A REVISION OF THE GENUS SYMPHYTUM. 491 
A Revision of the Genus Symphytum, Tourn. By Cepric BUCKNÁLL, 
Mus.Bac.Oxon. With 2 Text-figures. (Communicated by Mr. J. W. 
Warre, F.L.S.) 
(Read 19th June, 1913.] 
INTRODUCTION. 
AN attempt to elucidate the true relations of the native and naturalised 
species of the genus Symphytum which, together with their hybrids, are 
found in Britain and Scandinavia, showed that considerable confusion existed 
in the nomenclature, not only of these but of many other species, and that 
the svstem of classification hitherto in use, not being in accordance with 
the natural affinities of the members of the genus, was unsatisfactory. 
With a view to render, if possible, the identi£cation of these plants less 
uncertain ; to arrange them on a more natural system ; and to clear up 
doubtful points connected with certain little-known species, I determined 
to make a study of the entire genus. This entailed careful and repeated 
examination of herbarium specimens and, when possible, of living plants, 
the study of all the literature of the genus, and of the geographical 
distribution of the species. In carrying out this work I have had the great 
and indeed indispensable advantage of free access to the great collections 
and libraries at Kew and South Kensington, and for this and for much 
kind assistance my acknowledgments are due to the authorities and to the 
members of the staff at these institutions. My thanks are also due to 
Dr. C. E. Moss of Cambridge and to Mr. G. C. Druce of Oxford, for 
entrusting me with the valuable collections of Symphytum in their charge, 
and to Mr. Clarence Bicknell and Mr. Charles Bailey for the loan of their 
own large collections. Living at a distance from London, and being unable 
to spend more than a few days at a time in the National Herbaria, these 
colleetions have been of inestimable advantage in enabling me to study at 
leisure almost all the known species. Through the kindness of M. Casimir 
De Candolle, M. G. Beauverd, and Dr. John Briquet, I have been enabled to 
examine the types contained in the great herbaria of Geneva, and to take 
notes of many interesting specimens. Lastly, I wish to thank those who 
have so kindly sent me plants, both living and dried, from many parts of 
Great Britain. 
In this revision all citations, whether of authors or of specimens, are given 
in historieal order, and with a view to preserving this order throughout 
I have not given separate citations of figures. All citations of authors are 
from the first editions of the works in which they occur. 
202 
