NOTES ON CHANNEL ISLAND PLANTS 331 



Syme states, however, that he had seen only H. ciliata from 

 Guernsey (Eng. Bot. ed. 3, vii. p. 178), and Babington seems to 

 have been latterly of the same opinion. Two gatherings from 

 that island sent to the Watson Exchange Club as H. glabra in 

 1902 by the late Dr. Play fair were certainly II. ciliata. {Vide 

 Eeport, 1902-3, p. 19.) 



(3 ANGUSTiFOLiA nov. var. Perennis, habitu gracili laxoque et 

 caulibus omnino pubescentibus vel etiam infra nodos paulo pilosis. 

 Folia parva (3-5 mm. longa, 1-2 mm. lata), anguste elliptica 

 oblanceolatave, subacuta, ciliata. Sepala saepius valde ciliata. 

 Alitor ut in typo. 



Habitat in Csesarea (St, Aubin's Bay). 



This plant, which I unfortunately neglected to look for in 

 Jersey, is described from specimens sent to the Watson Exchange 

 Club in 1902 by Dr. Playfair as H. glabra var. subciliata Bab, and 

 passed in the Eeport under that name. Similar specimens of an 

 earlier date exist in Herb. Mus. Brit. 



From its pubescent stems and narrow leaves this plant no 

 doubt recalls H. glabra rather than ordinary H. ciliata, but it is 

 evident, upon examination of the flowers, fruits, and seeds, quite 

 irrespective of its perennial habit, that it belongs to the latter 

 species. It is in part the origin of Babington's var. subciliata, 

 which was described from St. Aubin's Bay, under H. glabra, with 

 the diagnosis " foliis plus minusve ciliatis " (Primit. Fl. Sarn. 

 p. 39, 1839). But as Babington at the same time recorded the 

 type of H. glabra from this locality, where one form only, varying 

 in degree of hairiness, is apparently known, it is clear that he 

 was led by its general facies to regard it as H. glabra, and noting 

 the strong ciliation of some individuals, to distinguish them as a 

 variety on this ground alone. His varietal name, therefore, can 

 hardly be adopted for a plant which at that time was both his 

 type and variety, and hence the name angustifoUa has been sub- 

 stituted. It may indeed be doubted whether H. glabra L. occurs 

 at all in the Channel Islands. 



A fragmentary specimen in Herb. Mus. Brit, labelled " H. 

 glabra (annuente Babington), Euan Minor, 1840, W. Borrer," 

 which apparently gave rise to the record of H. glabra for the 

 Lizard, is also referable to this variety. 



The British Herniarias may be contrasted thus : — 



H. GLABRA L. Spec. Plant. 218 (1753). Icon. E. B. 206. 



Usually annual or biennial. Stem prostrate, herbaceous, finely 

 pubescent, much branched from the base. Stipules membranous, 

 greenish, small and inconspicuous. Leaves oblong-elliptical, 

 generally broadest about the middle but at times attenuate below, 

 subacute, glabrous or ciliate with deciduous hairs. Flowers very 

 small, crowded, in clusters mostly in the axils of secondary 

 branches, which hence assume a spike-like appearance. Sepals 

 ovate-oblong, subacute, less than 1 mm. long, normally glabrous ; 

 anthers yellow ; stigmas slightly divergent. Fruit ellipsoid, acute, 

 exceeding the sepals ; seed ovate, minute. 



2 B 2 



