REPORT ON THE BOTANY OF THE ATLANTIC ISLANDS. 67 



This is the plant referred to in the Journal of the Linnean Society (xiv. p. 319) 

 as Spiranthes brevifolia, Chapm., which it is not, as we have since been able to prove by 

 comparison with an authentically named specimen recently acquired for the Kew Her- 

 barium. Mr Moseley informs us that he saw a considerable number of plants. 



IRIDEiE. 



Sisyrinchium bermudiana, Linn. 



Sisyrinchium bermudiana, Linn., Sp. PI., ed. 1, p. 954, pro parte (quoad /3 tantum) ; Hemsl. in 



Journ. Bot. 1884, p. 108. 

 Sisyrinchium bermudiense, floribus parvis ex carrules et aureo mixtis. Iris phalangoides quorundam, 



Pluk., Aim., p. 348; Phytogr., t. 61, fig. 2. 

 Bermudiana iridis folio, fibrosa radice, Tournef., Inst. Rei Herb., p. 388, t. 108; Dill., Hort. Elth., 



p. 48, t. 41, fig. 48. 

 Sisyrinchium iridioides, Curtis, Bot. Mag., t. 94. 

 Sisyrinchium bermudiana, Mill., Abridg. Diet., ed. 6 ; Lamark, Encycl. Method. Bot., i. p. 408 ; 



Redouts, Lil., t. 149. 

 Sisyrinchium bermudiana, var. 1, Baker in Journ. Linn. Soc. Lond., xvi. p. 117. 



Bermudas. — Endemic. Spread all over the islands — Lane ; Rein ; Lefroy ; Moseley. 



On first seeing the Bermudan specimens of Sisyrinchium collected by Sir J. H. 

 Lefroy and Mr Moseley, we suspected that they were specifically different from the plant 

 commonly known as Sisyrinchium bermudiana, and after comparing them with numerous 

 specimens from other countries, we were convinced that the Bermudan specimens belonged 

 to a distinct species. Referring to the literature of the subject, this view was found to be 

 supported by all the early authors who had actually seen the plant. Plukenet originally 

 published it, and distinguished it from the common form in eastern North America, giving 

 a figure of each. Dillenius (Hortus Elthamensis), who had opportunities of seeing them 

 alive, followed Plukenet in keeping them distinct. Linnaeus, who, it may be assumed, did not 

 see the Bermudan plant, as there is no specimen in his herbarium, united the two under the 

 name Sisyrinchium bermudiana. Miller, who knew them in a living state, seems to have 

 been the first (1771) to restore the two forms to specific rank; and he was followed by 

 Lamarck, who also knew them alive, and who more fully described the differences between 

 the two. In 1789 Curtis figured (in the Botanical Magazine) the Bermudan species, 

 concerning which he wrote thus : — "On comparing the present plant with the Bermudiana 

 graminea flore minore cceruleo of Dillenius, both of which I have growing, and now in pots 

 before me, the difference appears so striking that I am induced with him and Miller to 

 consider them as distinct species ; especially as, on a close examination, there appear 

 characters sufficient to justify me in the opinion, which characters are not altered by 

 culture." Unfortunately, Curtis gave it the new specific name iridioides. He was led to 

 do this in consequence of Linnaeus having made the Bermudan form the var. /S of his 

 composite or aggregate species ; but he afterwards, when figuring the other form, Sisyriu- 



