94 BOTANICAL NOTES^ NOTICES^ AND QUERIES. [March, 



Sempervivum tectorum. 



Hoiiseleek, Sedum, Sengreen. — With reference to E. M. A.'s note in the 

 ' Phytologist ' for September, 1859, 1 can positively say that this plant 

 grows as commonly on the thatched roofs of houses and other buildings as 

 on walls. In a compendious ' Herbal ' by John Archer, one of his Ma- 

 jesty's Physicians, London, 1673, he tells us that this herb groweth on the 

 tops of houses, or on walls. It is governed by Jupiter. It is said that the 

 herb preserveth the house it grows on from fire, and is good for all heats, 

 as well inward as outward, in eyes, face, or elsewhere ; you may make a 

 posset, and strain the juice into it. Many otlier virtues are named by Mr. 

 Archer. H. B. 



Lythrum Salicaria. 



I see Mr. Sim, p. 356, speaks of the rarity of Lyilirum Salicaria in 

 Scotland. It may interest him to know that I found it growing luxmiantly 

 at Borodale, and near Shiel Bridge, in the West Highlands, 1856. 



T. F. E. 



Magnificent Angelica. 



In a ditch near the margin of the Tay, about a mile below Perth, on the 

 14th September, 1859, I gathered a large specimen oi Angelica sylvestris. 

 I pulled it up by the root. The following were some of its dimensions : — 

 Entire length, 6 feet 6 inches; circumference of stem at base, 3j inches; 

 diameter of main umbel, 9 inches ; number of umbels, 11 ; number of um- 

 bellules respectively, 26, 25, 41, 24, 41, 37, 12, 21, 21, 34, 45,— total, 

 327. Each umbellule contained on an average about 45 or 46 dicarpous 

 seeds, equal to 90 or 92, which, multiplied by 327, gives in round num- 

 bers no less a sum than 30,000. Amazing production ! Astonishing fer- 

 tility ! Will some of the readers of the 'Phytologist ' look out for a larger, 

 if they have nothing better to do ? John . Sim. 



Bridge End, Perth, September 15, 1859. 



LOMARIA ALPINA. 



WUl the following be of any interest in reference to Lomaria alpina as 

 a supposed British plant ? A fair and noble cultivator of Ferns has in the 

 grounds at her residence a good Fernery of hardy Ferns ; among them Lo- 

 maria alpina in great plenty, on an old bank, well-established, and of 

 several years' growth. Long ago, and before I knew anything of Mr. 



WoUaston's supposed discovery of this plant in Scotland, L , who is 



well acquainted with this species, informed me that she was quite certain 

 that she had seen the same plant in the Lake district, and truly wild there, 

 althouo-h the large patch m her collection of living Ferns was most likely 

 of foreign or garden origin. I enclose a scrap of the cultivated plant, that 

 there may be no doubt as to the correctness of what is intended by L. al- 

 pina. I have no authority to make use of her ladyship's name in this 

 communication, nor have I indeed conversed with her but that once upon 

 the subject. E. E. 



