217 



lis, Liunoea borealis, Malaxis paludosa, Sonchus alpinus and Salix 

 lanata. From my second visit, which I hope to be able to make this 

 summer, better results may reasonably be anticipated. 



William Gardinek, Jun. 



Dundee, March 4, 1842. 



Art. LXV. ~ Notes on Arenaria rubra, marina, and media. 

 By Samuel Gibson, Esq. 



Hebden Bridge, May 5, 1842. 



Sir, 



A difference of opinion having long existed as to 

 whether Arenaria rubra and marina are two distinct plants, or only 

 varieties of one species ; in order to set this question at rest in my 

 own mind, I procured specimens of the two plants from every locality 

 where I could possibly get them from, either by sending to my friends 

 or by collecting them myself After collecting what specimens 1 

 could get, I gave them a careful examination, and am now of opinion 

 that Arenaria rubra and marina, and the media of Linnaeus, all three 

 possess permanent characters sufficient to keep them distinct as spe- 

 cies. Arenaria marina and media I have found plentifully growing- 

 together, each retaining its characteristic marks ; the seeds of media 

 being bordered with a striated membrane, while those of marina are 

 destitute of such a border. 



What Sir W. J. Hooker's Arenaria rubra may be I know not. The 

 calyx is said to be nerveless; such a character I have not been able 

 to find in any of the three forms. It may require further investiga- 

 tion in order to decide M'hether or not Sir W. J. Hooker's plant be 

 something very different from anything I have ever seen j but what 

 specimens I possess will answer to the following descriptions. 



1. Arenaria rubra, (Red Sandwort). Stems procumbent, smooth, 

 except near the flowers, where they have a few glandular hairs such 

 as cover the calyx and flower-stalks : leaves linear, flat, tenninating 

 in a small bristle : segments of the calyx ovate, acute, three-nerved, 

 the two lateral nerves very short, the middle one as long as the seg- 

 ment : seeds small, somewhat pyriform, thick in proportion to their 

 breadth, rough all over with raised points. 



My specimens are from Hiuldcrslickl, Halifax, &c. 



