180 Scientific Reviews. 



Lepiditim Jiiritim of Smith is now we perceive called L. Smithii. 

 The difference between it and the true L. hirtum was, we believe, 

 first pointed out in the Ed. New Phil. Journal, Vol. V. p. 321, 

 where an opinion is expressed that it is the same with L. hetero- 

 phtjllum; and where it is obscurely stated, in opposition to the 

 author of the " British Flora," that the scales on the fruit, how- 

 ever microscopic, do always exist. Connected with this species, 

 we observe a curious paragraph in a letter from G. Don, bearing 

 date 21st March 1810 : " I shall send you the true Th. campestre 

 and the one figured in E. Bot. for hirtum, which I have long ago 

 proposed to call Th. incanum, and the true hirtum, if I can fall in 

 with a better specimen. They are all three distinct species, and I 

 have long ago, and repeatedly, said so to Dr. Smith ; and, at last, 

 in his last letter to me, he seems now convinced of their being so." 



The name of Sonchus alpinus is properly restored to our British 

 plant. It is the name by which it is known in the Alps, and in 

 Lapland, and though what Smith figures in his " Icones" looks very 

 distinct, it may even be only a variety ; but Wahlenberg states 

 that he has never seen such a one, and that the plant of the Alps 

 (aV. cceruleus Sm.) is very common in Lapland. The only descrip- 

 tion worth attending to, given by Linnaeus himself, has been en- 

 tirely overlooked in the discussions on this species. We therefore 

 add it here, as we find it in Smith's edition of the Tour in Lap- 

 land, II. p. 77 : " Leaves about twelve or fourteen, half clasping 

 the stem, gradually smaller upwards, nearly the shape of dandelion 

 or of the common sowthistle, one-half of each leaf, consisting of the 

 terminal lohe, making exactly an acute triangle, toothed at the 

 edges ; from that part downwards the leaf contracts, but not to the 

 main rib, and then again expands into two narrow appendages, as 

 it were, equal in breadth but unequal in length, which are crenate 

 at the edges. From thence begins the stalk of the leaf, which is 

 winged and toothed, and half embraces the stem. The leaves are 

 thin and smooth, with a rib purple on the upper side, and the tipper 

 ones are least divided, as well as the bluntest." All this applies to 

 aS'. alpijius of the Alps and of Scotland, but not to Smith's S. alpi?ius, 

 which has runcinate acute leaves with the terminal lobe not larger 

 than the others. 



We conclude these remarks by again stating that this a work 

 perfect in itself, and acceptable in the highest degree to the stu- 

 dent of Bi-itish botany. 



Having expressed our opinion in so decided a manner on the su- 

 periority of the natural system, it may be expected that we now de- 

 vote a few lines to a work arranged in this way, and referred to by 

 Dr. Hooker in his preface : it is Lindley's " Synopsis of the Bri- 

 tish Flora," published a year ago. 



In this work such a spirit of pride and arrogance appeared in 

 the few first pages, that, till lately, we frankly avow we never 

 gave it the high consideration that a work recommended by Dr. 

 Hooker merits. We see in the title-page the author styles himself 



