278 THE JOUHXAL OF BOTAXT 



Poa pratensis, Festuca pratensis, *F. ovina, Bi'omus mollis, Braeliy- 

 podiuni svlvatiuum, Lolium perenne, Nardus stricta. 

 *Ptens Aquilina. Equisetum limosum. 



NOTE ON KITCHIEA. 

 Br James Brittex, F.L.S. 



This genus is always cited as of liobert Brown, with a reference 

 to his " Observations on . . . the more remarkable plants " published 

 in the Appendix to the Narrative of Travels by Denham and Clapper- 

 ton. (1S20), pp. 208-248. A consultation of this work however 

 (p. 225) shows that not only that there is no diagnosis of the genus, 

 but that its mention is merely incidental : the passage runs : " All 

 the species referred to Cratceva by M. De CandoUe really belong to it, 

 except C.fragrans, which, with some other plants from the same 

 continent, forms a very distinct genus, which I shall name Rifchiea, 

 in memory of the African traveller -svhose botanical merits have 

 already been noticed." This relates to p. 209, where Brown refers 

 to a herbarium formed by [Joseph] Ritchie near Tripoli and on the 

 (xharian hills, consisting of 59 species carefully preserved, " the par- 

 ticular places of growth " being indicated '* and observations added on 

 the structure of a few." In addition to the genus, Brown also com- 

 memorated him in Colchicum Ritchii (sic: op. cit. 241). Some 

 account of Ritchie will be found in Diet. Nat. Biogr. xlviii. 323, and 

 the Narrative of Travels in Northern Africa (1821) by Captain 

 G. F. Lyon, who accompanied him, gives details of the journey 

 (which, however, contains no reference to plants) and of Ritchie's 

 illness and death. That Brow^n was thoroughly acquainted with the 

 species which he made the type of his genus is shown by the very 

 full description of it in his numerous MSS. on the Cajyparidece * : it 

 may however be doubted whether he intended to limit Ritchiea as it 

 has been subsequently understood, as it will be observed that he asso- 

 ciated with C.fragrans "some other plants" as forming the new 

 genus, none of which were indicated by himself or contemporary 

 writers. The earliest description of the genus that I have found is 

 that of George Don (Gen. S^^st. i. 276: 1831), where the name 

 is spelt Richiea. 



It will be seen that the combination Ritchiea fragrans was not 

 actually made by Brown, although, as in the case of the genus, it has 

 become customary to attach his name to it. Nor does it seem that it 

 can stand, in view of the earlier description of C. fra grans by 

 Andrews as C. capparoides. Sims, who gave it the former name, 

 says (Bot. Mag, 6. 590) : "It is at the desire of Dr. Afzelius [who 

 discovered the plant] that we have given it the specific name of 

 fragrans, that of capparoides, equally applicable to other species of 

 Cratceva, though hastily given by him to Mr. Evans, as something to 



* It may be desirable again to call attention to the extensive collection 

 of Bro\vn's MSS. in the National Herbarium which, though seldom if ever con- 

 bultcd, contain a vast amoiuit of unpublished information. 



