318 BOTANICAL NOTES^ NOTICES, AND QUERIES. [Octobcr, 



BOTANICAL NOTES, NOTICES, AND QUERIES. 

 Maianthemum bifolium. 



I met Avithtliis plant in abundance early this summer, in the locality near 

 Hackness (a few miles from Scarborough), where it was discovered two (?) 

 years ago. It is growing in the utmost profusion, among Trienialh enro- 

 prea, Vacciniums, Luzulas, etc., on the slope of a steep brow covered with 

 scattered trees. I purposely omit giving a definite description of the 

 place. Suffice it only to say that before knowing where the plant was, I 

 decided where, if it tcere a native, it "'ought to be." This was determined 

 partly by the aspect, partly by the general configuration of the countiy, 

 and partly by the kind of vegetation clothing the district ; and proved 

 quite correct. Never, in Norway, did I see it more abundant or finer, 

 that I remember. For a considerable distance the hillside is cai'peted 

 with it. It is not however the quantity merely, but, as said before, the 

 general circumstances and position of the locality, which leave no doubt 

 whatever on my mind of its being a genuine native. 



Jas. Backhouse, Jun. 



[It may here be remarked that the question about the nativity of Mai- 

 anthemum is noto settled. It may also be inferred that all the other re- 

 corded localities, viz. Ken wood, near Hampstead ; Woburn woods, in Bed- 

 fordshire ; the woods at Howick, Northumberland ; and even Dingley 

 wood, six miles from Preston in Aundernisse ; and " Hainvood, rieere to 

 Blackburne " likewise, are or have been genuine stations where this rare 

 species either grows or has been seen growing. One or both of these an- 

 ciently known localities are recommended to the attention of our botanical 

 correspondents in Preston and Lancashire.] 



HERBASirM OP North German Plants. 



By W. Lasch and C. BSait. (First and Second Fascicles.) 



The cryptogamic portion of this work has just reached us, and we have 

 much pleasure in recommending it to British botanists in general, and to 

 the readers of the ' Phytologist ' especially. 



The specimens are well dried and pressed, and carefully strapped on 

 white paper. The attached tickets are neatly printed, and contain the 

 name of the species, with the authority, the habitat, the soil, the census, 

 the time, the special locality, and the name of the collector. 



This publication is marvellously cheap, even in these times of cheap 

 publications. The price of the two parts before us is five shillings, and 

 the number of specimens is forty-nine. In addition there is a printed 

 index, and a preface to the whole. 



The paper on which the specimens are fixed, and the boards in which 

 all are placed, with the printed sheet, surely cannot cost the publishers 

 much less than a shilling. Hence the price of each specimen is rather 

 less than a penny. Surely this is a bargain. 



But cheapness is not the sole quality of the work, it will be eminently 

 useful, especially to societies and to botanists whose herbarium is not very 

 comprehensive. The north of Germany produces nearly all our British 

 plants, and several species which are not natives of our kingdom, and con- 

 sequently this issue of speciuiens accompanied with the modern names 



