72 ON CANARIAN AND MADEIHAN 



outer scariose. Spikes short, oval, or globose, never, as far as T have 

 observed, distinctly oblong. Achsenia quite smooth, with a« hooked 

 beak. Receptacle slightly hairy at the base. 



The following aberrant form or state, /3, is only found either on very 

 moist grassy banks, or by streams and in thickets at high elevations, 

 and subject in both cases to almost constant damp or moisture. Its 

 main characteristics therefore, of humbler stature, more divided foliage, 

 and greater hairiness, under these circumstances, are directly contrary 

 to the usual effects of greater humidity on individuals of the same 

 species. Still the intermediate links of the two forms, a and /3, are so 

 close and numerous as to forbid their further separation. The latter is 

 thus characterized : 

 j3. minor; humilior, plerumque villosior; caule 6-24-pollicari ssepius 



pedali minus ramoso ; fol. radicalibus minoribus 2-4 poll, latis pin- 



natipartitis sc. profundius divisis et incisis ; corymbo paucifloro ; fl. 



paullo minoribus ; spicis aliquando oblongis. 

 ? "i£. Creticus, var. macrophyllus , Lindl. Bot. Reg. 1432." 



Prom Madeiran specimens in the Hook. Herb, from Lowe, Lindley, 

 etc., and one Azorian (Caldeiras, Fayal, 1838) from Guthnick and 

 Hochstetter, and from my own original descriptions taken in Madeira 

 on the spot. 



Root fasciculate, tufted, like R. Asiatieus, L., the tuberous divisions 

 more or less tomentose. Stem erect, from 6 to 12 inches high, in more 

 luxuriant plants from 1 to 2 feet high, its base often purplish, clothed 

 throughout, and thickly in the smaller forms, with white or hoary, 

 silky (not pellucid), close-pressed hairs. Root-leaves generally two, 

 rarely three, deeply laciniate or cleft into five principal lobes, the nar- 

 rowish divisions sharply cut and toothed, on both sides densely hirsuto- 

 pubescent, the hairs quite simple ; petioles 2-4 inches long, and with 

 their sheaths hairy, the hairs generally adpressed, sometimes patent. 

 Flowers few, but corymbose, 1-2 inches in diameter. Sepals softly 

 villoso-pubescent, filmy at the edges, concave, horizontally spreading, 

 not reflexed at any stage. Petals bright, full golden shining yellow. 

 Spikes globosely oval, sometimes approaching to oblong, occasionally 

 (in the Paul da Serra plant) distinctly oblong, viz. 6-9 lines long, and 

 3-4 lines broad. Achaenia quite smooth, with a hooked beak. 



There are two forms or subvarieties of /3, one taller and less hairy, 

 from the Paul da Serra chiefly ; the other more villose and of generally 



