32 



names of pimpinelloides, Lachenalii, and silaifolia. Mr, Watson 

 stated that these species had been confused and misnamed by Hud- 

 son and Smith, and that most succeeding botanists had in conse- 

 quence been misled about them ; the errors and confusion being greatly 

 increased by the want of root and fruit, oil specimens collected for 

 herbaria. He considered that Mr. Lees was the first English botanist 

 who correctly understood the true pimpinelloides. Mr. Babington 

 next rightly determined the Lachenalii. And lastly, Mr. Ball, con- 

 trasting these two plants with the peucedanifolia of Smith, showed 

 clearly enough that three indigenous species had been confused into 

 two only, on account of no single botanist being sufficiently ac- 

 quainted with all three. Specimens sent to the Society by the Rev. 

 A. Bloxam, Mr. Lees, Mr. G. S. Gibson, and Mr. Thwaites, with 

 others collected by Mr. Watson himself, illustrated the three species 

 clearly ; except that the early radical leaves, and perfectly mature 

 fruit, of Smith's peucedanifolia ; were still wanting. Mr. Watson, 

 however, suspected that Mr. Ball's name of silaifolia was equally 

 incorrect as Smith's name of peucedanifolia ; and not knowing any 

 other described species to which Smith's plant could be referred, he 

 adopted the name of CEnanthe Smithii ; to be temporary or perma- 

 nent, as occasion might require. Having sent a paper to the 

 * Phytologist,' on the subject, he would not extend his remarks fur- 

 ther before the Society. The following is an abbreviation of the spe- 

 cific characters proposed for the species : — 



1. (E. pinipinelloides,'L\xm. Tubers oval or sub-spherical, connected 

 with the stem by a slender peduncle. Fruit cylindrical, about as 

 broad as the calyx, callous at the base, not contracted. 



2. CE. Lachenalii, Gmel. Tubers elongated and slender, clavate, 

 fusiform, or subcylindrical, gradually enlarging from the base of the 

 stem, without any distinct peduncle. Fruit oblong or turbinate, 

 broader than the calyx, contracted and without callosity at base. 



3. CE. Smithii, H. Wats. Tubers short and thick, clavate, fusi- 

 foim, or oblong, sessile at the base of the stem. Fruit cylindrical, 

 scarcely so broad as the calyx, callous at the base, not contracted. 



The Society has specimens of these three species for distribution, 

 but those of pimpinelloides and Smithii are, unfortunately, few in 

 number, and by no means in good condition. So long as they will 

 last, examples will be introduced into each parcel, sent out in rotation, 

 in order to correct errors of nomenclature, which may be expected in 

 most British herbaria. — G. E. D. 



