122 Botanical Collections* 



Reproductive organs of Mosses. -^ At page 58 of this voluoft€> an extract is 

 given from Mr Lindley's Introduction to the Natural System, in connection 

 with a notice of this w^ork, from the pen of a correspondent. We take this 

 opportunity to state, that so far as the author's theory extends to the calyptra, 

 operculum, and peristome, he may be correct ; but to renew the hypothesis 

 of Richard, and suppose " that the cellular substance of the interior of the 

 theca separates in the form of sporides," is what few now can agree to. 

 In the Wernerian Society's Memoirs, vol. IV. p. 114, the true structure 

 of the columella and the interior of the theca was pointed out ; but 

 owing to the impossibility of reconciling such a structure with any theory, 

 future botanists have made no reference to it. Within the theca, and 

 attached to its sides and base by a cellular pulp, intermingled with very 

 slender filaments, is placed a membrane, which forms a complete lining : 

 proceeding from the stoma, or mouth, downward, it is continued to the 

 base, when it is reflected upward, fovming a central column, till on a level 

 with the mouth of the theca. This part has been generally denominated a 

 columella, and is very diiFerent from the placenta in cotyledonous plants, 

 to which it has been sometimes compared. A bag is thus formed between 

 the columella and that part of the same organ which lines the theca, in 

 which the sporules are situated. The whole is closed by a veiy subtile 

 membranous expansion, stretching between the summit of the lining and 

 the columella, which, (although in Gymnostomum it is often of a stronger 

 texture,) by the maturing of the theca, and separation of the operculum, 

 lacerates, and, in most instances, Ijecomes evanescent. On the open apex 

 of the columella is fixed another membrane, more or less of a conical form, 

 and of a somewhat different texture and colour, which, by age, often shrinks 

 to the appearance of a mere lid to its orifice. Sometimes it is more rigid, 

 (as in Splachnum, Tayloria, p.nd Gymnostomum Donianum,) and is then 

 not unfrequently called an exscrted columella. It also in some cases adheres 

 closely to the summit of the interior of the operculum, (as in Gymnostomam 

 Heimii, and Hypnum dendroides,) which it raises or depresses according to 

 the degree of dryness or humidity to which it is exposed. It is this part 

 which is the stigma of Palisot de Beauvois, but which may be more 

 appiropriately termed the opercular membrane. 



Erythrcea ChilensU, — belonging to the Gentianece, is the " Cachen- 

 Jjaguen"of Chili: the Chironia Chilensis, Willd. ( Cachen, Feuill. Chil. 2. t. 35,) 

 but which is a true Erythrcea. The calyx, corolla, and stamens follow the 

 quinary arrangement. The nearest to it, as Kunth remarks, is his E. QuitensiSf 

 only differing by the parts being in fours : but we do not consider that a 

 distinct species. Though it be much used medicinally in Peru, Humboldt 

 never saw it wild there ; but it was cultivated in the plains of Chillo, the 

 inhabitants of which may have originally brought it from Chili, where it is 

 undoubtedly a native. The circumstance of only four stamens instead of 

 five being observed in the Peruvian specimens, is not, we conceive, suffi- 

 ciently constant for a specific definition : we cannot, therefore, agree with 

 Sprengel, who hiis, on that account, placed it in Exacum, without attending 

 to other more important characters. The Peruvian name, too, is a corruption 

 of the Chilian one, which ought to be written as above, the word " Laguen'* 

 meaning merely a plant ; while the particular name of the present one, in 

 he Indian language, is " Cachen." — Bat. of Captain Beechey's Voyage, 



Orchidece The botanical world has all along given the credit to Mr 



Brown for first having thrown light on the structure of these plants. How, 

 then, are we to understand the following extract? — " But long before 

 the publication of any rational explanation of the structure of the Orchis 

 tribe, while botanists were in utter darkness upon the subject, it had been 

 most fully investigated by a gentleman unrivalled for the perfection of his 



