979 



out roots so plentifully at the joints, as is the case with it when grow- 

 ing free in a garden ; but, except for this one circumstance, it is rather 

 less like the Ii. azorica in its wild state ; being smaller, less leafy, and 

 less rigid. 



To sum up, in conclusion, we have the three forms under conside- 

 ration : — -Jirst, the ordinary L. nemorum of Britain, with very narrow 

 sepals and creeping stems ; second, the L. azorica of Flores and Fayal, 

 distinguished by its broad sepals and procumbent stems ; third, the 

 L. azorica of St. Michael's, a more robust plant than either of the other 

 two, but intermediate between them in the form of its sepals and 

 direction of the stem. Are they three varieties of one single species ? 

 Are they three distinct species ? Are they two species ; the L. azorica 

 comprising two well marked forms ? 



It may be worthy of remark here, that several Azoric plants, to 

 which I can only assign specific names as being identical with those 

 of Europe, do nevertheless differ somewhat from our English represen- 

 tatives of the same species as they are presumed to be. For instance, 

 Fumaria capreolata (F. media of Borgeau's Canary plants), Raphanus 

 Raphanistrum, Cakile maritima. Reseda Luteola, Viola odorata (V. 

 maderensis of Lowe), Hedera Helix (the " Irish Ivy " of gardeners), 

 Mentha Pulegium, Calamintha officinalis, Scrophularia Scorodonia, 

 Antirrhinum Orontium, Xanthium Strumarium, Plantago lanceolata, 

 Daphne Laureola, Bromus mollis, Polypodium vulgare, &c. 



II. C. Watson. 



Thames Ditton, September, 1847. 



Researches in Emhryology. By William Wilson, Esq. 

 (Continued from page 914). 



Viscum album. — On my first examination of this plant, several 

 years ago, the result was so unsatisfactory (owing to the viscous 

 structure of the ovulnm, which seemed to render it impossible to trace 

 the pollen-tubes to their destination) that I laid it aside as impracti- 

 cable ; now, after recent and more successful attempts, my views are 

 considerably altered, and I am led to consider Viscum to be peculiar- 

 ly well adapted to explain the mode of the formation of the embryo. 



Before I enter into details, it will be useful to refer to the vai-ious 

 papers on the Lorantheae, by the late Mr. Griffith, read before the 

 Linnean Society. 



