235 



lias " huit Jlat on one side" (' Eng. Flor.' 83), Mr. Gibson appears to have miscon- 

 ceived the meaning of the question which he so freely criticises ; the doubt evidently 

 refers to the Scottish specimen, and not to the species called C. tenella. — Id. 



160. Isoetes lacustris. Had I known of Mr. Newman's intention to describe the 

 fructification, I would have sent my own recorded observations earlier. In some of 

 the fertile capsules, only one central columnar bar from back to front was visible, but 

 in other cases, and especially in those which seemed to contain male organs, there were 

 ten such bars, ranged on each side of the thickened central line which runs down the 

 back. No good evidence appeared that these bars were receptacles for the seeds. On 

 the inner side of the frond, immediately above the capsule, a rounded membranous 

 scale is observable, having a depression at its base. It has an evident communication 

 with the capsule. In one instance two scales were seen, one placed above the other. 

 The so-called anthers were alike furnished with scales. In the " normal form '' from 

 Llyn y Cwn, I observed that the seeds were much more numerous and smoother than 

 in the slender variety from Ffynnon Freeh, the capsules were also larger, with twelve 

 bai-s or pillars from back to front. In the capsule of the slender variety the seeds were 

 from thirty to forty in number, with winged sutures; not the least trace of any pedicel 

 could be found. The above remarks seemed to me less likely to be accurate than those 

 of Mr. Valentine, which, founded as they are on subsequent observation and most di- 

 ligent scrutiny, must be regarded as worthy of the highest credit. One conclusion 

 drawn by him was, that no essential difference existed between the fertile and the so- 

 called male fructification. — Id. 



161. Myrica Gale with androgjfnous floivers. I enclose a few specimens of Myrica 

 Gale with androgynous jiowers, that is, with the flowers united in the same glume, not 

 simply monoecious. In the same catkin you will find the lower portion principally oc- 

 cupied with barren flowers, the upper portion with fertile flowers, and the intermediate 

 portion with the flowers united. The whole bush, whence the specimens were obtain- 

 ed, had catkins of this character ; it still grows on the borders of Risley Moss, near 

 this place, and can easily be found again. — Id, 



162. Notes on Monotropa. It may not be amiss to make a few more observations 

 on Monotropa. The description of the root of M. Hypopitys in ' English Botany,' t. 

 68, is applicable enough to Mr. Lees' plant, but not to that which grows at Southport, 

 and which seems also to differ from the true M. Hypopitys in its drooping flowers. 

 With respect to the scent of the true species, it would seem, according to Smith's ob- 

 servation, that it becomes evident only when the plant has " arrived at maturity, and 

 then acquiring a fragrant smell, generally compared to primrose roots, but rather re- 

 sembling those flowers.'' My Southport specimens, therefore, though they should not 

 prove to belong to a distinct species, are not necessarily opposed to Mr. Lees' percep- 

 tions, for they were gathered early in the season. Perhaps I have eiTcd in not sooner 

 replying to Mr. Lees' observations, (Phytol. 171). My silence has been entirely ow- 

 ing to an aversion from anything which has a tendency to defeat the object for which 

 ' The Phytologist ' is intended, as a vehicle of information. The perfect good humour 

 with which Mr. Lees has received my former comments, assures me that I have given 

 no ofl'ence, and surely none was intended. No one can be more sensible than myself 

 of the great pains he must have taken in the disinterment of the roots of Monotropa ; 

 T only intended to say that closer investigation is requisite to determine the parasitism of 

 the plant, than he has yet given to the subject. As to the scent of his specimens, I have 

 as little doubt that I should have agreed with him, as I have of the accuracy of my 



