500 BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 
mania, especially in the neighbourhood of the lakes. 
(Gunn. n. 1084, 1080, 1082). 
As is the case with other species of this most difficult 
genus, no dependence ean be placed upon the size of any 
of the parts or on the form of the leaves. The branchlets 
are slender, terete, nearly smooth, the younger very glaucous. 
The leaves, which seldora exceed two inches in length, vary 
between linear-lanceolate and oblong, but are sometimes 
broadly ovate, with a muero, these broader leaves frequently 
terminate the branches. The peduncles are generally axillary, 
sometimes lateral, but always solitary, and never more than 
three-flowered, from 2-4 lines long, stout and patent. Cu- 
pule exactly turbinate, sessile or generally shortly pedicel- 
late, 14-24 lines long, covered with fine, glaucous bloom. 
Operculum less than half the length of the cupula, hemi- 
spherical, tapering on the very summit into a short, stout, erect 
mucro. Stamens bright yellow. Fruit elliptical, turbinate, 
broad at the base, 2-3 lines long, about two-thirds as broad 
or rather more, mouth slightly contracted. Atthe time when 
I visited the habitat of the Cider-trees, the sap had not com- 
menced to flow, and the wood, which is of a pale yellow 
colour, merely tasted, when fresh cut, rather sweet. Iam 
indebted to Mr. Gunn for a bottle of the fluid, collected 
about two years ago, it has now a very acid taste. For the 
following interesting analysis of it, I am obliged to my fri 
Dr. R. D. Thomson of Glasgow. 
Specific gravity 1338.1, water being 1000. The smell 
resembles that of foreshot spirits, that is, a faint alcoholic 
fluid. When distilled in the water-bath a distinctly acid 
fluid came over which smelled of alcohol, the liquid in the 
retort remaining also acid. 'The acid was neutrali 
saturating with carbonate of soda. On evaporating the 
saturated solution fine needle-shaped crystals remaineo 
which, when heated with sulphuric acid, emitted a strong 
smell of acetic acid and proved to be acetate of soda. The 
liquor in the retort, when evaporated, afforded a quantity 
