HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



259 



Science-Gossif that this plant is often associated 

 with yellow wort (Chlora pcrfoliata) particular atten- 

 tion was paid to the spot where this has been grow- 

 ing this season, but with no success. Determined, if 

 possible, to redeem the promise given, an opportu- 

 nity was seized of taking a few days' excursion to the 

 south coast of Sussex. Last year bee orchis grew 

 plentifully on the sea cliffs between Beachy Head and 

 Eastbourne, and after a careful search two specimens 

 were observed, both nearly gone off flowering as it was 

 the last week in July. These are the only two plants 

 seen this season, although many miles have been 

 traversed over their usual haunts, and it would be 

 interesting to know if other observers have noticed 

 the same scarcity. If so, would the excessive moisture 

 of last summer be the proximate cause? — J. S., 

 Luton. 



Lychnis vespertina. — The last week in August 

 I gathered a specimen of this plant, which exhibited 

 some peculiar traits with regard to colouring. The 

 top panicle of flowers was white, with green calyx 

 and bracts. The panicle below this had the petals, 

 calyx, and bracts deep crimson, and the third panicle 

 had half of the petals white half crimson. One side 

 of the calyx was crimson, the other light green. 

 Each of the bracts was bicoloured in the same peculiar 

 manner. All the flowers were male ones. — ■ J. A. 

 Wheldon. 



Wild Flowers and their Names. — The ques- 

 tions asked by F. H. Hn. in the August number of 

 Science-Gossip are those that will cause very many 

 to look anxiously for an answer. I have been for 

 many years (unfortunately only at intervals) a field 

 botanist ; my collecting commenced thirty years ago, 

 but it has only been within the last few years that I 

 have been able to add many more specimens to my 

 herbarium. The difficulties so well described, I also 

 have felt, but have surmounted them by the use of the 

 "Synoptical Table, according to the Linnean 

 System," and also the coloured plates of the N. O.'s 

 Umbelliferoe, Composite, Graminece and Filices, 

 which were bound up with Hooker and Arnott's 

 " British Flora." With these I have been able to 

 name every plant that I have as yet found. For 

 example, let me take the mallow. Upon dissecting 

 the flower, I find that the filaments of the anthers 

 are combined in one set ; it is therefore of the class 

 Monadelphia ; if the stamens are numerous, it is of 

 the order Polyandria. I am by the key referred to 

 N. O. Malvaceae ; here my difficulty ceases, as I turn 

 to this N. O. in the " Student's Flora," and at once 

 am able to decide to which species my mallow 

 belongs. There were some of the N . O.'s more difficult 

 than the rest I did not attempt for want of time, but 

 now I venture more deeply into varieties. On my 

 excursions I frequently take the opportunity to rest 

 whilst I compare some known plant with the short 

 description given in Hayward's "Botanist's Pocket 



Book," to ascertain if I have it, or if different to what 

 I have previously collected ; for I not only use this 

 useful book for reference in the field, but also as an 

 index to my herbarium and note book for specimens 

 wanted. I should like an opinion as to the value of 

 the "New and easy Method of studying British Wild 

 Flowers" by F. A. Messer.— J. Astley, Coventry. 



Developed Primulas. — In your September issue 

 Mr. W. West writes : " I have seen large quantities of 

 P. farinosa growing, but never came across it with 

 a sessile umbel. I should like to know if this form is 

 often seen ; it must have been seen, as Hooker 

 writes, ' Scape stout; 2-8 in., rarely o.' " In July 

 1878 I found P. farinosa with sessile umbels and also 

 with scape 4-6 in. long, growing side by side close to 

 the cliffs of Holborn Head, near Thurso. I have a 

 specimen of each which I gathered at that time, and 

 identified with the description in Hooker's " British 

 Flora."— IV. K. McGhie. 



The Botanical Exchange Club of the 

 British Isles. — We have received the report of the 

 above club for 1879. It is occupied with short notes 

 on the rarer plants gathered during that year ; the 

 localities where the specimens were obtained are 

 accurately specified. The pamphlet is crowded with 

 evidences of the untiring industry of British botanists. 



" Nectar, its Nature, Occurrence, and 

 Uses." — Under the above title, Mr. William Trelease 

 has republished a chapter contributed to the U.S. 

 Department of Agriculture Report on Cotton Insects. 

 In it he sets forth, first a true definition of nectar, 

 and then shows its different uses ; as directly useful 

 when secreted by the leaves, and thus rendering the 

 plant less liable to mildew, or indirectly useful, as 

 when secreted to aid cross-fertilisation. He notes that 

 perhaps its most curious appliance is when nectar 

 is secreted by plants in order to induce a body-guard 

 of ants to protect them from enemies such as larvae, 

 leaf-cutting ants, &c. Mr. Trelease concludes with a 

 comprehensive catalogue of books, &c, treating on 

 the subject. 



" The Hertfordshire Pomona." — We have 

 received part iii. of this magnificent work, edited 

 for the Woolhope Club by Dr. Robert Hogg, F.L.S. 

 It contains a pleasantly written essay by Mr. Edwin 

 Lees, F.L.S. , of Worcester, on " The Crab : its 

 Character and Associations ;" and another on " The 

 Orchard and its Products : Cider and Perry," in 

 which we find full notes of the date of introduction of 

 different varieties of the apple, diseases of apple-trees, 

 &c. The coloured plates in the present part are to 

 our liking, superior in beauty and finish to any that 

 have yet appeared, which is paying the highest com- 

 pliment in our power. In addition there are woodcut 

 illustrations of each notable variety of apple and 

 pear. 



