402 



gular umbels, this species has little affinity with the preceding, and 

 more resembles some Bupleurums. Its depressed, radiating tufts of 

 dark green, shining, root-leaves are common and conspicuous in our 

 turnip-fields and fallows during winter; and in October last I noticed 

 a large field near St. Helen's church, literally covered in parts with 

 the radical leaves of this species, which was more than usually plen- 

 tiful over the island generally during the past season. The fruit pos- 

 sesses considerable aroma. This species seems to be wanting over 

 the greater part of Europe, and to be confined principally to the At- 

 lantic coasts, abounding in the west of France, but unknown in Italy, 

 Austria, and all the eastern countries. 



Helosciadium nodiflorum. Profusely throughout the county and 

 island, in ditches and shallow streams. A great nuisance in our 

 marshy levels, its rank and rapid growth requiring constant exertion 

 to keep the ditches clear of its long, procumbent, entangled stems, 

 that are often as thick as the wrist, and in one summer will suffice to 

 choke the drains, filling them so completely as to hide the water from 

 sight. In a series of experiments I am making on the heat of springs, 

 with a view of determining the mean temperature of this island, I 

 have been compelled to abandon one of the most copious and uni- 

 form from the impossibility of gaining access to the source during at 

 least half of the year, so completely is it concealed under an imper- 

 vious covering of this encroaching umbellate. I have not yet seen 

 ripe fruit of this species. The var. |3. (H. repens, Koch) is not very 

 unfrequent on the margins of ponds, ditches and on wet commons in 

 the island and county. This, like the last, is principally restricted to 

 the Atlantic parts of Europe, but advances a little farther eastward 

 into western Germany and Switzerland. 



inundatum. In several pools in the Isle of Wight, 



but by no means frequent. In partially dried-up pools above the 

 shore betwixt Yarmouth and Hampstead. Abundant in a pond (now, 

 I fear, quite drained) at the foot of Bleak Down, at the junction of 

 the roads to Newport, Chale and Niton. Abundant in the shallows 

 of the great pond on Petersfield Heath. In the first of these stations 

 I found a form of Myriophyllum alterniflorum in considerable abun- 

 dance some years ago, which I forgot to notice under its proper head 

 in these Notes. In this variety the segments of the leaves were li- 

 near, not capillary, and the bracts under the staminate flowers linear- 

 lanceolate and quite entire. This agrees in the main with the figure 

 and description of Morison, as quoted in Smith's ' English Flora,' iv. 

 p. 143, under M. spicatum, except that in Morison's plate the stem- 



