148 On the British species of Poly podium. 



ing completely intermixed with sylvestre, and from the very 

 same root. 



9. P. Lonchitis. There is a striking and constant character in this spe- 

 cies. In each pinna, the upper portion immediately adjoining the rachis, 

 is produced, and stretches forward towards the pinna which precedes it, be- 

 yond the stipes of which it frequently extends. The frond is elongate and 

 lanceolate, and evergreen. 



a. seminalis. (n. v.) Frond pinnatifid, dwarf, prickly. 

 It is perhaps necessary to say a word on the somewhat ob- 

 jectionable precedent of naming a seedling plant In the pre- 

 sent instance the plant, under the described form, arrives at 

 perfect maturity, as far as copiously producing seed can be so 

 considered : the bulk and toughness of its roots further proves 

 that the possession of this seedling form is no positive indica- 

 tion of youth. 



p. Lonchitis. Frond pinnate, more elongate, prickly. 

 Locality seems to be the only ground for distinguishing this 

 from the following, but I bow to the opinion of able botanists 

 in considering them distinct. The present plant is found on 

 the mountains of Scotland and the north of England. 

 y. lonchitidoides. Frond pinnate, elongate, prickly. 

 Hedges and lanes in most parts of the country; common in 

 the vicinity of London. Some writers have given this as the 

 early state of aculeatum, others as the early state of lobatum. 

 Both are correct. I am ignorant on what ground it has been 

 separated from Lonchitis. 



8. bifrons. (n. v.) Frond pinnate, pinna pinnatifid. 

 This is equally common with the last, and exactly inter- 

 mediate between it and the following. 



e. lobatum. Frond twice pinnate, drooping, pinna and pinnules crowd*- 

 ed. 

 A common plant, uninjured by the severest cold of winter, 

 and adorning our hedges at all seasons of the year. A vari- 

 ety precisely intermediate between this and the following, oc- 

 curs abundantly in Herefordshire, and near Ongar, in Essex. 



£ aculeatum. Frond twice pinnate, rachis erect near the root, but af- 

 terwards gracefully arched; pinna and pinnules more separated and 

 distinct. 

 r). angulare. Frond twice pinnate, pinna and pinnula distinct ; the 

 latter small, the entire plant exceedingly graceful and beautiful. 

 These names of the two varieties have been occasionally 

 transposed ; I believe they are correct as given above. 



6. lineare. Frond twice pinnate, pinna and pinnula distant ; the lat- 

 ter linear. 

 It will require several years of close observation to prove, 

 by real experiment, that these varieties constitute but a single 

 species. The seed must be collected with caution, and rais- 

 ed in earth in which all extraneous vegetable matter has been 



