OF THE GENUS SYMPHYTUM. 507 
In the variety lanceolatum and in other species in which the leaves are 
decurrent, the wings are cuneate, and end in an acute point between the 
nodes. A distinctive appearance is given to this species by the uppermost 
leaves, which are supported in a nearly erect position by their broad decurrent 
base, and generally overtop the flewers. 
The subvarieties а. ochroleucum and В. purpureum only differ from each 
other in the colour of the flowers, and intermediate forms, in which the 
flowers are striped with dusky purple and yellowish or greenish white, are 
common. Pale red and orange tints also occur, but these seem to be due to 
abnormal conditions. 
So far as my experience goes a blue tint in the flowers is the result of 
hybridity with S. peregrinum, Ledeb. 
S. officinale is usually fairly hairy and often densely so above, but forms 
are found, especially in Eastern Europe, in which the plant loses much of its 
hairiness and becomes asperous with thinly scattered tubercular setee. When 
this is the ease and the leaves are also narrowly lanceolate and only partially 
decurrent, the plant belongs to the variety lanceolatum, Weinm., which no 
doubt consists of a series of forms intermediate between typical S. officinale 
and the very distinct S. uliginosum, Kerner, 5. tanaicense, Steven, which 
was gathered in the region of the river Don (Tanais) in 1817 was described 
in 1851 as follows :—“ Foliis lanceolatis longe petiolatis, superioribus vix 
decurrentibus, cauleque glabriusculis, calyce ultra medium 5-partito, laciniis 
lanceolato-linearibus, acuminatis margine ciliatis, corolle laciniis brevibus 
demum reflexis, nueulis levibus non striatis. A S. officinale foliis vix 
decurrentibus et glabritie bene distinctum. Flores cæruleo-violacei.” It is 
clear that this is either one of the above-mentioned intermediate forms, or 
S. uliginosum itself. That the latter is found in 8. Russia is proved by an 
excellent specimen in the Fielding herbarium gathered at Novgorod-Sieversk 
in 1824 as S. officinale, o£ which there is also a typieal specimen on the same 
sheet. It is therefore quite possible that S. uliginosum is identical with 
S. tanaicense, but as I have seen no authentic specimen of the latter this must 
remain doubtful. 
The colour of the flowers in these plants is described as purple or blue- 
violet, but in dried specimens the colour appears to be the same as in a plant 
cultivated at Sevenoaks by Mr. E. M. Holmes, and in this the flowers are 
rose-purple. At first I referred this plant to S. uliginosum, but now consider 
that it is better placed with S. officinale v. lanceolatum. 
S. molle, Janka, is described as a small plant, glabrous below and softly 
hairy above, simple or slightly branched, with decurrent glabrescent upper 
leaves and white flowers. 
None of the specimens so named which I have seen agree with this 
description, but are densely hairy forms of S. officinale. 
The description of 5, patens, Sibth., is as follows :—* Foliis ovato- 
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