41 
NOTE ON PANICUM MANDSHURICUM, Mazim. 
Bv H. F. Hance, Pu.D., erc. 
je grass which, under the name of Panicum Williamsii, (Ann. Sc. 
5me. sér. v. 250), I dedicated to my esteemed correspondent, Dr. 
8. pee Williams, at present United States’ chargé d'affaires at Peking, 
proves, on comparison with a specimen gathered by M. Mesioidie 
himself on the river Schilka, to be identical with the typical form of 
the above-mentioned species, which I also possess from Jehol, from 
Pére David. Though I have long had from Dr. Williams the varicty 
Pekinense, Maxim., which I had no difficulty in determining, it is so 
unlike the typical form in appearance, with its hirsute vagine and 
short whorled panicle-branches, with crowded small spikelets, that I 
never even suspected their specific identity, nor should I probably have 
done so now, but for my recognition of that of the Schilka plant, with 
the smooth, long-panicled one from Peking and Jehol. In illustration 
of the extreme difficulty of deciding on affinity in this most intricate of 
grass-genera, I may notice that M. Maximowicz, characterizing P. 
Mandshuricum as very distinct, believed its nearest allies to be P. 
amarum, Ell., and some other North American species, whilst I was 
myself disposed to consider it akin to P. excurrens, Trin. My friend 
Dr. Thwaites, on the other hand, to whom I sent a specimen, wrote to 
me that it was “ very closely allied to, if not a form of P. leptocAloa, 
Nees." Though I do not doubt its claim to specific rank, I am equally 
satisfied that the judgment of Dr. Thwaites as to its relationship is 
more correct than that of either its accomplished discoverer or of my- 
self. 
NOTE ON THE CAPPARIS MAGNA, OF LOUREIRO. 
By H. FE. Hance, Pa.D., erc. 
In a small collection of plants made in the interior of the island of 
Haenan, in March last, by Mr. Robert Swinhoe, and submitted by that 
gentleman for my examination, amongst which I may mention as re- 
` markable the rare Harrisonia Bennettii, Benth. and Hook. fil,* 
* I find in this plant the staminal scales quite entire, as figur red by Benne tt 
ds Jav. Rar. t. 42) ; not bifid, as described in the * Genera "Plantarum :' the 
owers have sometimes six six petals and twelve stamens 
