ADDITIONS TO THE BRITISH FLORA. 81 
marked varieties, and hence a confusion of synonyms; but I 
have not yet seen evidence, either in specimens, figures, or 
descriptions, that would induce me to unite allthese varieties - 
into a single species, as is done by some authors. 
2. Lolium multiflorum. (Lam.) 
This very remarkable variety of Lolium perenne, or distinct 
species, as may eventually be agreed, I discovered in some 
abundance in a pea-field, in Claygate, part of the parish of 
Thames Ditton, in the month of August, 1840. Specimens 
were transmitted to the Botanical Society of Edinburgh, 
the following winter, as those of a dubious species of Lolium ; 
but I am not aware what was made of them by that learned 
incorporation of botanists. In 1841, on arranging my col- 
lectings during the preceding year, this grass was hesitatingly 
reduced to a variety of Lolium perenne, its tall growth and 
long awns being considered as possibly a consequence of the 
stiff and manured soil on which it was found. I was the 
more inclined to this view, after finding specimens of un- 
doubted Z, perenne, by the Thames side at East Moulsey, 
with awns quite as long as those on some of the specimens of 
the Claygate plant. But on showing the Claygate specimens 
to Sir William Hooker, he directly produced others which 
had been gathered in Yorkshire, during 1841, by Mr. Ward, 
of Richmond; at the same time informing me that the plant 
was Lolium multiflorum of Lamarck, and regarded as a dis- 
tinct species by many continental botanists. The root is said 
to be annual, and if this is the case, a good ground of dis- 
tinction is established, but I do not find any other characters 
which will invariably suffice to distinguish L. multiflorum 
from the awned form of L. perenne; especially as L. Bou- 
cheanum (Künth) appears to connect them, if we may judge 
by the published characters. A root transplanted into my 
garden died away, and the plough destroyed those in the field 
before I could ascertain whether these undisturbed roots 
would also die as the winter came on. Judging by the living 
