HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



very small bodies of sarcode, somewhat irregular in 

 form, and throwing out spines similar to Actinophrys 



Fig. 3. — Torn sponge, showing cilia at/. 



sol, though I could not make out that they had any 

 actual connection with the sponge, but most likely 

 they have. 



James Fullagar. 



THE "SCIENCE-GOSSIP" BOTANICAL 

 EXCHANGE CLUB. 



IT is a pleasure again to present our readers with 

 a report of the Science-Gossip Botanical 

 Exchange Club for 1879. Sixteen members joined our 

 ranks for the season, most, we might say, sent in the 

 usual parcel. We have collected plants for herbaria 

 for well-nigh twenty-five years, yet, we confess, the 

 past summer was the most disastrous we ever knew. 

 After wandering many miles in search of rarities, 

 then taking every care to dry them fit to be seen, 

 we have wofully failed ; many of our best specimens 

 became mildewed whilst in the press, until at length, 

 in despair, we gave up the attempt. This unfortunately 

 is the experience of every collector we have con- 

 versed with : under these trying circumstances, no 

 wonder so few members joined the club. Well, 

 never mind, there is a bright side ; they say every 

 dark cloud has a silver lining. We heartily con- 

 gratulate the members in having the best return 

 parcel we have ever distributed ; perhaps not quite so 

 large as during previous years, but what it lacks in 

 quantity is more than made up in quality. Some 

 few of the selected specimens we never met with 

 before; such as Origanum prismatiatm (Gaud.) and 

 Euphrasia montana (L.) will be welcome additions 

 to all our local herbaria. Another matter deserves 

 especial notice : the club is bringing forward several 

 promising and talented young men who have ex- 

 pressed their gratitude for the aid thus afforded 

 them in their work ; it has a cheering influence to 

 feel we have sympathising helpers. 



Before mentioning a few localities from which 

 specimens have been recently gathered, we give the 

 explanations of some of the members. Mr. R. 

 Turner states : " Potamogeto?n nitens (Weber). Bute is 



given in the text-books, as one of the few localities 

 for this plant. Kennedy's 'Clydesdale Flora' gives 

 Loch Ascog, as the station for the species in Bute. 

 The plant found in that loch differs however from 

 that which has been determined as true nitens in 

 • certain other cases. It grows abundantly in the 

 loch, along with heterophyllus, from which it differs 

 mainly in the absence of floating leaves." (We have 

 sent this in all the parcels. It differs widely from 

 nitens collected in river Tay. We hope to have the 

 opinions of some of our members.) "Symphytum 

 tuberosum is abundant in various localities within a 

 few miles of the city of Glasgow, and is not un- 

 common over the whole of the Clyde district. 

 Salix Helix (L.) grows along the banks of Clyde in 

 many places above Rutherglen. The female flowers 

 seem to be typical, or nearly so, but the flowers of 

 what is usually considered the male form of the same 

 plant which grows in the same stations agree with 

 descriptions of S. rubra rather than with that of 

 S. Helix. Vicia Bobartii is veiy common in 

 Bute." 



Mrs. Edwards notes, "The inclosed species of 

 Daphne Laureola is found in Needwood Forest, 

 Staffordshire ; the Mezereon is also stated to be met 

 with in the same locality." We should be glad if 

 Mrs. E. found the report of the Mezereon correct ; it 

 is very limited in its distribution in Britain. 



Mr. Curnow states, " Mr. Ralfs and self have this 

 autumn been hunting up the Euphrasias, and making 

 them out from a French work. I fell in with one 

 glandulose, the most distinct form, which we have 

 decided as E. montana ; of this I have sent a dozen 

 specimens. We also believe there are three other 

 forms, viz. E. tetraquetra, a coast species ; E. cuprea, 

 the heath plant, and E. gracilis, on hillsides. We 

 have also met with another variety, which Newbould 

 names E. sylvatica : it has large and long flowers. 

 Another plant from Stroud we take to be E. 

 ericetorum." 



Mr. C. Bailey sends many specimens of the follow- 

 ing, which will prove acceptable additions to the 

 herbaria of our members. Origanum prismaticum 

 (Gaud.), Folkestone, Kent ; Daucus gummifer 

 (Syme), Hastings, Sussex ; Scirpus compadus 

 (Kis.), Hastings ; Genista glabra, Matlock. Mr. A. 

 Bennett, Senecio crassifolius (Willd.), Cork ; Atri- 

 plex pedunculata (L), Storrer, Kent ; Corynephorus 

 canescens, Caistor, Norfolk. The Rev. W. H. 

 Painter forwards Orobauche Rapum (Th.), Bangor. 

 Mr. Watkins, Caltha Guerangerii, Poulstone ; Tha- 

 lictrum montanum, Scawfell ; Carex montana, 

 Douard Hills. Mr. Jenner, Rumex pratensis, 

 Lewes, Sussex; Seseli Libanotis, Seaford ; and Mr. 

 Curnow, Iris tuberosa, Treveneth Farm, Penzance. 



We have not space to enumerate the whole of the 

 rare species sent for distribution ; the above are 

 sufficient to show the value of the club in helping to 

 build up good local collections. 



