FfiOM THE ISLE OE WIGHT A1S"D SOUTH COAST. 405 



further experiment, I would not assume that the latter is the 

 only one of our native species of Eryth'nea which is biennial. 

 Should it be ascertained that E. capitate var. sphcerocephala do as 

 not stand alone in this peculiarity, there remain other characters 

 by which it may be distinguished ; should the proof lie the other 

 way, and it be found that E. capitata var. sphcerocephala is the 

 only English biennial species, the character is a very marked one. 



1 would conclude this paper by pointing out that E. capitata 

 var. sphcerocephala may be distinguished from E. Centarium, var. 

 capitata auct., by its narrower leaves, longer and subobtuse 

 bracts, the outer ones equalling or exceeding the flower-heads, 

 by its densely capitate, subfasciculate sessile flowers, its shorter 

 corolla-tube, which does not exceed the calyx, by its filaments 

 attached only at the base of the corolla-tube, by its shorter 

 capsule, only three fourths of which are invested by the mar- 

 cescent corolla-tube, &c. 



From E. littoralis, Fr., E. capitata var. sphcerocephala may be 

 distinguished by its broader and distinctly 3-nerved leaves, by its 

 more humble growth, by its short corolla-tube, its filaments 

 attached at the base of the corolla-tube, by its oblique style, 

 its capsule not covered by the marcescent corolla-tube, by its 

 roundish compact heads of flowers, &c. 



DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XV. 

 . 1 and 2. Erythrcsa capitata, Willd.,var. sphcBrocephala, nob. 

 3. Another plant of the same in fruit, with one central and two lateral 



main stems. 

 4 and 5. The flower, magnified. 



6. Corolla of the same, laid open to show the insertion of the filaments. 



7. A small secondary flower-head in fruit. 



8. Capsule of E. capitata, var. sphcerocephala, magnified, four lobes of the 



marcescent corolla having been removed, and one left, to show the 

 capsule exceeds the corolla-tube. 

 9 and 10. The stem-leaves, slightly enlarged in fig. 10. 



11. Erythrcsa Centaurium : the corolla laid open, to show the insertion of 

 the filaments ; one of these has been bent down. Enlarged. 



12. A capsule of E. Centaurium : one lobe of the marcescent corolla left 



in position (the four other lobes having been removed), to show that 

 the capsule and the corolla-tube are about equal. 



