326 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 
no objection could have been urged to the use made of his labours, 
but, in my opinion, it has been misapplied here. The numbers of 
species and the alphabetical characters for varieties as a medium 
of exchange were extremely useful for collectors; but now, so far 
as the willows are concerned, to convey an idea of your duplicates 
and desiderata is a very tedious process. The trouble in clearing 
up doubtful species must have been not only laborious, but thankless, 
in the majority of cases, as many have not been backward in 
expressing derogatory opinions of the splitting process. I think, 
however, that the collector may, not without reason, object to all 
these names being thrust on him until he is shown what they all 
mean. 
Now let us have a look at what constitutes species, variety, 
or form, according to this catalogue. On looking over the list one 
is surprised at the number of forms that have got distinction 
because of the colour of their flowers varying, others because they 
have, generally owing to situation, their leaves more cut than 
others, or stems and leaves more hairy than others. 
[27] About Ranunculus Flammula, Linn., and its forms I have 
perhaps said enough elsewhere, but these come first for remark 
here. The form pseudo-reptans, Syme, has given place to the 
radicans of Nolte, but for what reason we cannot guess. -Pseudo- 
reptans, Syme, is a creeping form of Flammula, or at least one 
producing roots at the nodes, whereas radicans, Nolte, is a small 
creeping form of Boswell’s suberectus, which itself is a form of 
Flammula. I think reptans, Linn., may be left as a species, as it 
seems impossible to get it established under artificial conditions, 
and certainly in the dried state it is a very different-looking plant 
from var. radicans, Nolte. As to the &. petiolaris of Marshall, I 
fail to see why this should come after the reptans of Linn., unless 
it be to add a little more weight to its specific rank. It is, to 
say the least of it, nearer Ylammula than reptans is. 
[55b] Castalia speciosa, Salisb., var. minor, DC. This, in my 
opinion, is a semi-aquatic form of the species. I have never seen 
it with its roots under water during the whole year, but it is 
common on the margins of hill tarns, where the species is found. 
[113-117] No doubt Mr. Marshall has done a good deal to 
clear up the forms of Cochlearia as found in upland situations, but 
I feel confident that the last word has not been said about them 
2 
