SHORT NOTES. 21 



The Floweeing of Primula scotica, Hook. — At page 24 of this 

 Journal for 1881, I drew attention to three different forms of 

 Primula scotica, Hook., collected by me in a grassy spot on the 

 heath to the west of the Standing Stones of Stenness, in Orkney, 

 on 24th September, 1880. I selected six plants, and set them in 

 flower-pots in the house at Orphir. Three of them had not 

 flowered that year; one had flowered once, with one scape; 

 another twice — first acaulescent, and second with one scape ; and 

 the remaining plant once — acaulescent. Last year these six 

 plants flowered twice — with one scape each time — first in July, 

 and second in September. The scape, with one exception, was 

 normal at both periods of flowering. In the first or July flowering 

 of the simple acaulescent plant of 1880, the peduncle was only 

 a quarter of an inch in length. The habitat of these plants, near 

 the Standing Stones of Stenness, was a bleak, barren spot. I 

 have failed to find the acaulescent form in more favourable 

 situations, such as the Links of Dunnet, in Caithness, where the 

 soil is of much better quality, and the plant very luxuriant and 

 abundant. From the above observations I think there is some 

 evidence to show that the acaulescent form depends, to a great 

 extent, on the poorness of the soil in which it grows, and that 

 when placed under favourable circumstances the tendency is to 

 return to the normal type, in which the fully-developed scape 

 exists. Other circumstances, such as the nature of the season, 

 may have some influence ; but I cannot say that I observed any 

 ap]3arent difference between the last two years in the number of 

 acaulescent plants, although, in Orkney, the summer of 1880 

 formed a very marked contrast to that of last year, being bright, 

 warm, and dry in the former year, while in the latter it was dull, 

 cold, and wet. — Henry Halcro Johnston. 



Artemisia vulgaris, var. coarctatus, Forcel. — In the latter 

 part of last year I found a form of Artemisia vulgaris, growing in 

 abundance near Stratford-on-Avon, which differed from all the 

 forms I had yet seen of this plant in having remarkably narrow 

 leaflets. Knowing the Kev. W. W. Newbould's critical skill, I 

 forwarded specimens to him in the fresh state, which he examined, 

 and decided to be the A. vulgaris var. coarctatus, Forcel. Specimens 

 were afterwards forwarded to Prof. Babington, who gives a descrip- 

 tion of the variety in the last edition of his ' Manual.' Although 

 I have since seen forms that approach this variety in some of the 

 calcareous districts of Warwickshke, I do not think I have seen any 

 form identical with that from near Stratford-on-Avon. Mr. T. E. 

 Archer Briggs sent me a plant from near Plymouth that very nearly 

 approaches the variety, and tells me it is the most frequent form 

 in that district. — James E. Bagnall. 



KuBus hemistemon, Mull., IN Warwickshire. — I send herewith 

 specimens of a bramble which I submitted to Prof. Babington at 

 the beginning of the present year. This, he informed me, he con- 

 sidered to be the Tiuhus hemistemon, Mull., a form closely allied 



