86 



between the descriptions and specimens of Linneus, which induces a 

 doubt as to their perfect accordance ? — I reply, that the four speci- 

 mens named Equisetum fluviatile in the Linnean herbarium correspond 

 with the description of Eq. limosum (" caule subnudo") in the 'Spe- 

 cies Plantarum ' more exactly than they correspond with the descrip- 

 tion of Eq. fluviatile ("frondibus subsimplicibus ") in the same work; 

 only one of those four specimens corresponding strictly with the 

 description of Eq. fluviatile, while all of them might be included un- 

 der that of Eq. limosum, and three of them most precisely. To this 

 extent there is discrepancy between the Linnean description and 

 specimens of " Equisetum fluviatile." 



I should prefer not to add another word here, having replied to the 

 queries ; but some ambiguity arises from the title of Mr. Newman's 

 article not corresponding with the queries. The species, Eq. "fluvia- 

 tile" of the Linnean herbarium is included in the 'London Catalogue ' 

 under name of Eq. limosum, — a name which it bears in the ' Species 

 Plantarum ' of Linneus, and in the works of English authors generally. 



Hewett C. Watson. 



Thames Ditton, March, 1848. 



[The matter must end here for the present. I did not anticipate 

 such an answer to the second question : I am willing to admit that 

 either description will apply to the Linnean specimens, as indeed they 

 should do, since they describe the same plant. — E. N.~\ 



Botanical Extracts from James Backhouse's Visit to the Mauritius 

 and South Africa, in 1838. 



Port Louis. — " In the course of a walk, I met with the noble Rivea 

 tiliaefolia in blossom : it is a climbing plant of the Convolvulus tribe, 

 growing on the coast, among the grass and bushes. The flowers are 

 deep pink, and upwards of four inches in diameter ; the tube slightly 

 bell-shaped, and much darker than the rest of the blossom ; the five 

 ribs of the flower are also of a deeper hue than the rest of the disc. 

 Many other beautiful plants of the Convolvulus tribe are natives of 

 this Island, especially of its eastern side." — p. 52. 



Waterfall behind the Duivelsherg. — " Rainy weather having pre- 

 vented our taking needful exercise for some days, we accompanied 

 William Henry Harvey, and a botanist of his acquaintance, to a 

 waterfall behind the Duivelsberg or Devil's Hill, which is attached to 

 the eastern portion of Table Mountain. The body of descending 



