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HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



anus) has what may be called " ornamental" foliage ; 

 and the black horehound (Ballota nigra), which 

 here on bare, sunny spots of magnesiau limestone, 

 throughout its entire growth, except in its blossoms, 

 is uniformly black, may be said to have the same. — 

 11. 1). 



Sium iatifolium: in WiLTsniRE.— I have lately 

 observed this plant on the banks of a canal near 

 Swindon. Has it been before recorded as growing 

 in Wiltshire ? I cannot find any mention of it. — 

 Wm. A. Clarke. 



Monkey's Cop.— The description below, which 

 I have copied from Dr. Masters' work on " Vege- 

 table Teratology," seems to explain the phenomenon 

 provincial ly called " monkey's cup." — " Ascidia, or 

 Pitchers. — These sometimes occur from the cohesion 

 of the margins of one or more leaves ; but there is 

 another class of cases (and it is to this that I think 

 the monkey's cup belongs) in which the tubular 

 formation is due not so much to the union of the 

 margins of a leaf as to the disproportionate growth 

 of some portions as contrasted with others, whence 

 arises either a depressed cavity, as in the case of a 

 leaf, or an expanded aud excavated structure, when 

 the stem, or some portion of it, is affected. In 

 cabbages and lettuces there not unfrequently occurs 

 a production of leaf-like processes projecting from 

 the primary blade at a right angle. Sometimes 

 these are developed in a tubular form, so as to form 

 a series of little horn-like tubes or shallow troughs. 

 It is not easy in all cases to trace the origin and 

 true nature of the ascidium, as the venation is 

 sometimes obscure. If there be a single well- 

 marked midrib, the probability is that the case is 

 one of cohesion of the margins of the leaf; but if 

 the veins are all of about equal size, and radiate 

 from a common stalk, the pouch-like formation is 

 probably due to dilatation and hollowing of the 

 petiole. When the result of a union of the margin 

 of the leaf, the pitcher is generally less regular than 

 when formed from the hollowed end of a leaf-stalk." 

 Much information is still needed as to the mode of 

 development and formation of these tubular organs. 

 —M. B. 1). 



Laburnum. — The laournum with yellow and 

 purple racemes growing on the same branch, which 

 "L. A. B." inquires about in Science- Gossip, 

 p. 187, is the purple laburnum (Oytisus Adarni). 

 This interesting tree is not uncommon, but there 

 are different opinions as to its origin. It seems to 

 be a hybrid between the yellow laburnum and the 

 dwarf purple cytisus (C. purpureas), as besides the 

 yellow and purple racemes on the same branch- 

 sometimes intermingled in the same cluster — there 

 are usually tufts of Cytisus purpureas scattered 

 about amongst the branches; thus showing both 

 parents. They are intermixed apparently without 



any sort of order, sometimes one predominating, 

 sometimes the other, but generally there is most of 

 the "purple laburnum," unless some branches are 

 allowed to grow from the stock, which is either the 

 common or Scotch laburnum. — A. B., K, 



Adiantum Capillus-Veneris. — I am glad to 

 see some one takes an interest in the Manx Flora. 

 I have worked very hard at it myself for several 

 years, and hope towards the close of this year to 

 have a small volume before the public, made as 

 interesting as possible by much folk-lore of plants, 

 &c, as well as a notice of all the remarkable festi- 

 vals, &c. The folk-lore of the island is very rich, 

 but is fast dying, and will in a few generations 

 be almost forgotten. In reference to the Maiden- 

 hair fern, I have proof of its existence at Peel and 

 Glen Meay ten years since : it is now very rare, but 

 is still found in one of the. noble glen3, not far from 

 Glen Meay. I have in my possession, through the 

 kindness of a friend, Professor E. Eorbes's MS. 

 Elora and notes on the distribution of the island 

 flora geologically considered. The small geological 

 map, prepared and coloured by the late lamented 

 Professor Eorbes, will be deeply interesting to all 

 lovers of natural science, who were his friends. 

 We hope to have a fac-simile in the work, if sufficient 

 subscribers can be found to take the first edition. — 

 /. F. Robinson, Frodsham. 



Hierochloe borealis. — With respect £to the 

 time of flowering of the Northern Holy-grass, my 

 experience differs somewhat from the conclusion 

 arrived at by Mrs. Edwards in her interesting paper 

 in Science-Gossip for August, p. 177. I had 

 a living plant sent from Thurso, which has flowered 

 with me twice, and each time in the middle of April. 

 It cannot surely be, that even a change of soil and 

 babitat should have accelerated its flowering 

 three months. I think, therefore, that Withering 

 and Hayward, and especially Bentham, are all 

 mistaken. I may remark, too, that the observation 

 in the paper alluded to, that the leaves of the 

 grass are short, and the woodcut representing only 

 a flowering stem, may possibly mislead readers as to 

 the herbage of the plant. The leaves of the barren 

 stems are rather remarkably long. I inclose 

 a medium specimen. You will see that the lamina 

 exceeds 18 in. The produce is therefore consider- 

 able in an agricultural point of view, but it would 

 turn out, if cultivated, a most troublesome couch 

 grass. The odour, unlike that of woodruff or the 

 sweet-scented vernal grass, is emitted from thegrow- 

 ing plant.— R. W. 



Sinapis arvensis. — In the July number of 

 Science-Gossip, p. 1S6, J. R. Thomson asks if 

 " any reasonable explanation has been given of the 

 unfailing appearance of Sinapis arvensis on ground 

 that has been newly turned over." The seeds of 



