,208 Eivart and Tovey. 



recognised are V. Thapsus and V. Blattaria. There has always 

 been some confusion between V. Blattaria and V. virgatuni. Thus 

 Verbascum virgatum, Spreng. (Syst. 1, 621) = V. Blattaria. 

 Verbascuni Blattaria, Veil =V. virgatum. 



The true V. Blattaiia is that of Linnaeus Sp. PI. 178, a native of 

 Europe and Asia, whereas V. virgatum was described by Stokes 

 .(With. Bot. Arr. Brit, PI. ed. 11, 227), and appears to l>e originally 

 a native of Europe only. 



In Bentham's British Flora, V. vii-gatum is distinguished from 

 V. Blattaria by (1) the more abundant glandular hairs, (2) the 

 pedicels of the flowers ai-e shorter than the calyx, whereas in V. 

 Blattaria they are longer; (3} there are usually 2-6 flowers to each 

 bract. 



If the Victorian specimens of V. Blattaria are sorted out into 

 those with long and those with short pedicels, it will be found that 

 the glandular pubescence varies in Ijoth series, and that there are 

 .as many specimens of " V, virgatum," with one flower to each bract, 

 as with two or more floAvers. If the specimens are sorted into " 1 

 flowered," and 2, or more, flowered specimens, the long stalked 

 .and short stalked characters are completely mixed in both sets. 

 Although V. virgatum is called the " Twiggy ^lullein," branching 

 .specimens otherwise typical of V. Blattaria are quite common. 



The only satisfactory conclusion is to regard V. virgatum as a 

 variety of V. Blattaria, differing in one constant feature, the length 

 • of the pedicel, as thus — 



V. Blattaria, L. V. Blattaria, L. var. virgatum. 



Flowers 1 to each bract Flowers 1 or 2 rarely up to 6 to 



Pedicels longer than calyx or each bract. 



bracts. Pedicels usually shorter than calyx 



or bracts. 

 Ihe variety virgatum is the commoner form in Victoria, but in 

 ''Europe is of more restricted range than the typical V. Blattaria. 



ViciA SEPiUM, L. " Busli Vetch." (Leguminosae). 



Alston's Farm, S. Wychepronf, Vic, W. W. Watts, Sept., 1918. 



Not previously recorded as a naturalised alien in Victoria, but 

 probably often confused with Vicia sativa. Vicia sepium is natu- 

 ralised in South Australia. 



ZvGOPHYLi.UM BiLLARDiKRr, D.C. " Coast Twin Leaf." 

 (Zygophyllaceae). 



Wahgunyah. Murray River, G. H. Adcock, Sept. 11, 1919. 



In the preparation of phylloxera resistant vines by grafting on 



