30Q . The Irish Naitiralist [Nov., 



A Hybrid Groundsel. 



Semcio squa/idus, "Wall Ragwort," '* Oxford Groundsel," or "Cork 

 Ragweed," is not mentioned as a native plant in " Flora Hibernica " 

 (Mackay), and is supposed to be an immigrant to our shores from Greece 

 and other parts of S. Europe. It abounds on garden and town walls in 

 Oxford, and also at Cork (and elsewhere, as at Kinsale and Bandon), and 

 in both cases has been spoken of as an escape from the respective 

 Botanical Gardens of each of these cities. 



Some years ago Mr. Carroll sent to More and Moore an intermediate 

 plant presumably a hybrid, as mentioned in " C3-bele Hibernica," p. 158. 

 While in Cork the other day I saw in the shunting or goods yard of the 

 Bandon station, a showy group of S. sqiialidiis with flowers nearly as 

 large and bright yellow as those of Chrysanthemum segetum (Corn 

 Marigold), now very handsome amongst potatoes, etc., in the South. On 

 going to examine it more closely I found it to be S. sqiialidus in a very 

 variable state, there being a sliding scale, or series of forms, from the 

 largest to the smallest rayed form, closely resembling in foliage the 

 Common Groundsel {S. viilgaris). I collected a series for preservat ion but 

 unfortunately lost the bundle in the hurry and bustle of travelling. I 

 have, however, written to a botanical friend in Cork to collect me fresh 

 specimens, as the plants are very numerous in one spot, growing 

 amongst a lot of old iron rails— at first I thought that S. vidgaris (the 

 other parent of the presumed hybrid) was absent, but I afterwards found a 

 few odd plants here and there at some distance from S. sqiialidus and its 

 seedlings, but in the same yard or enclosure. Personally, I have no 

 doubt but that this variable series of varieties has resulted from the 

 hybridising of .S". sqtialidus as a garden escape with our native S, vtilgaris, 

 and it gives me great pleasure to add my testimony to the present ex- 

 istence to-day of these intermediates as collected by Mr. Carroll in or 

 near Cork some years ago. According to the " Cybele Hibernica (I.e.) 

 S. sqtialidus " was not known ' as wild' to Mr. Drummond in 1820." 



It would be very interesting to know of these or similar hybrids or 

 intermediate forms have been observed at Oxford or other places where 

 S. squalidus is known to grow together with or near to S. vulgaris. 



While on the subject oi Scnecio, I may add that I saw a strong colony 

 of ^. saracenicus at Bantry, quite close to the town, on the roadside 

 facing the harbour. It was growing on the side opposite the sea at the 

 foot of a wall, and in a wet position. 



Drummond originally discovered it in this habitat— but in the woods. 

 The plant is cultivated also by farmers and peasants as a styptic, and so 

 is apt to appear anywhere as an escape. 



I am especially interested in wild hybrid plants of all kinds, and am 

 always glad to hear of their occurrence in our native flora. 



F. W. BURBIDGE. 



