HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



1G3 



authentic specimen is, perhaps, that which stands 

 near St. John's Church, and which is said to have 

 been planted about the year 1600. There is another 

 in the grounds of Butleigh Court, and one, a young 

 one, in the grounds of Glastonbury Abbey. I was 

 not in the neighbourhood during Christmas time, 

 but I have it on the best authority that the tree at 

 Butleigh Court was in flower on Christmas-day last, 

 and I am also informed that it flowers again in May. 

 I visited the tree at the Abbey early in February. 

 The buds were then so far advanced as to show 

 clearly the mode of inflorescence, but the leaves 

 were not fully developed. Cm a subsequent visit in 

 March I found the buds unaltered, but the leaves 

 had so far advanced, as to be plainly distinguishable 

 from C. oxyacantha, by their greater length, more 

 cuneiform contour, and less piunatifid form. The 

 inflorescence of this species, which I believe is a 

 native of the; South of France, also differs in a very 

 marked manner from that of our common type by 

 the greater laxity of its corymb. — A. G. H., Butleigh 

 Vicarage, Glastonbury. 



Etymologies of Plants. — For the information 

 of " W. G. P." I quote as under from Dr. Thornton's 

 " British Flora " (1812). Frankenia—" The classic 

 name in honour of Frankenius, a Swede, professor 

 of Botany in the University of Upsal, died in 1661.' 

 Bianthus. — "FromZ>/os(G.), of Jupiter; anthos (G.), 

 flower, the flower of Jupiter, from its extreme 

 beauty." Sagina. — "From sagina, which means 

 ' nutriment,' this plant being found in rich pastures, 

 and eagerly sought after by sheep, which it is sup- 

 posed to fatten much." Illecebrum. — "From ille- 

 cebra (L.), 'blandishments,' so called from its 

 enticing persons to venture upon bogs, where they 

 get los 1 ;." Knaicel. — " So called from its seeds re- 

 quiring to be Icnaioed well, well chewed; from its 

 hardness, or from its roots themselves in difficult 

 situations." Elatine.—" J? rom elate (G.), a pine- 

 tree, from its resemblance to one." Hypericum. — 

 "From uper (G.), over, and eihon (G.), an image, 

 or ghost, as being used as an amulet against spirits." 

 " Githago appears to be from the Latin word gith, or 

 git, a cockle, and the word cockle is from the Saxon 

 coccel, a weed ; hence the English name Corn-cockle 

 (Lychnis githago) is equivalent to Corn-weed." I 

 presume the " Deptford Pink " is so called, either 

 from its growing plentifully near Deptford, or from 

 its beiug first noticed there.—/. B. Bradley, Dudley 



Cytisus candicans.— The shrub recently referred 

 to in Science-Gossip as the Cytisus triflorus, for 

 . which, not being then in flower, it was mistaken, is 

 now in flower iu Cliftonville Nursery, and turns out 

 to be Cytisus candicans of De Candolle (Genista 

 candicans of Linnseus) ; though naturalized about 

 Pool Harbour, Dorsetshire, where it grows almost 

 wild, in great abundance, self-sown, it is a plant of 



the Mediterranean region. The late severe whiter 

 has proved it to be one of the hardiest evergreens. 

 The French Flora gives its height as from 3 feet to 

 6 or 7 feet ; it is a free grower, and an ornamental 

 shrub, with abundant yellow flowers in lateral um- 

 bels, somewhat like the greenhouse Coronilla- 

 Mr. Baker, of Kew, says it is common in cultiva- 

 tion, but it has been hitherto unknown to the 

 nurserymen in Brighton, where it is now about to 

 be extensively cultivated. — T. B. W., Brighton. 



Preserving Fungi. — Mr. J. H. Martin says that 

 a good method for the preservation of fungi is to 

 place them in a solution of 1 part of calcic chloride 

 (chloride of lime) and 10 parts of hydric oxide 

 (water). This will change the phosphates in the 

 fungus into phosphate of lime, after which they will 

 be found to keep well. 



Albino Plants.— Last year I was much sur- 

 prised to see among a quantity of the Papaver liheeas 

 one specimen of a pure white : it did not appear to 

 be iu any other way a monstrosity. Orchis Morio, 

 which is not uncommon in this locality, varies from 

 white with faint pink streak, on the sepals, to darkest 

 purple. When in Carmarthenshire I was much 

 pleased to find a large plant of Calluna vulgaris of 

 the purest white, Geranium Robertiamm, Solatium 

 dulcamara, Scilla nutans, and Campanula glomerata, 

 I have found in Northamptonshire white. Digitalis 

 purpurea is frequently found white about Dunkeld. 

 Symphytum officinale here is always white, but in 

 Scotland the purple variety seemed the more com- 

 mon. Violets occur here white, white with the 

 outer petals darkish blue, pink, light and dark blue ; 

 while primroses are notorious for their variability in 

 colour. Polygala is uncommon in Northampton- 

 shire, and varies but little iu colour, while in Bed- 

 fordshire I have seen it in all shades. — S. C. Bruce. 



The "Dtjkery" and Sherwood Forest.— This 

 is the title of a well got-up volume, published by 

 Robert White, of Worksop, on the topographical, 

 archaeological, geological, botanical, and zoological 

 features of this, one of the most charming places in 

 Great Britain. It is well and clearly written, and 

 equally well illustrated, and will, no doubt, be re- 

 ceived by the public as the best guide to the district 

 that has yet been issued. The botanical and ento- 

 mological lists are full and accurate. The chapter 

 (with lists) on the "Flora of Sherwood Forest " is 

 written by Mr. John Bolder ; the zoology by Mr. 

 W. J. Sterland, a well-known naturalist ; and the 

 geology by Mr. C. T. Wright, F.G.S. 



Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists' Society. 

 —This flourishing society has just presented its 

 members with Part I. of the second volume of 

 Transactions. We are glad to note that it is in 

 more vigorous health and activity than ever. It 



