28 ENGLISH BOTANY. 



uppermost leaves nearly sessile, and narrower tlian the others both in 

 vars. a and B. Fruit spikes 2 to 8 inches long, the lower glomerules 

 usually rather distant and becoming closer together towards the apex 

 of the spikes, which are arranged in an irreo-ular lax pyramidal panicle. 

 Fruit perianth yV ^^ 3 ^^^^^^ ^ong, variable in shape, but usually sub- 

 rhombic, -with a few blunt teeth above the lateral angles, and a few 

 jn-ominent tubercles on the back, the valves united only for a very 

 little way at the base. Seeds variable in size, the largest ones about 

 the size of rape seed, but much compressed, pitchy black, appearing 

 finely rugose, especially on the beak, under a very high magnifying 

 power. Plant light green, more or less thickly clothed when young 

 with whitish meal, especially on the stems and calyces. 



A'^ars. a and 3 in their extreme forms look widely different, but 

 I cannot venture to separate them even as subspecies, not only because 

 they are completely connected by intermediate forms, but because 

 besides they do not appear to remain hereditarily constant. The most 

 extreme form of var. 3 was one I observed on the embankment below 

 Gravesend in 1853. When the earth of the embankment was loose 

 these plants were 3 or 4 feet high, the largest leaves 3 or 4 inches 

 long, and 1 to 1 ^ inch broad, and the perianth with the apical portion 

 nearly deltoid and closed ; but on seeking the plant in the same place 

 again in 1865 I could find none but narrow-leaved plants, with leaves 

 not above ^ inch broad, and the perianth with its apical portion 

 narrower and acute, the tips of the sepals in many of the larger ones 

 recurved. In this case I cannot be certain that the plants in 1865 

 were the descendants of those in 1853, but it is highly probable they 

 were so. In 1863 I brought from Pegwell Bay seed of an intermediate 

 form,with rather narrow but deeply serrated leaves ; I divided the seed 

 into two portions, one of which was sown in a warm light border, the 

 other in a damp stiff bed with a northern aspect. The plants that 

 si)rung up in both borders had serrated leaves, those of the seedlings 

 in the light soil rather broader than in the others. The fruit perianths 

 of the plant in the light soil were short and closed, while those in the 

 damp border had the largest in each cluster, twice as long and more 

 recurved at the points than I have ever seen them in wild specimens. 

 As then the two forms of perianth on which stress is laid to dis- 

 criminate the two varieties, can be found on the seedlings of one 

 parent, there remains only the unreliable character of the entire or 

 toothed leaves to separate them. 



Grass-leaved Sea Orache. 



French, Arroclie des rivages. German, TJfer-Melde. 

 The origin of the common name of this plant we find given hy Dr. Prior thus : — 

 *' Orache, formerly Araeh, in Pr. Pm. Aracje, in MSS. Harl. 978, Arasches, French, 

 arroche, a word that Menage and Dietz derive from L. atriplice. Its Greek name 

 ■Xpvaokux^vov, golden herb, suggests a far more probable explanation of it in a pre- 

 sumed.M. Latin aurago, from aurnm, formed, like plantago, lappago, solidag'o, &c., 

 by the addition of ago, wort, to some other noun." 



