350 CHARLES CARDALE BABINGTON. [1860" 



examined either of those plants : species which grow upon dry 

 granite rock, and have very curious woody scales on their corm 

 formed from the bases of the old leaves. I have now to add the 

 former of these plants, Isoetes hystrix, to the "Flora of Guernsey."" 

 It has been found there by the same botanical gardener, Wolsey, 

 who found the Ophioglossum lusitanicum. It grows at L'Ancresse. 

 For a good description of it, see /. Delalandii (Lloyd), "Fl. Quest. "^ 

 It is the most interesting addition (at least to me) that has been 

 made for years. Certainly Arnott takes (for he is the sole author) 

 but little trouble about the recent splits, unless he has himself found 

 them in Scotland, and then he splits for himself. Sometimes he 

 mistakes, as in the case of Sagina ciliata, which is really unknown 

 to him. Wilson's "Bryologia Britannica" is an excellent book. 

 You cannot do without it, if you take to the mosses. I have not a 

 Longmans' list at hand, and so cannot tell you its price. Expensive 

 though it is.* — Yours truly, Charles C. Babington. 



To A. G. More, Esq. 



Cambridge, Dec. 27, 1860. 



Dear More, — I think that you had better print what you have 

 to say. I have no present idea of drawing up any paper upon 

 Lepigonum, so do not let my having some MS. in my care at all 

 influence your proceedings. Of course the shape of the seed is a 

 better character than its roughness. I believe that you are quite 

 correct about the seeds of L. rubrum ; very many of them are nearly 

 as flat as those of the other species ; others are gibbous on one face. 

 In my notes I see that I have said s&eds triangular-ovate, and 

 omitted all notice of their supposed triquetrous character. I have 

 just had a good set of the Barharea from Manchester, sent by Mr. 

 Hardy. It is the intermedia, and so is your plant from Tartaraghan. 

 If Viola Reichenhachiana and Viola Biviniana are really such distinct 

 varieties as you suppose, I shall quite agree with you that they 

 ought to be noticed. Give the means of doing so if you can. I 

 have not seen any Orobanche caerulea from the Channel Isles, nor 

 heard of its being there. I do not know Mr. Norman ; perhaps 

 he follows those who do not consider 0. caerulea distinct. It is very 

 difficult to make out the characters of these plants when dry. I do 

 not know what to say about my Jersey specimens, Avhich are very 

 poor, but those from Alderney I do think quite distinct from the 

 0. caerulea (of which I judge by Hoddesdon specimens). The blunt- 

 ness of the corolla-lobes is very decided indeed. I think it quite 

 possible that the Jersey plant may be caerulea. I have not seen the 

 Isle of "Wight plant. There is no certain rule about the use of 

 capitals to the specific names. I think that most people now use 

 them with adjectives only when the name of a person is included in 

 it, such as Smithiana. That is my rule, and I hope that I have 



* 42s. 



