FLORA OF NORTHUMBERLAND. 47 



fruits to enable me firmly to believe in its specific distinctness 

 from A. arvensis, although but little doubt could be felt that it 

 was the Anthemis cmglica of Sprengel, more especially after con- 

 firmation by the only living botanist who had gathered the 

 plant. I revisited the station after the lapse of some weeks, with 

 a view to obtain additional specimens — data for the settlement 

 of the doubt as to the validity of the specific rank of Anthemis 

 anglica, Sprengel. A close search of the shore in the neighbour- 

 hood of Budle House yielded but two examples. The one erect, 

 slightly branching, having conical receptacles covered with the 

 ripening fruits — evidently forming a connecting link between the 

 example gathered on my first visit (A. cmglica), and the common 

 Aiithemis arvensis. The other specimen is a mere scrap, and, I 

 think, of abnormal growth; it would appear to be referable, 

 however, to A. anglica. An examination of the three specimens 

 lead me to the opinion that Anthemis anglica, Sprengel, is but a 

 maritime yor7?z, I cannot say a variety, of Anthemis arvensis, L. 

 The claim of this plant to specific distinction deserves our at- 

 tention ; I may be permitted, therefore, to add the grounds on 

 which I base such a conclusion. The species would appear to 

 have been founded upon a single specimen — the plant gathered 

 at Sunderland by E. Robson. Sir J. E. Smith recognised, as he 

 thought, in the Durham Anthemis the A. maritima of Linn^us, 

 and probably with a garden specimen of this species it was that 

 he " assisted" Sowerby, the artist of English Botany ; but De 

 Candolle (" Prodromus," vol. vi.) maintains that our plant is 

 quite distinct from the Linnoean A. maritima, a plant which 1 

 have never seen, and which grows by the Mediterranean.* 

 Sprengel, however, in his " Systema Yegetabilium" (tom. iii. 

 p. 594), quotes the plate of English Botany as representing his 



* Under Anthemis maritima, Linn., after noticing tlie stations of tliis plant on tlie 

 Mediterranean sliorcs, De Candolle adds—" Nee secus Oceanum, nam A. maritima, Smith 

 Fl. Brit, est omninb diversa." Under A. anglica, Sprcng. Syst., he says— " In Anglic 

 littoribus maritimis prope Sunderland. Anth. maritima, Smith FI. Brit. 2, p. 904, ExcL 

 Svn. Sow. Engl. Bot. t. 2,370 Exel. Syn. Certo ab Anth. maritima divertissima ut rerte 

 nionet Sprengel, sed fort^ mera Anth. altissimce varietas ? Saltern ic. engl. Bot. ex planta 

 hortensi (submonstrosa ex fig. fior.) petita optimh Al. altissimam exhibet, sed plantam 

 spontaneam non novi !" 



