386 CHARLES CARDALE BABINGTON. [187» 



describes it, a truly pyramidal panicle with patent branches; not like your 

 plant, and the above 173. By " folia subtus subvelutina," Focke appears to 

 mean what I should describe as " hairy only on the veins." Your plant 

 seems to be very near to S. amplijicatus (Lees), R. stereacanthus (Miill.),. 

 neither of which are I think noticed b}' Focke. I was probably wrong in 

 identifying R. timbraticus (Miill.) with R. amplificatus ; as Focke is 

 probably correct in joining that to R. pyramidalis (Kaltenb.). My specimens 

 of R. umbraticus are from Wirtg. (" Herb. Rub.," Ed. 1, iv. 82) and Boulay 

 (No. 9), both apparently authenticated by Miiller. I need hardly add that 

 my R. pyramidalis is a totally different plant, which Focke considers as near 

 to his R. myricae, but can hardly be correct in doing so. But I have not 

 seen any specimen of R. myricae. 



R.fusco-ater from Heslington is R. Koehlei'i a. 



R. derasus. I do not consider this to be the plant so named in my 

 " Manual," which I now call R. adscitus (Genevier). I think it is R. carpini- 

 folius. I cannot find that I have ever had a specimen from Mr. Harbord 

 Lewis. The presence of a few setae and aciculi renders this determination a 

 little doubtful, but probably we may easily lay too much stress upon that 

 character. I think it very likely that all my Sylvaiici may sometimes have 

 a few setae and aciculi. 



R. pyramidalis from Eaton Bishop is certainly not the plant so called by 

 me, and I think that Mr. Briggs has justly called it R. hystrix. 



C. C. Babington. 



To Frederick Townsend Esq., Honington Hall, Shipston-on-Stour. 



Cambriuoe, Dee. 7, 1878. 



Dear Townsend, — Your friend has indeed sent you a bad 

 specimen of Hieracium. I cannot be certain about it, but incline to 

 think that it may be H. stridum. I do not think that it is 

 H. crocatum. It is not only a very imperfect specimen — but, to 

 make matters worse — very badly preserved. Shall I return it ? I 

 will keep it for a time in case it is wanted. You know how 

 difficult these things are without good specimens — and even with 

 them not easy. I was greatly pleased with the new Irish Iso'etea, 

 but am not quite sure that the name given to it is not correct — 

 setacea. Dr. Moore has kindly sent me a good set of it, and I must 

 examine the specimens with care. I have specimens in my 

 herbarium named lacustris which have leaves like those of the new 

 one, but much shorter. Can they be the same ? I am glad to 

 learn that Newbould is again going to stay with you. We want 

 him to come to us for a holiday, but suppose that we must find him 

 special wwk in order to get him to do so. I wish that my wife and 

 Mrs. Townsend could meet; for I think that they have much in 

 common. She is much better than at this time last year : although 

 still unable to walk about out of the house. It is now four-and-a- 

 half years since her accident took place, but we think that we have 

 reason to hope for complete recovery 



