22 



Equisetura Mackaii, Newman, vice elongatum, Hooker, 



fluviatile, Linneus, vice limosura, Smith and Hooker, 

 umbrosum, TVilldenow, vice Drummondii, Hooker, 

 Telmateia, Ehrhart, vice fliivialile, Smith and Hooker. 



This is particularly gratifying, since the Equisetacese were origi- 

 nally published in the ' Phytologist,' and several protests have been 

 entered against the changes. It has always apj^eared to us that the 

 more nearly we can attain uniformity in botanical nomenclature, the 

 more simple and intelligible will the study become ; and since our 

 continental neighbours are not likely to adopt little errors which we 

 may have accidentally committed in these matters, it is better for us 

 to correct them with a good grace as soon as they are made ma- 

 nifest. The reviewer entertains similar views of numerous other 

 changes proposed by Mr, Newman. 



The vexed question of Lastra^a dilatata is fully discussed by the 

 reviewer, and the three species proposed by Mr. Newman freely ad- 

 mitted to be such : the reviewer, however, does not assent to the pro- 

 posed new nomenclature ; the name of reciirva he considers objec- 

 tionable, and to " convey a totally wrong idea of the character of the 

 frond" On this point we are somewhat at issue with our contempo- 

 rary. Mr. Newman had no choice in the selection of the name, as it 

 is confessedly the only one under which the species had been pre- 

 viously described, and we much doubt whether it does convey a wrong 

 idea: the edges of the pinnules and divisions are hent backwards, or 

 recurved, and form little concavities on the surface of the frond. In 

 PterisAquilina,Mr. Newman, following many of the highest authorities, 

 has described the margin of the pinnules as " incurved^'' a descrip- 

 tion which we believe has never been criticised ; indeed, the term 

 incurved is almost invariably employed to exj)ress this character. 

 Now the margin in L.recurva being curled back in an exactly opposite 

 direction to that in Pteris Aquilina, &c., may, with like propriety, be 

 called re-curved. On many other species there are observations 

 quite worth perusing, and we may characterize the entire review as 

 penned with fairness and good feeling. 



The following note on Elatine Hydropiper will be read with inte- 

 rest. " Mr. W. O. Newnham, of St. John's College, Cambridge, has 

 found this very rare plant in two ponds near Farnham, Surrey, on 

 opposite sides of the town, namely, Frensham pond, and Cuck Mills 

 pond : in both places it was accompanied by E. hexandra. It is a 

 most interesting addition to the Flora of the south of England, and 

 the young naturalist by whom it has been discovered, deserves great 



