FRIEDRICH SCHMITZ. 115 



bract at the origin of the first branch. Peduncles long, ascending 

 from a more or less arcuate base, the upper ones, especially in 

 vigorous or cultivated plants, straight and somewhat umbellate, 

 densely floccose and setose, especially in their upper part. Heads 

 numerous, 3-8 or even 10, broad and blunt in bud ; outer phyllariea 

 lax, short and broad ; middle longer, blunt, and with lighter 

 margins ; inner paler, narrower, and more acute ; all woolly at the 

 tip, and with densely floccose margins ; all with many yellow- 

 headed setfe, which afterwards become darker, and black-based 

 hairs with fine white tips. In the unopened heads the phyllariea 

 are closely folded over the florets, their floccose margins showing 

 as a white star. Ligules of a full deep yellow, clothed externally 

 on their lower part with longish slender hairs ; outer ones long, 

 so that the fully expanded head measures 1^ in. or more across. 

 Styles yellow or more or less dusky. 



On the carboniferous limestone rocks of the Wye Valley, 

 between Eoss and Monmouth, both on the Gloucestershire and 

 Herefordshire sides of the valley. Flowering early in June, some- 

 what in advance of the green form of H. vmroruw, which grows in 

 the same localities, and not so tall as the latter. 



Mr. Hanbury has kindly sent for comparison Irish specimens 

 gathered June, 1890, by Mr. S. A. Stewart on basaltic cliffs at 

 Knockagh and at Sellagh Braes, Co. Antrim ; these, especially the 

 former, seem the same as the Wye Valley plant, save that the 

 phyllaries are more attenuate and less setose and tomentose than 

 in that. Others from Cave Hill, Belfast, are much more doubtful, 

 and can hardly, I think, be placed to H. pachyphylluin. Specimens 

 from the Great Orme's Head seem to me still more different. 

 I may add that after several years' cultivation I find the new 

 variety preserves its distinctness from other forms, and reproduces 

 itself freely from seed. I have to thank Mr. Hanbury and also 

 Miss Thompson for much kind help. 



FRIEDEICH SCHMITZ. 



By the early death of Professor Schmitz at Greifswald on 

 January 28th, science has lost an indefatigable worker, who 

 during his brief career contributed to our algological knowledge 

 the most valuable additions of recent years. Born in 1850 at 

 Saarbriicken, he was educated at the gymnasium there, proceeding 

 to the University of Bonn, where he devoted himself to biology. 

 His studies were interrupted by the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian 

 war, during the whole of which he was on active service, and was 

 present at the capitulation of Paris. It was during the war, when 

 he was quartered on the coast of Normandy, that he first collected 

 specimens of algte — the sight of a common soldier engaged in 

 such a pursuit causing, as he used to relate, much surprise. After 

 the close of hostilities he returned to Bonn, where he took his 

 degree ; thence he went to Halle as assistant to the renowned 



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