Proceedings. 47 



softer, rather woody than stony, being composed of larger, 

 less dense cells, and is also without prominent ridges. 

 S. simplex has also not unfrequently long, semipellucid, 

 floating leaves. A consideration of the characters afforded 

 by the leaves and fruit led me to see that the genus falls 

 naturally into two sections, and I afterwards found my con- 

 clusions only corroborated those of the American botanists, 

 who follow a similar arrangement. The distinction made in 

 some continental works founded on the sessile or stalked 

 fruit is of little value, this being a character liable to 

 great variation. I might say much more in detail, in support 

 of the American system of dividing this genus into two new 

 sections, did time allow of it. 



Although the fi'uit of S. neglectum has some first-glance 

 resemblance to that of simplex, owing to its pointed apex and 

 long beak, the resemblance ceases there, the fruit being in 

 reality of quite a different shape ; and I think that the new 

 plant has in all respects an affinity with ramosum rather than 

 with any other species. 



The distribution of the species is not yet ascertained, but 

 it will probably be found to be widespread. In Surrey it 

 seems to be more common than ramosum, and I have noted it 

 in some dozen localities. In this neighbourhood it occurs 

 near the Heath, and most profusely at Nutfield Marsh. Many 

 of the plants in this last locality bore only abortive fi'uit, but 

 it was in fine fruit last October in that part of the Marsh 

 nearest the road from Merstham to Nutfield. 



Mr. Beeby exhibited specimens of S. neglectum, and also of 

 the ripe fruit of 8. neglectum and 8. ramosum. He also ex- 

 hibited specimens of the following plants recently found in 

 Surrey : — Viola lactea, Sm., more common in the West of 

 England ; 8tellaria umbrosa, Opiz. ; Hypericum dubium, Leers, 

 which, though common in Hants, is unknown in Kent ; 

 8anguisorba officinalis ; Potamogeton Zizii, Eoth. ; P. nitens, 

 Web., previously not found south of Northumberland, except 

 in Augiesea ; P. decipiens, Nolte ; Pihynchosporafusca, Roem. & 

 Schult., a west-country species ; 8cirpm paucijiorus, Lightf. ; 

 Carex dioica, Linn., a northern species, rare in the south ; C. 

 fulva, G-ood. 



