1861.] VERBASCUM THAPSIFORME. 365 



much to ray gratification, cleared away, during the course of the 

 last month (August, 1861). For this we are indebted to the 

 fortuuate discoverer of Sonchus palustris, in Plumstead marshes 

 (see ' Phytologist ' for 1860, vol. iv. p. 310), to whom the 

 readers of the said magazine should be very grateful; for he has 

 communicated the localities of many rare British plants, from 

 time to time, during the last twenty years ; probably more than 

 have been contributed by any other individual botanist during 

 the above-named period. 



In giving a precise description of the locality where the Son- 

 chus grow3, there was no danger to the future existence of the 

 plant ; but the same definite description of the spot where the 

 Verljascum grows, might be the means of its destruction in the 

 locality where it was seen on the 16th of last August. It is 

 hoped that the readers of this notice will be pleased to accept 

 of the information that Verbascum thapsiforme grows not very 

 far from Ashford, in Kent. It is not considered prudent to point 

 out the exact spot, for fear of the eradication of the plant. 



Within living memory the plant has been seen plentiful in 

 another part of the county, twenty miles at least from Ashford. 

 The publisher of the ' Phytologist ' saw it at Cuxton, probably 

 more than thirty years ago; and he was informed by the late 

 Mr. Anderson, the then Curator of the gardens of the Apothe- 

 caries' Company, at Chelsea, that the V. thapsiforme grew there 

 (at Cuxton), and that V. pulverulentum grew in the same part 

 of the county. 



Mr. Pamplin remembers very distinctly that he saw the 

 branched variety, V. thapsiforme, but he does not vouch for V. 

 pulverulentum. He however asserts that the latter was in the 

 Chelsea Collection, and that Mr. Anderson told him that he 

 (Mr. A.) brought it from Kent. 



It is to be wished that the discovery of this also may reward the 

 perseverance of some future discoverer. — From a Correspondent. 



Note to " Verbascum thapsiforme." 

 I will here add a few diagnostic marks to help all future dis- 

 coverers of this rare plant to decide whether they have detected 

 the genuine species, or a variety of V. Thapsus, which sometimes 

 varies in the size of the flowers, and has also, in very luxuriant 

 forms, a tendency to produce a branching spike. 



