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of resemblance it bears to each of these species^ and the apparently 

 uniform sterility of the seed-vessels, strongly favour the idea of its 

 being a mule production. But to this view of the matter are opposed 

 the great abundance of the plant ; its vast predominance in relative 

 quantity over its two congeners, and excess of stature above its sup- 

 posed parents. Neither are the characters which separate it from 

 them purely intermediate ; the panicle, as we have seen, although much 

 like that of L. pilosa, is considerably different, and not more like that 

 of L. Forsteri, and the shape of the capsule, if it be not modified by 

 the abortion or want of maturity of the imbedded seed, has little re- 

 semblance to that of either progenitor. Although its pretensions are 

 in my mind so equally poised, that I incline one day to hold it distinct, 

 on another to regard it as a hybrid, or perhaps a sterile state of L. 

 pilosa or L. Forsteri, it is hard to say which ; I am yet not without 

 hopes of satisfactorily adjusting its claim to specific' distinction, but 

 until perfectly ripe seed can be obtained, I hold it expedient to regard 

 its true nature as undetermined. Plants have been forwarded for cul- 

 tivation to Kew, to Mr. Babington for the Cambridge garden, to Mr. 

 Borrer and Mr. Watson, whilst Dr. Salter and myself have it under 

 our eye in the same state at Ryde. Placed amongst so many ob- 

 servers, and doubtless in a diversity of soil and situations, we may 

 hope, even before this notice of it goes to press, to be enabled to re- 

 port this enigmatical plant as having thrown off the mask, and shown 

 itself in its true colours; for if not a distinct species, it cannot surely 

 act the dissembler much longer, supposing it to be L. pilosa or L. 

 Forsteri in disguise. Should it continue sterile under every kind of 

 treatment, and retain its present characters unaltered, the fact of hy- 

 bridity may be looked upon as fairly established. Mr. Borrer has re- 

 marked our Luzula in Sussex, near Luggershall, under Black Down ; 

 and Mr. Purchas writes me word he has found the same near Ross, in 

 Herefordshire j it is probably not uncommon, therefore, which is 

 greatly in favour of its being, if not distinct, at least no hybrid. As 

 before observed, the foliage and flowers in this genus exhibit a remark- 

 able similarity in nearly related but well defined species, whilst the 

 form, size, colour, &c, of the seeds and capsules, are very discrimina- 

 tive of each kind ; if, therefore, these last should be found to preserve 

 their present characters in our Apse-Castle Luzula when ripe seeds are 

 obtained, the plant may fairly rank as a species, differing as much as 

 L. Forsteri does from L. pilosa, and intimately allied to both. Were 

 it a mere sterile form of L. pilosa, one would expect to find a solitary 



