor Thomas of Sarepba (1297-c. 1878) made him- self a herbarium of dried plants, which is the earliest mention of such a collection except that Villard de Honnecourt gave a recipe for the preservation of colours in dried flowers. The herbarium contains some English specimens mentioned in the MS. Michi competit.—[A.H.G.A.] NOMENCLATURE Furrapo, ©. X., 1949, A Further Commentary on the Rules of Nomenclature, Gardens Bull. Singapore, 12, 311-377. Herrer, W. A., 1949, Weitere Vorschlage zur Abanderung der Nomenklaturregeln (Further proposals for the alteration of the rules of Nomenclature), Rev. Sudamer. Bot., 8, 11-12. An amplification of proposals published in Rev. Sudamer. Bot., 6, 46 (1938) for the modi- fication of certain articles and recommendations of the International Rules of Nomenclature.—[K.S.H.] Horn aF Ranrzien, H., & OussEn, S., 1949, A suggested starting-point for the nomenclature of Charophyta, Svensk. Bot. Tidskr., 43, 98-103. The authors suggest Alexander Braun’s Fragmente (1883) instead of Linnaeus, largely to avoid the old names revived by Groves and Bul- lock-Webster.—[A.H.G.A.] INTERNATIONAL RutEs or BotaNnicaL NOMENCLATURE, 1947, Brittonia, 6, 1-120. Formulated by the International Botanical Congress of Vienna, 1905, Brussels, 1910, and Cambridge, 1930, adopted and revised Amsterdam, 1935. Compiled from various sources by Camp, W. H.., Rickett, H. W., and Weatherby, C. A.—[K.S.H.] LAWRENCE, G. H. M. Discussions in Botanical Names of cultivated plants, Gentes Herbarum, 8, 3- . The author adopts Anemone hybrida Paxt. for the garden plant misidentified with A. japonica Thunb., Arabis caucasica Willd. for the A. albida of gardens, Lens culinare Medic. for L. esculenta Moench, Oenothera erythrosepala Borb. for O. Lamarckiana De Vries (non Seringe), Stachys olympica Poir. for S. lanata Jacq. non Crantz, x Nepeta Faassentt Bergmans for N. Mussinii hort., Collinsia heterophylla R. Grah. for C. bicolor Benth., Echinops 392 WATSONIA, I, PT. v1, 1950. exaltatus Schrad. for H, Ritro hort. amer. and E£. sphaerocephalus hort. amer. and Dimorphotheca pluvialis (L.) Moench for D. annua Less. (Gattenhoffia pluvialis (Moench) Druce). Rudbeckia colwmnifera Nut- tall is said to be the commonly cultivated Coneflower. The generic separation of Pyrus and Malus is discussed. The pale form of Impatiens glandulifera Royle is designated forma pallidiflora (Hook.) Weatherby. —[A.H.G.A.] Lawatrin, A., 1949, Note sur quelques ptéridophytes de Belgique, © Bull. Jard. Bot Brae 19, 237-242. The author makes a number of new combinations for Famioitas and forms.—[A.H.G.A.] McVaueu, R., 1949, Questionable validity of names published in Gilibert’s Flora of Lithuania, Gentes Herbarum, 8, 83-90. The writer gives arguments for rejecting Gilibert’s names.—[A.H.G.A.] Picuon, M., 1948, Sur Particle 37 ter des Régles de la Nomenclature, Notulae Systematicae, 13 (4), 258-260. The writer discusses the article, which reads:—‘‘A name of a taxonomic group is not validly published unless it is definitely accepted by the author who publishes it. A name proposed provisionally (nomen provisorium) in anticipation of the eventual acceptance of the group, or if a particular circumscription, position or rank of a given group, or merely mentioned incidentally, is not validly published.’? He argues that the simultaneous publica- tion of alternative names, such as Cymbopogon Bequaerti and Andro. pogon Bequaerti should be valid.—[A.H.G.A.] ScHwaRz, O., 1949, Beitriage zur Nomenklatur und Systematik der mitteleuropaischen Flora, Mitt. Thiiring. Bot. Ges., 1 (1), 82-. The author adopts:—Allosorus Bernh. for Cryptogramma R. Br., Gymno- carprum obtusifollum (Schrank) O. Schwarz for G. Robertianwm (Hoffm.) Newm., Polystichum paleaceum (Borck.) O. Schwarz for P. Braunii Spenn., Sparganum minimum Wallr. (1840) for Fries (1846), Bromus ramosus Huds. for B. asper auct., Agropyrum littoreum (Schum.) O. Schwarz for A. littorale (Host) Dum., and many other name changes.—[A.H.G.A. | SmitH, ALBERT C., 1949, A Legislated Nomenclature for Species of Plants?, Amer. J. Bot., 36, 624-626. The principle of nomina specifica conservanda will doubtless be discussed at the forthcoming Seventh In- ternational Botanical Congress to be held at Stockholm; in 1950. [It was discussed and again rejected.—Ep.| The author argues that this principle, which has been rejected by previous Congresses, is Imprac- ticable; the number of conserved generic names is at least 850, and if the principle were extended to specific names, a very much larger num- ber would be likely to be affected. He considers it is better to have a specific nomenclature which is slowly evolving towards stability under the ministrations of competent specialists.—[K.S.H.] Symposium oN BoranicaL NoMENCLATURE, 1949, Amer. J. Bot., 36, 1-32, includes the following papers:—I, Introduction, by Sherff, E. E. II, Botanical Nomenclature since 1867, by Weatherby, C. A. ITI, Byways of Nomenclature, by Blake, S. F. IV, An Editor’s point of ABSTRACTS FROM LITERATURE. 393 view. V, Adventures in locating validly published but unlisted bino- mials, by Merrill, E. D. VI, Towards a simple and clear nomenclature, by Pennell, W. VII, Problems in Taxonomy, by Bailey, L. H. VIII, The Problem of Subspecific Categories, by Rosendall, C. O. IX, The nomenclature of Fossil Plants, by Just, T.—[K.S.H.] TOPOGRAPHICAL 5-6, Somerset. The Proceedings of the Somersetshire Archaeological and Natural History Society, 92, 98-100, 1947, contains the recorder’s (W. Watson) notes on the more interesting plants observed during 1946.—[A.E.W. ] 6, 34, N. Somerset; W. Gitos. Sandwith, C. I. & N. Y., 1948, Bristol Botany in 1947, Proc. Bristol N.S., 27, 203-208. 7-8, WILTS. Collett, Gilbert W., 1949, Some phenological notes, Wilts. Arch. and N.H. Mag., 53, 94-96.—[A.E.W. ] 7-8, Witts. Grose, J. D., 1948-1949, Wiltshire Plant Notes, Wilts. Arch. and N.H. Mag., 52, 224-231; 53, 88-93. Gives a large number of locality records. Several species new to the county are given. See Plant Records.—[ A.E.W. ] 14, East Sussex. Brightmore, D., 1949, Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist, 7, 172-174, lists the more interesting records made during 1948 and also gives a list of species observed during 1946 on eight bombed sites in closely built-up areas in Hastings. 59 species are recorded, the highest number from any one site being 33, and the lowest 13.—[A.E.W. ] 28, W. Norrotk. Chapman, V. J., 1948, Some Vegetational Changes on a shingle off-shore bar at Thornham, West Norfolk, Trans. Norfolk and Norwich N.S., 16, 274-279. The article is illustrated by photographs and three vegetation maps of Thornham Island in 1937 and 1941 with lists of species.—[ A.E.W. ] 32, NortHants. Collyer, E., Allen, H. G., and Gilbert, J. L, 1949, Journ. Northants N.H.S., 31, 188-194. Notes on the more interesting plants met with in 1948, and J. Wilson gives a list of 18 species found by the River Nen between Westley’s Mill and the paper mills in the same year.—[A.E.W. ] 32, Norruants. Gilbert, J. J., 1948, Botanical Records, 1947, Journ. Northants N.H.S., 31, 131-134. Lactuca Serriola L. recorded from waste places in Peterborough is apparently new to the county.— [A.E.W.] ‘ 39, Srarrs. Edees, E. S., 1948, Trans. N. Staffs. F.C., 82, 138-148. Reports on botanical activities and gives the Plant Notes and Records for 1947, and an account of Myrica Gale L. in the county, and Records for 1949, ibid., 83, 88-96. Cochlearia danica L. is recorded as an inland adventive.—[A.E.W. | 40, SHropsuireE. Lloyd, Ellen R., 1949, Trans. Caradoc and Severn Valley F.C., 12, 25-27. A report on the botany for 1943-44. The list of plants is preceded by a few phenological notes.—[A.E.W.] 394 WATSONIA, 1, PT. vi, 1950. 63, S.W. York. Jackson, G., & Sheldon, J., 1949, The Vegetation of Magnesian Limestone Cliffs at Markland Grips near Sheffield, J. Ecol., 37, 38-50. Includes a discussion of the status of Tilia platyphyl- los, and it is concluded that there are strong reasons against regarding it as a native tree of the area. Carex montana and C. ericetorum are recorded.—[K.S.H. ] 96, HasTERNESS; 97, WESTERNESS. Gordon, S., 1950, Snow Flora of the Scottish Hills, Nature, 165, 132-1384. In Scotland two small snow- fields usually, and perhaps permanently, remain unmelted throughout the year: under Ben Nevis and in Garbh Choire Mor, Braeriach. The flora around the margins, which are free from snow for progressively shorter periods as one approaches the permanent snow, is described. Phanerogams which grow in the area uncovered by snow for only a few weeks in the year (in October) on Braeriach are Sazifraga stellaris and Gnaphalium supinum; only the latter ripens seeds. The only phanero- gam around the snowfield on Ben Nevis is S. stellaris, which never flowers, and which may arise from seeds from the colony on the plateau above.—[D.P.Y. ] 104, N. Hpupes. Raven, J. EH., 1949, Alien plant introductions on the isle of Rhum, Nature, 163, 104-105. Polycarpon tetraphyllum L. was first detected at Kinloch Burn by J. W. Heslop Harrison in 1939, when there was a single plant. On the 6th Aug. 1948 the author found four plants, which differed in their much-branched inflorescence and narrow acuminate sepals from the southern English form, and in- deed did not match any specimen in the British Museum Herbarium, although they were most like Maltese and Greek material. Amongst one of the plants was growing a small plant of Wahlenbergia (?) nuta- bunda A. DC., which is subspontaneous in some botanical gardens but otherwise unknown in Britain. The author also saw Carex bicolor Bell. in a recently found colony (the third to be discovered) in Coire Dubh. This consisted of seven mature and two young plants, on bare gravel banks at the junction of two small burns. Six of these had Poa annua L. and/or Sagina apetala Ard. sprouting amongst the leaves, although neither of these could be found elsewhere in the neighbour- hood, which was an unlikely habitat for either. Associated with both Polycarpon and the Carex was the very rare Juncus capitatus Weig. The author concludes that Polycarpon tetraphyllum and Carex bicolor are both introductions in these stations.—[D.P.Y.] 110, Outer Hesripes. Poore, M. E. D., & Robertson, V., 1949, The Vegetation of St Kilda in 1948, J. Ecol., 37, 82-99. Consider- able changes have occurred in plant species since the evacuation in 19380 of the human population and their grazing animals.—[K.S.H.] MISCELLANEOUS AppayEs, H. pes. Quelques Phanérogames adventices de Bretagne, III, Bull. Soc. Sci. Bretagne, 21, 61-62; op. cit. 22, 73-76 (1947). ABSTRACTS FROM LITERATURE. 3895 Auman, H. H., 1949, Wild Species-Hybrids in the Phanerogams, II, Botanical Review, 15 (2), 77-105. This is a supplement to the author’s paper in vol. 3, 593-615 (1937) of the same periodical. There is a useful list of hybrids recorded with references to the original papers.—[ A.H.G.A.] BEHRENS, G., 1949, Bliiten- und Gestaltsbildung bei Chrysanthemum und Sempervivum unter photoperiodischen Einfltissen, Biol. Zentralbl., 68, 1-32. Phyllody of the inflorescence can be brought about by photo- periodic influences.—[A.H.G.A.] BeLLRINGER, H. E., 1949, Phyto-photo-dermatitis, Brit. Med. J., 1949, 1, 984-986. Attention is drawn to the fact that blistering of the skin may occur after 24 hr. following contact in bright sunlight with Anthriscus sylvestris, Pastinaca sativa, Achillea Millefolium, Angelica sylvestris, Ranunculus bulbosus, Sinapis arvensis, Convolvulus arvensis, Heracleum Sphondylium, giganteum and Mantegazzianum, ‘‘meadow grass”, Agrimonia EHupatoria and Rutaceae.—[D.P.Y.] Cuenery, E. M., 1948, Aluminium in the plant world, Kew Bull., 1948, 173-182. The author considers that the uptake of aluminium has some value in plant taxonomy, as it appears to be highly specific.— [K.S.H.] Gustarsson, A., 1948, Polyploidy, Life-form and Vegetative Repro- duction, Hereditas, 34, 1-22. Mentions evolutionary trends in Poa, Bromus, Juncus, Rumex, Polygonum, Chenopodium, Stellaria, Ceras- tiwm, Sagina, Ranunculus, Papaver, Lepidium, Cardamine, Sedum, Saxifraga, Alchemilla, Medicago, Trifolium, Vicia, Lathyrus, Geranium, Malva, Viola, Myosotis, Lamium, Stachys, Solanum, Veronica, Plantago, Galium, Campanula, Erigeron, Gnaphalhium, Chrysanthemum, Senecio, Cirsium, Centaurea, Crepis and Sonchus. Annual groups show low basic numbers, while perennial groups often acquire high basic numbers and high polyploids. Vegetative propagation is thought to be an im- portant agent in these evolutionary events.—[ A.H.G.A. | Dovaston, H. F., 1949, A factor limiting downward spread of some Scottish mountain plants, Natwre, 164, 370. It is suggested that, as in the Himalayas, etc., certain Scottish alpines are confined to above the winter snow-line because of their sensitivity to winter moisture. For example, Veronica fruticans, Cerastium alpinum and arcticum, Arenaria rubella and sedoides, Lychnis alpina, and Gnaphalium supinum are liable to die off in cultivation at lower altitudes unless protected from rain; the last-mentioned sp. is found as low as 1000 ft., but is then an annual. Other spp., e.g. various Draba, Saxifraga, Salix, etc., can tolerate moisture in winter.—[D.P.Y. j Erprman, G., 1948, Palynology, aspects and prospects, Svensk. Bot. Tidskr., 42, 467-483. The paper consists of contributions from various authors reviewing the present position of research on pollen and spores in their respective countries.—[A.H.G.A. ] Fassett, N. C., Herbarium Technique, Rhodora, 51, 59-60. The writer recommends such detergents as ‘‘Tide’’, ‘‘Vel’’ and ‘‘Dreft’’ for softening herbarium material for dissection, instead of boiling. 396 WATSONIA, I, PT. vi, 1950. Gopwin, H., 1949, The Spreading of the British Flora considered in relation to conditions of the late-glacial period, J. Ecol., 37, 140-147. Over 78 species plus 22 genera have been identified from Late-Glacial or Early Post-Glacial mud layers at Nazeing near London, and native status has been in consequence assured to such plants as Linaria vul- garis, Taraxacum officinale et alia. It seems probable that as such work proceeds, more and more of our ruderal and weed species will be recog- nised as being native to the British flora. Several species have been identified widely beyond their present-day area in Britain; their con- traction was probably largely due to dense forest establishment, and to a lesser degree to the development of peat meres upon flat and gently sloping mountains at altitudes above the forest limit. Under-represen- tation of certain categories of British plants in Jreland can be ex- plained as a result of their being able to spread in the Late-Glacial or Early Post-Glacial period owing to temperature limitations. Later movement was hindered by the Irish Sea, which previously occupied only a very small area, having reached its present size.—[K.S.H.] Kroos, A. W., 1948, Nieuwe vondsten van zeldzame planten in Nederland in 1943-1947, De Levende Natur, 51, 75-79. Linpgurst, B., 1948, The main varieties of Picea Abies (L.) Karst. in Europe, Acta Hort. Berg., 14 (7), 249-342. The writer finds that there is a striking agreement between the presumed glacial refuges and the habitats of Picea Abies var. arctica Lindq., and adds a general discussion of the Scandinavian refuges. Some were nunataks and some probably. areas now submerged. The species regarded as probable glacial survivors are Pedicularis flammea, Rhododendron lapponicum, Vahlodea atropurpurea, Papaver spp., Arenaria humifusa, A, norve- gica, Poa flexuosa, P. arctica, Iuzula parviflora, Aconitum septen- trionale, Anemone ranunculoides, Viola rupestris, Ranunculus platani- folius, Alchemilla glomerulans, A. Wichurae, Urtica dioica var. Son- denti, Betula tortuosa, B. callosa, Draba crassifolia, Cavernularia Hultenw (lichen), Tholurna dissimilis (lichen) and others. The bulk of the mountain flora and a number of sub-alpine species are considered to be glacial survivors.—[A.H.G.A.] Linton, D. L., 1949, Unglaciated enclaves in glaciated regions, Irish Geography, 2 (1), 1. Post-gLaciaL CrimaTE CHanceE, 1949, Nature, 163, 160-161. Record of joint meeting of Royal Meteorological and Royal Astronomical Socie- ties. Dr Godwin describes pollen analyses indicating a climatic optimum about 3000 B.C., and a sudden worsening about 500 B.C. Holly and ivy are controlled by winter temperature and mistletoe by summer temperature. Prof. Manley stated that the greatest post- glacial expansion of glaciers began in Scandinavia about 1750 A.D., in the Alps 1550 and in Iceland 1350. Glaciers are now retreating rapidly. Dr Brooks stated that tidal maxima would tend to break up the Arctic ice-cap and ice would drift into the Atlantic.—[A.H.G.A.] PovucaqueEs, M. L. pr, 1949, Recherches caryologiques sur les Rubiales, Rev. Gén. Bot., 56, 5-27, 75, 188, 172-188. - The chromosome numbers — eo ABSTRACTS FROM LITERATURE. 397 of a number of genera have been counted, and the writer makes the following comments. Polyploidy is frequent in Galiwm and Rubia. Adoxa bears a strong resemblance to the Caprifoliaceae in caryological characters, and these justify a separate family for the genus. New counts are given for Sambucus Hbulus (n = 18), Lonicera Caprifolium (n = 9), L. Xylostewm (n = 9), L. Periclymenum (n = 18), Kentranthus ruber (n= 7).—[A.H.G.A.] Rep, Mrs KE. M., 1949, The Late Glacial Flora of the Lea Valley, New Phyt., 48, 245-252. The paper discusses material from Lea Valley pits, provided in 1933 and subsequently by Hazeldine Warren, and in- corporates with this the results of the earlier investigations of the Lea Valley flora made by Clement Reid (1910) and by Reid, E. M., and Chandler, M. E. J. (1923). Material from a total of ten pits is listed; these are tentatively assigned to Sub-arctic climate (3 pits), Cold or Cool (6 pits) and Cool Temperate (1 pit). A list is given of 156 species, some of which are imperfectly identified, with the localities in which they were found. There are included notes on the determination of Ranunculus hyperboreus, R. acris, Silene spp., Itnum praecursor, Armeria sp., Salix herbacea and Carex atrata.—[K.S.H.] Tamm, ©. O., 1948, Observations on reproduction and survival of perennial herbs, Bot. Not., 1948, 303-321. Describes investigations to determine the average rate of both reproduction and mortality of some perennial herbs in sample plots. Diagrams are given showing the flowering frequencies in different years and the fates of individual plants of the species examined. A very low rate of renewal in some meadow and forest habitats has been found, and irregular flowering observed in some species. ‘‘The longevity of the individual specimens, which is closely connected with the low rate of renewal, is interpreted as an expression of the hard competition within closed plant communi- ties. The significance of this longevity factor for stability and com- position of vegetation is briefly discussed’’. Among the species dealt with are Filipendula hexapetala, Fragaria vesca, Orchis mascula, Primula veris, Sanicula europaea, and Taraxacum vulgare.—[ A.E.W.] Wess, L. J., 1950, Alkaloid tests in herbarium specimens, Nature, 165, 411. A technique is developed for detecting alkaloids in 0.1 g. of dried plant, and herbarium specimens are found to provide suitable material. The alkaloid content fell, in general, with the age of the specimen.—[D.P.¥.] 398 WATSONIA, I, PT. VI, 1950. REVIEWS Botany of the Canadian Eastern Arctic. Part III: Vegetation and Ecology. National Museum of Canada, Bulletin No. 104. NicHoLas Potunin. Pp. vii + 304, 2 maps, 107 plates in the - text. Ottawa: King’s Printer, 1948; 75 cents. The book here noticed is the third part of this very comprehensive account of the plants of North-Eastern Canada. The first part, deal- ing with the individual flowering plants and Pteridophytes, was re- viewed in the B.H.C. 1939-40 Report, pp. 391-392. The present volume describes the plant communities of that part of the region lying north of the 60th parallel of latitude. These are dealt with under the ten major districts adopted in Part I, and this enables comparisons to be made more readily between the two volumes. In each major district a general account of the habitat and plant com- munities is given, and this is supplemented by (or in some cases chiefly based on) detailed accounts of the vegetation of limited areas visited personally by the author. The area studied lies between the 60th and 83rd parallels of lati- tude (about 1600 miles altogether from north to south) and thus experi- ences a wide range of climatic conditions—though all of an arctic nature —from the severe high-arctic conditions of Ellesmere to the almost sub- arctic climate of northernmost Quebec. There is also a gradation, though less striking, between the relatively oceanic climates of the eastern seaboard along Davis Strait and the more continental condi- tions farther west, this being more noticeable in the south. In spite of these differences it must be remembered that the cli- mate everywhere is very severe in comparison with that of any part of the British Isles, the most southerly districts having only four months (June-September) with a mean temperature above freezing point, while in the extreme north no month is free from frost. This severity may be summed up in the statement that the whole of the region lies north of the tree-line, the tallest vegetation being of willow-scrub, which is said to reach a height of 7-8 feet in favourable places. Another important factor in the differentiation of the vegetation is the nature of the underlying rock, the two chief divisions being acid granites and gneisses on the one hand, and limestone on the other. Curiously enough, in contrast to Britain, the richest vegetation occurs on the acid rocks, the weathering of the limestone tending to form un- suitable substrata. Much of the ground is covered by glacial deposits, usually derived from one or other (or sometimes a mixture) of the rock types mentioned. As might be expected, there is a gradual increase in the luxuriance and variety of the vegetation as one passes from north to south, though ae | REVIEWS. 399 the higher areas in the south support much the same vegetation as that of the lowlands farther north. There is also another interesting change in the vegetation as regards the constituent species. In the north nearly all the species are found also in arctic Europe, while many are inhabitants of this country. As one progresses southwards one finds an increasing proportion of American species which there fill the same ecological niches as are filled in Europe by their European counter- parts. This is particularly noticeable in the willows, Carices, Erio- phora, etc. In all districts the most unfavourable localities are occupied by open vegetation (“ barrens ’’), consisting of isolated tufts of various species. These include especially Sazifraga oppositifolia, Cerastium alpinum, Papaver radicatum, Luzula confusa, and, except in the extreme north, Dryas wtegrifolia, which throughout the area replaces the Huropean D. octopetala, but appears to have almost identical ecological prefer- ences. The dwarf willow Salix arctica replaces the European S. polaris, but both S. herbacea and S. reticulata occur. Where conditions are more favourable ‘‘ heath ’’ of varying degrees of luxuriance occurs, including such species as Cassiope tetragona, Vaccinium uliginosum, V. vitis-idaea, Empetrum hermaphroditum, Ledum palustre and other ericaceous plants. This is developed especi- ally on the acid rocks and covers very extensive areas in the southern districts, usually associated with dwarf willows and birches of various | species. These heaths are also very rich in Cryptogams, particularly lichens, which are always a striking feature of arctic vegetation. In especially sheltered valleys, particularly in the southern half of the region, willow-scrub of limited extent is found, while on slopes where the exposure, drainage and nature of snow cover are combined in an exceptionally favourable manner one finds ‘‘ flower slopes ’’ con- taining a remarkably rich assemblage of flowering herbs and grasses. Where the drainage is poor, or in the immediate vicinity of the numerous lakes, extensive marshes are formed, which are dominated by grass-like vegetation. This consists of the widespread grasses Arcta- grostis latifolia, Alopecurus alpinus, and Dupontia Fishert, numerous species of Carex, in particular C. aquatilis var. stans, and species of Eriophorum, especially EH. angustifolium and H. Scheuchzeri. In the south, American species of the above groups become increasingly im- portant. Mosses are also very abundant, but Sphagna occur in quan- tity only in the extreme south of the region. Truly aquatic vegetation is found only in the more southern regions, where Hippuris and aquatic species of Ranunculus are present. The volume gives a very clear and graphic picture of this region, so unlike our own country in general features and yet with a flora including so many species native to these Islands. V. S. SuMMERHAYES. 400 WATSONIA, I, PT. v1, 1950. Recherches écologiques sur le littoral de la Manche. Dr JEAN JACQUET. Pp. 374 with 42 line drawing figs. and 27 photogravure plates. Paris: Paul Lechevalier, 1949; Fr. 2500. [25 x 16 cm.; paper. ] Attention should first be drawn to the general title of the book which, if taken literally, somewhat overshadows the most important subject; also to the fact that ‘‘ Manche ”’ is to be taken in its double meaning: the Channel, in a general sense, and, more particularly as the French department of that name, the littoral of which the author- has thoroughly studied. As a matter of fact, the work primarily centres on Spartina Townsendu, and is the practical development of a doctorate thesis on this Anglo-French invader of mud-flats on both sides of the Channel. A great many notes have been written about the plant and related problems, but most of them have been spread over numerous more or less accessible publications, and no comprehensive work had yet dealt fully with the matter. This long-felt need has now been excellently ful- filled; the author has done much more than bring together the scat- tered information and has reported many previously unpublished observations, While Spartina Townsendiui and its problems in connection with its peculiar habitat, its chemical composition, and hence its possible uses, serve as the central theme of the work, many other matters pertaining to tidal lands and salt-marshes have been studied, e.g., their flora and fauna, their reclamation, the oceanography of estuaries and bays, the little known fluvio-marine deposits such as the ‘‘ tangue ’’ (i.e., the sort of mud in the Mont-Saint-Michel bay, where Spartina thrives), the biology of halophytes, etc. Special emphasis is placed upon some methods of soil and other analysis. Clontents.—Introduction: botanical status of European Spartina (13 pp.). Ist Part: comparative anatomy; descriptive anatomy; histo- logy (82 pp.). 2nd Part: geographical distribution; mode of dispersal of S. Townsendiw (40 pp.). 8rd Part: Chapter I: ecology; bionomical aspect of S. Townsendiw stations in the department of the Manche; associations; the notion of slikke and schorre (47 pp.). Chapter IT: environmental conditions; climate; waters; soil, chemical composition and physical properties (pp. 91). Chapter III: S. Townsendu in its habitat; adaptation; xerophytes v. halophytes; influence of salt; resistance to immersion (65 pp.). Conclusions. Bibliography (some 1350 references). As far as species and hybrids growing in Europe are concerned, the genus is divided into two subgenera, viz.—Huspartina (incl. S. stricta, alterniflora, Townsendii, Neyrauti) and Fremya (incl. only Spartina juncea Willd.). The interest of the book extends far beyond S. Townsendw, however fascinating this grass may be, and, therefore, should prove invaluable to all botanists—British and French alike—studying these matters. The illustrations are a valuable part of the book and the photo- graphs have been adequately selected. P. Smnay. 401 INDEX TO WATSONIA, VOL. | The more important mentions of plants in original papers, Nomen- clature and Corrections to the British Plant List, Plant Notes, and Abstracts are included. Plant Records are not included. New names and combinations are denoted by an asterisk. Abstracts from Literature, 170, 376. Achillea ligustica, 119; nobilis, 119. Aetheorrhiza bulbosa, 199, 315. Alchemilla acuminatidens, 15, 115; acu- tiloba, 10, 115; arvensis, 163; colorata, 15, 115; conjuncta, 115; connivens, 15, 115; controversa, 15, 115; coriacea, Mis. 415: crinita, 15, 115; filicaulis, 10; firma, 15, 115; glabra, 13; glomeru- lans, 13; heteropoda, 15, 115; micro- carpa, 163; *minima, 10, 115; minor, > monticola, 12; obtusa, 13, 115; reniformis, 15, 115; Salmoniana, 15, 115; Subcrenata, 15, 115; tenuis, 15, 115; vestita, 12; Wichurae, 14, 115; xanthochlora, 18. Alchemilla vulgaris L. agg. in Britain (including Key), 6. Aliens in Field at Froyle, N. Hants., VieCy 12) 249: Allen, G. O.: Nitella mucronata Miq. var. gracillima Gr. & B.-W. in War- wickshire, 364. Alston, A. H. G.: Equisetum ramosissi- mum as a British Plant, 149; Ab- stracts from Literature, 170, 376; Herbarium of the Somerset Archae- ological and Natural History So- ciety, 242. Anchusa sempervirens L., Status of, in the Plymouth Area of South Devon, 308. Anthoxanthum alpinum, 225; odoratum, 2251 Aphanes arvensis, 163, 314; microcarpa (Boiss. et Reut.) Rothm. in Britain, 163, 314. Armeria, 458. Artemisia Verlotorum Lamotte and its Occurrence in Britain, 209; vulgaris, 216. Attwood, J. S., and Gilmour, J. S. L.: J. B. Flower’s List of Reading Plants, 139. Australian Myriophyllum- verrucosum Lin lley in Britain, 63. Baker, The E. G. Baker Bequest, 343. Blackstone, John, Apothecary and Botanist (1'712-53), 141. Brenan, J. P. M.: Artemisia Verloto- rum Lamotte and its Occurrence in Britain, 209. Brenan, J. P. M., and Chapple, J. F. G.: Australian Myriophyllum verruco- sum Lindley in Britain, 63. Burnett, J. H.: Correct Name for Vero- nica aquatica Bernhardi, 349. Burtt, B. L.: Lapsana intermedia in Britain, 234. Carex, Another Hybrid Carex from Ire- land, C. riparia xX C. vesicaria, 86. Carex Bigelowii f. infuscata,* 322. Cerastium brachypetalum, 114, 118. Chapple, J. F. G., see Brenan, J. P. M. Chara globularis, 316. Characeae, 322, 323. Chrysanthemum coronarium var. dis- color, 115, 120. Cirsium acaule, 381; arvense, 381; semi- decurrens, A Hybrid Thistle from Wiltshire, 91; vulgare, 381. Coeloglossum viride X Orchis Fuchsii on the Wiltshire Downs, 207. Comital Flora, Additions and Correc- tions for Middlesex, 92. Cork, Notes and Additions to the Flora of the Islands of S.W., 359. Coronilla glauca, 313, 317. Crepis, 195; foetida, 198, 314; sancta, 198 314; Zacintha, 198, 315. Crocosmia crocosmiifiora, 315. Crosby-Browne, A. J.: Root Parasitism of Euphrasia salisburgensis Funck, 354. Crucianella stylosa, 314. Cuscuta europaea L., Habitat of, in Britain, 291. Cyperus Eragrostis, 316. ’ Dactylis Aschersoniana, 226; glomerata, 226. 402 WATSONIA, I, PT. vi, 1950. Dony, J. G.: Contribution to the Flora of Huntingdonshire, 301. Eleocharis palustris, 386. Epipactis cambrensis,* 284, 315: dunen- sis, 102; pendula, 102, 108; vectensis, 108. ‘ Epipactis, Studies in the British, 102. Equisetum Moorei, 150, 316; occidentale, 151, 316; ramosissimum as a British Plant, 149, 316. Erodium cicutarium, 170. Erophila conferta, New Species in Britain, 137, 343. Euphorbia dulcis, 116, 121. Euphrasia salisburgensis Parasitism of, 354. Funck, Root Flower, J. B., List of Reading Plants, 139. Galinsoga, Nomenclature of the British Species of, 238: ciliata, 240, 314. Gentiana asclepiadea, 116, 120. Gentiana uliginosa, Habitats and Dis- tribution of, 279. Gilmour, J. S. L., see Attwood, J. S. Graham, R.: Mint Notes, I, 88; II, 276; III, 278. Gramineae, Note on Species Pairs in, 224. Grose, J. D.: A Hybrid Thistle from Wiltshire, 91; Coeloglossum viride x Orchis Fuchsii on the Wiltshire Downs, 207. Harrison, J. Heslop: Orchis cruenta ‘Mull, in the British Islands, 366. Herniaria cinerea, 318. Hieracium, 190. Howard, H. W., and Lyon, A. G.: Iden- tification and Distribution of the British Watercress Species, 228. Huntingdonshire, Contribution to the Flora of, 3014. Impatiens glandulifera, 114. Ipomoea lacunosa, 116, 120. Kenfig Epipactis, 283. Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park, Notes on the Flora of, 296. Kent, D. H.: Additions and Corrections to the Comital Flora, for Middlesex, 92; John Blackstone, Apothecary and Botanist (1712-53), 141; Notes on the Flora of Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park, 296. Lagoseris nemausensis, 198. Langridge, C.: Aliens in Field at Froyle, N. Hants., v.-c. 12, 242. Lapsana intermedia in Britain, 234, 314. Lotus uliginosus, 317. Lousley, J. E.: Nomenclature of the British Species of Galinsoga, 238; Habitats and Distribution of Gen- tiana uliginosa Willd., 279; The E. G. Baker Bequest, 343. Lyon, A. G., see Howard, H. W. Manton, I.: Note on the Cytology of Scheuchzeria palustris L., 36. Meikle, R. D.: H. C. Watson, 3. Mentha cardiaca, 276; gentilis, 276; gentilis subhybr. gentilis,* 276; gen- tilis subhybr. gracilis,* 276; gracilis, 276; longifolia var. horridula, 278, 315; rubra, 88; Smithiana,* 89, 116; Smithiana var. angustifolia,* 989, 116. Mididlesex, Additions and Corrections to Comital Flora for, 92. Milium scabrum Merlet, 345. Mills, W. H.: Rubus Watsonii Sp. Nov., 135. Mint Notes, I, 88; II, 276; III, 278. Molinia coerulea, 388. Myriophyllum alterniflorum, 69; heter- ophyllum, 69; spicatum, 69; verruco- sum, 63; verticillatum, 69. Nasturtium microphyllum, 228; offi- cinale, 228. Nelmes, E.: Another Hybrid Carex from Ireland, C. riparia xX C. vesi- caria, 8&6. Nitella mucronata Miq. var. gracillima Gr. & B.-W. in Warwickshire, 364. Nomenclature and Corrections to Brit- ish Plant List, VI, 114; VII, 318. OBITUARIES : Bishop, E. B., 185. Goddard, H. J., 186. Hayward, I. M., 24. Jackson, A. B., 123. Long, J. W., 187. Percival, J., 264. Pugsley, H. W., 124. Stephenson, T., 187. Todd, E. S., .325. Vachell, E., 325. Wilson, A., 327. Wolley-Dod, A. H., 331. Ophioglossum lusitanicum, 356. Orchicoeloglossum, 207, 322. Orchis cruenta Mull. in the British Islands, 366. “ Orchis maculata superba,’ 321. Papaver atlanticum, 114, 117. Phleum alpinum, 226; commutatum, 226. Phnopsis stylosa, 314. Plant Notes, 117, 317. Plant Records, 37, 244. Poa infirma, 356. Polunin, O.: Notes and Additions to the Flora of the Islands of S.W. Cork, 359. Polygonum 319. Pyrus, 115. Pyrola Redgrovensis, 115. cognatum, 315, 319; Spp., Raphanus Raphanistrum var. violaceus, ee A Raven, J. E.: Notes on the Flora of the Scilly Isles and the Lizard Head, 356. Rechinger, K. M.: Lines of Evolution and Geographical Distribution in Rumex Subgen. Lapathum, 19; Key to the British Species of Salix, 154; Observations on some Scottish Wil- lows, 271. REVIEWS : Babcock, E. B., Genus Crepis, 195. Darling, F. F., Natural History in the Highlands and Islands, 203. Gilmour, J., Wild Flowers Chalk, 131. Good, R., Geography of the Flower- ing Plants, 200. Harrison, B. R., Nature Record Ar- ranged for Five Years, 341. Hazzard, G., Record Book of the Brit- ish Flora, 341. Hedley, G. W., see Riddelsdell, H. J. Hultén, E., Flora of Alaska and Yukon, 131. Hyde, H. A., and Wade, A. E., Welsh Ferns, 199. Jacquet, J., Recherches écologique sur le littoral de la Manche, 400. Polunin, N., Botany of the Canadian Eastern Arctic, Part III, 398. Price, W. R., see Riddelsdell, H. J. Pugsley, H. W., Prodromus of the British Hieracia, 190. Riddelsdell, H. J., Hedley, G. W., and Price, W. R., Flora of Gloucester- shire, 265. Ross-Craig, S., Drawings of British Plants, I and II, 268; III, 335. Turrill, W. B., British Plant Life, 338. Wade, A. E., see Hyde, H. A. Rhinanthus, Another British Rhinan- thus with Pubescent Calyx, 84. of the Rubus INDEX. 403 Rhinanthus Lintoni, 84; lochabrensis, 84; spadiceus, 84; stenophyllus, 84; Vachellae*, 85, 116. Rodigia commutata, 198, adornatiformis, 79, 314; albi- onis,* 73, 313; angustifrons, 81, 314; apiculatus, 76; argenteus, 74, 313; Babingtonianus, 289, 314; bracteosus, 313; breconensis, 78, 313; Briggsi- anus, 313; corylifolius var. purpur- eus, 289; foliosus, 75, 314; fuscifor- mis, 76, 314; fuscus, 76; Guentheri, 82, 314; hirtus, 81; humifusus, 79, 314; hypomalacus, 75, 318; infestus, 79; Koehleri, 79; latiarcuatus,* 71, 313; Lejeunei, 78, 313; Libertianus, 72, 313; macroacanthos, 74, 313; mac- rophyllus, 75; melanoxylon, 78, 313; Menkei, 76, 313; purpureicaulis,* 290, 314; pygmaeus, 79, 314; Reichen- bachii, 77, 343; rhamnifolius, 74; rosaceus, 78; scabripes, 314; Schlech- tendalii, 73; Schleicheri, 80; scio- charis, 313; silesiacus, 75, 313; serpens, 81, 314; thyrsiflorus, ‘76; vulgaris, 71; Watsonii,* 135, 313. Rubus, Weihean Species of, in Britain, a, Rumex Subgen. Lapathum, Lines of Evolution and Geographical Distri- bution in, 19. Salix angusensis,* 275, 315; atrocinerea, 122; Chouardi, 275; cinerea, 121; dasyclados, 273, 315; nigricans, 272; Taylori,* 274, 315; viminalis, 273. Salix, Key to the British Species, 154. Salvia lanceolata, 315, 317; reflexa, 315, Ste Scheuchzeria palustris, L., Distribution and Ecology of, 24; Note on the Cytology of, 36. Scilly Isles and the Lizard Head, Notes on the Flora of, 356. Sledge, W. A.: Distribution and Eco- logy of Scheuchzeria palustris L., Q4. Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society, Herbarium of, 242. Spartina Townsendii, 400. Thomas, C.: The Kenfig Epipactis, 283. Thymus, 173. Trifolium elegans, 114, 119; subterra- neum var. oxaloides, 114, 118.; Tritonia crocosmiiflora, 315. Tutin, J. G.: Note on Species Pairs in the Gramineae, 224; Milium scab- rum Merlet, 345. 404 WATSONIA, 1, PT. vi, 1950. Urtica dioica var. urens, 320. subinermis, 121; Valeriana, 379. Vaughan, J. G.: Status of Anchusa sempervirens L. in the Plymouth Area of South Devon, 308. Verbascum phlomoides_ var. PUI 116.420. Verdcourt, B.: Habitat of Cuscuta euro- paea L. in Britain, 291. Veronica aquatica, 349; austriaca sub- sp. Jacquini, 116, 120; catenata, 349. albifio- Wallace, E. C.: Plant Records, 37, 244. Walters, S. M.: Alchemilla vulgaris L. agg. in Britain, 6; Aphanes micro- carpa (Boiss. et Reut.) Rothm. in Britain, 163. Warburg, E. F.: Nomenclature and Corrections to British Plant List, VII, 313. Watercress Species, Identification and Distribution of the British, 228. Watson, H. C., 3. Watson, W. C. R.: Weihean Species of Rubus in Britain, 71; Rubus coryli- folius var. purpureus Bab., 289. Willows, Observations on some Scottish, Q71. Wilmott, A. J.: Another British Rhin- anthus with Pubescent Calyx, 84; Erophila conferta, New Species in Britain, 1837; Nomenclature and Cor- rections to British Plant List, VI, 114; Plant Notes, 117, 317. Young, D. P., Studies in the British Epipactis, 102. Zacintha verrucosa, 198. ee ee ee ————— a s me a A d 15 = ——. 7 r ve 7 \ “ ‘ 7 - ¢ > { 4 5 ' : - = . ‘ . “ a = ‘ i ’ = ‘ ‘ . . 4 0 . ‘ a . 2 eg - : i 3 wa j ; , oh i i ’ s 4 — ‘ \ . ‘ E- ive, i __ NOTICES—Continued PUBLICATIONS | ee list of publications available for sale appeared in the Society’s Year- book for 1950. It may he obtained from the Hon. Generali Secretary. Orders should be sent to Mr J. H. BURNETT (address as inside front cover), and payment made on receipt of invoice. Instructions to Contributors. PAPERS are invited both from Members of the Society and others. They should have a bearing on the taxonomy or distribution of British Vascular Piants or Charophytes. Papers should preferably be typed, but clearly written MSS can be accepted. They should he double- spaced and written or typed on one side of the paper only. The form adopted in this part should be used for citations and references. Full references should be put at the end, except where special reasons exist (e.g., the citation of place of publication of a plant name) or in very short papers. Illustrations, which may take the form of line drawings or photographs, will be considered for publication. Twenty-five separates of each paper are given free to the author, and further copies may be obtained om payment; requests for extra copies should be made when proofs are returned. Papers should be sent to the Editor, Dr E, F. Warburg, Druce Herbarium, 9 Crick Road, Oxford. PLANT RECORDS Instructions are given in the Year Book, 1949. Records may be sent either to the Editor or to Mr E. C. Wallace, 2 Strathearn Road, Sutton, Surrey. PLANT NOTES Instructions are given in the Year Book, 1949. Notes should be sent to the Editor. OBITUARIES These should include date of birth and death, summary of life so far as events have a bearing on botanical work, whereabouts of herbarium and any manuscripts and chief botanical publications. Offers to write obituary notices may be sent either to the Editor or to Mr J. E. Lousley, 7 Penistone Road, Streatham Common, London, S.W.16. BOOKS ON BOTANY AND ALLIED SUBJECTS. Catalogues issued periodically by: Dulau Department, B. H. BLACKWELL, LTD., Broad Street, Oxford. CONTENTS Tae HH. G. Baxer Bequest. By J. E. Lousley ec ... 943-344 Minium scaprum Meret. By T. G. Tutin ... i wa (O452348 Ture Correct NaME FOR VERONICA: AQUATICA BERNHARDI. By J. H. Burnett a ce De at at Pet 3 01 6 Mees To's ; Tue Root Parastrism oF KUPHRASIA SALISBURGENSIS FUNCK. By A. J. Crosby-Browne ... ae ay ee i. (804-8995 Notes ON THE FLORA OF THE Scrnty IsLES AND THE Lazard Heap. By J: BE Raven... Os, oe net ve) 856-858 Notes AND ADDITIONS TO THE FLORA OF THE ISLANDS OF SW. Cork. By O. Polunin we ua dak hee wee) B09-363 NITELLA muUCRONATA Mig. vaR. GRActigzima Gr. & B:-W. IN [ WARWICKSHIRE. By G. O. Allen .., shat ee .., 864-365 ORCHIS CRUENTA MULL. In THE Britisa ISLANDS. By. (dees ) Heslop Harrison eA) a i se es 866-375 ABSTRACTS FROM LITERATURE ai iy Oa ae ee 20S 8) a goad Revirws af AY Ui ne oe 0 We cic SOBA AOD | INDEX kiNi: ue ma be Chi Ah a pe w. 401-404 BRITISH FLOWERING PLANTS AND MODERN SYSTEMATIC METHODS being the Report of the Conference on ‘‘ The Study of Critical British Groups,’’ arranged by the Society in 1948. Edited by A. J. Wilmott, pp. 102 + 18 half-tone plates, this book contains accounts of some of the latest work on British Flowering Plants, Obtainable from J. H. BURNETT, Botanical Society of the British !sles, 6/0 Dept. of Botany, The University, Oxford. Price 10/-, plus postage 4d. IRISH NATURALISTS’ JOURNAL A Magazine of Natural History Published Every Quarter by the I.N.J. Commattee. EKvirep sy J. HESLOP HARRISON, M.8Sc., Ph.D., with the assistance of Sectional Editors. ~ ~, Annual Subscription, 10/= post free. Single Parts, 3/-. All communications to be addressed to— The Editor, Department of Botany, Queen’s University, Belfast