294 



as the stipules. The corolla does not " become tawiiy as the seed ripens,'' but turns 

 very pale, and owing to the narrowness of the petals, and especially of the standard 

 (which is deeply eniarginate), the legume or fruit as it ripens becomes quite conspicu- 

 ous ; whereas in T. minus it is entirely covered and concealed by the faded, deflexed 

 and scariose standard, twice as broad as in T. filiforme, and furrowed. The diligent 

 observer will find other points of difference, which I forbear to enumerate. I have 

 sought in vain for intermediate states, and fully believe that the two species may be 

 identified, if only a single flower of each be produced for that purpose. Your useful 

 peiiodical will, I tmst, raise up a host oi field-hotanists, who will put to the test all our 

 dubious species, and point out the diagnostic characters of such as are genuine but 

 imperfectly described. These will counteract the modern epidemic termed hair-split- 

 ting, which sometimes intrudes itself into your pages, and must be tolerated until per- 

 sons infected with the disease have learned better. If any of your readers suspect me 

 to have now fallen into this error, let him investigate the subject for himself. Nature 

 will " deceive no student,'' if he diligently explore the volume with — 

 " A mind well strung and tuned 

 To contemplation, and within his reach, 

 A scene so friendly to his fav'rite task." 

 — W. Wilson ; Warrington, June 23, 1842. 



185. Poa maritima and P. distans. These are unquestionably distinct species, but 

 unless studied at large in their native haunts, apt to be confounded. The creeping 

 root of P. maritima is not always a very obvious character. The leaves in both species 

 seem to be equally convolute ; but those of P. maritima are destitute of the seven pro- 

 minent rough ribs found on the leaves of P. distans. P. maritima also has the branches 

 of the panicle smooth. In favourable situations the stems are quite prostrate, yielding 

 an abundant and heavy crop of herbage. The produce of a single root will sometimes 

 cover a space of more than three feet in diameter. — Id. 



186. Potamogeton setaceum of Hudson. It has long been my opinion that this 

 plant is no other than a narrow-leaved variety of the species now called P. oblongus. 

 In peat-ditches on the borders of Risley Moss, near Warrington, this plant may be 

 seen in various states, from the normal form to one with extremely narrow (linear-lan- 

 ceolate) floating leaves ; but when in that state the plant is sterile. P. oblongus is 

 most prolific when growing in shallow water, and its broadest leaves are produced 

 when the plant is almost left dry. In deep water it becomes P. setaceum of Hudson. 

 Sir J. E. Smith, in ' English Botany,' t. 1985, remarks that no one knows this plant. 

 —Id. 



187. Circcea alpina and C. lutetiana. The first of these has each flower-stalk sub- 

 tended by a bractea ; while in the other species bracteas seem to be always absent. — 

 Those who have opportunity for extended observation are requested to try the validity 

 of this discriminative mark. — Id. 



188. Scleranthus perennis. Never having seen this plant in a growing state, I of- 

 fer with some hesitation the following remarks, which I trust some one will put to the 

 test. In habit the plant seems very diSerent from S. annuus ; for instead of being re- 

 peatedly forked, with wide-spreading divisions and flowers in the forks of the stem, my 

 specimens are mostly unbranched, never dichotomous, and the flowers are terminal, the 

 leaves nearly erect and directed to one side, the whole plant having much of the habit 

 of Spergula nodosa ; so that if my specimens truly represent the species, they might 

 be thus characterized ; — 



