228 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



THE WHITE HELLEBORINES. 



THE points of distinction hetvveen Cefhalanthera 

 grandifolia and C. ensifolia have supplied a 

 series of notes in Science-Gossip, since I noted the 



Fi£. 130. — Cephalanthcra gra>idifolia. 



appearance of one species in the Isle of Wight some 

 two years ago. I can now state with certainty that 

 the plant from the Undercliff was C. grandifolia, for 

 several other specimens have since been obtained in 



the locality, and the broad leaves, running into 

 large tracts, and flowers were fully developed. This 

 was not the case with the first specimen sent to me. 



In my description of C. grandifolia and C. ensifolia 

 (Science-Gossip, April, p. 91), I stated the former 

 had more flowers on the spike than the 

 latter. Your correspondent, R. B. P., 

 St. Leonards (May number, p. 117)1 

 doubts this point of difference between 

 the two plants, although he admits 

 Bentham corroborates my observation. 

 I make my notes, not from a text-book, 

 but from the actual plants in the Italian 

 Lake District. To be more certain on 

 the point, I have had the two species 

 lately sent to me, arriving quite fresh 

 from Switzerland, drawings of which are 

 here given. From half-a-dozen speci- 

 mens of each, I have selected the average 

 size plants. Before any flower-buds had 

 dropped off these two spikes, C. grandi- 

 folia had nine flowers, and the spike was 

 much larger than that of C, ensifolia, 

 which had eight flowers on a meagre 

 spike. The one plant is larger in all i's 

 parts, leaves, tracts, stem, and flower- 

 spike. C. ensifolia I have often found 

 with five to seven flowers, C. grandifolia 

 with nine to eleven. A closer examina- 

 tion of the column uniting the viscid 

 stigma together with the stamens, reveals 

 a great similarity in construction ; the 

 one is more delicately formed than the 

 other ; but both have the fertile anthers 

 suspended over the stigma. The stamens 

 appear to me supported by a sort of 

 hinge, some mechanical movement being 

 necessary before fertilisation can be ac- 

 complished. This action might, I think, 

 result solely from the influence by the 

 sun, but possibly cross fertilisation is 

 accomplished by the bees. It is certainly 

 true that C. grandifolia loves a shaded 

 situation, while C. ensifolia seeks the 

 open — a sunny, dry bank for choice. 

 While I fully recognise the marked 

 differences in the two species, I still 

 think both extremely variable. The 

 " sword-leaves " have a tendency to be- 

 come broad in suitable localities and 

 vice versd, and the tracts either to 

 increase or decrease, as the case may be. 

 Both doubtless descend from a common 

 type, but the variety has become suf- 

 ficiently established and permanent to 

 mark the species. 



C. rubra is a very brilliant Alpine plant, supplying, 

 I think, a link with the genus epipactus ; in fact, it 

 is not very easy to understand why modern botanists 



