34 



plants had been received from Mr. Borrer, Dr. Bidwell, Dr. Steele, 

 Mr. W. Mitten and Mrs. Russell. Mr. George Luxford, A.L.S., 

 Lecturer on Botany at St. Thomas's Hospital, Mr. J. W. Salter, F.G.S., 

 of London, the Rev. W. A. Leighton, B.A., of Luciefelde, Shrews- 

 bury, Mr. J. B. French, of Bath, and Mr. Davis, of Lindfield, Sussex, 

 were elected members. 



Dr. Planchon communicated some remarks on Ulmus (see Phytol. 

 iii. 34).— G. E. D. 



Remarks on the European Species of Ulmus. 

 By Dr. J. E. Planchon* 



The flattering manner in which the Botanical Society of London 

 was pleased to receive my oral communication on the subject of the 

 European, and more particularly the British species of Ulmus, induces 

 me to present to the public the same observations in the more regu- 

 lar and technical form required in scientific writings. 



Botanists differ widely in opinion as to the existence of Ulmus 

 campestris and Ulmus montana as distinct species : some regard 

 them as constituting a single species ; others divide them into many ; 

 and almost all overlook the real and indubitable marks by which Na- 

 ture has stamped their title to stand as independent and immutable 

 members of creation. The distinctions to which I allude are to be 

 found in the figures, if connect, which represent these plants in a state 

 of fructification, but the merit of pointing them out as tangible, essen- 

 tial, specific characters belongs, I believe, originally to Gaudin, who, 

 in this and other cases, has given us additional evidence that Nature 

 herself is the best of books for explaining Nature: the characters, 

 from my own observations, when ignorant of those of Gaudin, are 

 simply these : — 



In Ulmus campestris of Smith the cavity which encloses the seed 

 or ovulum is always almost contiguous to the emarginate apex of the 

 samara or ovary; hence the samara is more or less cuneate-oblong or 

 obovate. 



In Ulmus montana of Withering, the same cavity is always placed 

 a little below the middle of the samara or ovary and far from its 

 emarginate apex ; hence the samara is more or less elliptical. 



Such is the main distinction which it was necessary to point out : 



* Addressed to G. E. Dennes, Esq., Sec. Bot. Soc. Lond., by whom it is commu- 

 nicated. 



