OF THE GENUS SYMPHYTUM. 513 
Sims, with S. asperum, Lepech., as a synonym. He describes the leaves as 
“ ovate-lanceolate, acute at each end," the corolla as ** eceruleo-purpureo, 
four times longer than the calyx, which has subulate segments." This latter 
character, however, would apply better to S. peregrinum, Ledeb. 
Finally Kusnezow, in his work on the Caucasian species of Symphytum, 
gives an excellent deseription of the plant as S. asperum, Lepech. 
I have thought well to give at length the history of this plant on aecount 
of the confusion which has long existed between it and S. peregrinum, Ledeb., 
as well as some other species from which it is more easily distinguished. 
From 5$. peregrinum it differs in the generally more asperous clothing of the 
stem and inflorescence, the subpetiolate upper leaves with cuneate base, the 
blade of which is not adnexed to the stem, and especially in the small calyx 
with obtuse segments. 
This species does not appear to produce good fruit very freely. The only 
nutlet which I have been able to examine was immature. It is strongly 
veined and reticulate, less curved and narrower than in S. peregrinum, and in 
these characters it agrees with Kusnezow’s figure. From А. sepulerale, 
S. asperum differs in the asperous clothing and in the smaller calyx, and 
from S. armeniacum in the petiolate cauline leaves and the small calyx. 
As regards the leaves, there are two extreme forms. Опе of these has 
broadly ovate leaves as in Lepechin's and Donn’s figures. In the other form 
“ ovate-lanceolate, acute at each 
the leaves are as described by De Candolle, 
end.” They are also smaller, eroso-denticulate, numerous on the long, 
slender branches, only decreasing gradually in size, and, as stated by Ascher- 
son and Griibner, * rather delicate, elongated-ovate." Whether these are 
permanent forms or only the result of different conditions of growth can 
only be decided by the observation and study of living plants. 
I do not consider that, under the circumstances, any useful purpose would 
be served by giving varietal names to these forms. This will also apply to 
the variability of the clothing of the stem and inflorescence, which is more 
or less dense, as I believe, aecording to circumstances of soil and situation ; 
when dense the setze, though rigid and prickly, are slender, nearly straight 
and with small tubercular bases, but when few and scattered they are strong, 
uncinate and with large tubercular bases. The following notes on the speci- 
mens which have come under my notice will illustrate these points. 
Tournefort's plant in Herb. Mus. Brit. has narrow leaves and is strongly 
tubereular-asperous. This is marked on the back of the sheet “ Cappadocia,” 
but Bieberstein states that he had seen a specimen in Tournefort’s herbarium 
* Ex Iberia.” As Iberia is within the area of S. asperum and Cappadocia is 
some distance from it, it is probable either that the latter name was under- 
stood to embrace a larger tract of country than is shown in the maps, or that 
there was an error as to the locality. 
