168 



height from those of the flowering roots around, I fear my hopes were ill founded. I 

 do not know that I ever saw a more lovely sight than those meadows presented in 

 their spring attire; they were literally "glowing with beauty." — Anna Worsley ; 

 Brislington, February 1, 1842. 



117. Notes on Linaria spuria and L. Elatine. In your number for the present 

 month (Phytol. 137) are some remarks on a monstrous form of Linaria spuria, by Mr. 

 Buckman. I should not have adverted to these remarks, as the monstrosity in ques- 

 tion is of no rare occurrence, being in fact analogous to the same deformity in the 

 flowers of Linaria vulgaris called Peloria, but that Mr. Buckman's observations are 

 coupled vpith the additional assertion that L. spuria and Elatine are probably forms 

 of one species, he having traced the identity through " numberless intermediate sta- 

 ges." Now if Mr. Buckman's observations are correct, the fact derived from them is 

 one of great interest, and should serve as an additional warning to the manufacturers 

 of species to proceed more leisurely for the future, in the use of the first and two last 

 rules of Cocker's Arithmetic. But I am strongly inclined to suspect Mr. Buckman 

 of having too hastily assumed his premises ; and I think the source of error may be 

 traced in limine from the close resemblance Linaria spuria and Elatine bear to each 

 other in the conformation of their lower leaves when young, these being often rounded 

 in the latter as well as in the former, for a considerable distance upwards, and in both 

 usually more or less notched. I have frequently been deceived myself by the similar- 

 ity of configuration, but I have never seen either plant when more advanced exhibit- 

 ing any such ambiguity of structure as to create a doubt to which species it belonged, 

 though I have carefully and repeatedly examined each kind in its native localities and 

 in various parts of England, with a view, if possible, of determining a question which 

 their close afiinity naturally suggested to me. Both Linaria spuria and L. Elatine are 

 very abundant in the Isle of Wight ; the latter may be found in every field, afi"ecting 

 equally our stiff clays as well as our calcareous soils ; the former confining itself more 

 exclusively to the chalk, or where the subsoil is of that formation. In many places 

 in the island the two grow intermixed, and sometimes in such abundance as nearly to 

 cover the ground, L. spuria predominating over its congener. Yet in such localities 

 I have uniformly failed in tracing any intermediate gradations between these nearly 

 allied species, under circumstances the most favourable to the elimination of every 

 possible variety of form and structure ; hence, till proof has been brought foiivard to 

 the contrary, I am j ustified in considering them truly distinct. This view of the case 

 is strengthened by the geographical distribution of each species ; an element, I con- 

 ceive, of much greater importance than is usually supposed in determining the validity 

 of specific difference, though to be adduced as collateral rather than as positive evi- 

 dence in most instances. L. Elatine has a much more extended range in this coun- 

 try and on the continent than L. spuria, which is a decidedly more southern species. 

 The limits of the first may be stated to be a little below 55° in England, and it ranges 

 as far as Ireland to the westward, where however it is very local, if really indigenous. 

 In Scotland it has not hitherto occurred at all, though from part of that country lying 

 under its limitrophe parallel in England, it will probably be found ere long to inhabit 

 the southern counties. On the continent L. Elatine extends somewhat higher, namely, 

 into the South of Sweden as far as 56", or a little beyond that parallel in Scania and 

 CEland, where, as in Scotland and Ireland, L. spuria is quite wanting. The bounda- 

 ries of this last may be assumed at about 54" in England (Malton corn-fields, York- 

 shire ?), beyond which its occurrence on rubbish and ballast heaps must be considered 



