297 



of Rhinanthus found in Britain, although I had no doubt of their being really distinct, 

 I examined rather minutely a number of living specimens, and the following was the 

 result of that examination. 



Rhinanthus major, Rhinanthus Crista-galli. 



Whole plant often immensely larger Branches few, nearly horizontal, 



than Crista-galli, generally more branch- 

 ed ; sometimes smaller and not branched, 

 but in every state preserving its character- 

 istics. Branches often numerous, nearly 

 erect. 



Calyx equal to the tube of corolla. Calyx longer than the tube of corolla. 



Corolla twice as long as calyx ; bright Corolla not much longer than calyx ; 



yellow, segments of upper lip purple, and yellow, variously spotted with purple: 

 a single spot of purple on each of the side open, with segments of upper lip divari- 

 lobes of the lower lip : closed, with seg- cate and somewhat revolute. 

 ments of upper lip connivent. 



Style almost always exserted, some- Style included, 



times the sixth of an inch. 



Capsule smaller, seeds fewer, with one Capsule larger, seeds more numerous, 



side thicker, and a narrow margin ; when of unifonn thickness, with a broad margin, 

 fully formed bursting the skin at the thick- 

 er side. 



To the above observations I may add that the tout ensemble of R. major is very dif- 

 ferent from that of R. Crista-galli, 1 mean in so far as appearance is concerned. I 

 have seen both plants growing together, and think no one who could see them grow- 

 ing would consider them to belong to the same species : when dried they become quite 

 black. Rhinanthus major may be said to be rather common iu the counties of Moray 

 and Nairn, at least on the coast. In the former county I have seen it growing on an 

 eminence at the height of about 200 feet above the sea, and apparently aspiring still 

 higher, in defiance of Ulex europseus and other well armed and stubborn shrubs. Its 

 locality however is in corn and grass fields, where its abundance, its size, and the pro- 

 fusion of its bright yellow flowers, render it veiy conspicuous. There seems to be lit- 

 tle reason to doubt that in Scotland at least it is not indigenous. — Id. 



194. Schistostega pennata. I enclose a few specimens of Schistostega pennata, 

 which I gathered last month in Nottingham forest, where it almost completely covers 

 the roof of a dry sandstone cave. I found specimens in all stages of fructification, and 

 think, from the situation in which it grew that there must be a constant succession in 

 fruit. I possess specimens gathered by Dr. Howitt in the month of November. — Jo- 

 seph Sidebotham ; 26, York St., Manchester, July 7, 1842. 



195. Notes on the supposed parasitism of Monotropa Hypopitys. It is under feelings 

 of most unaffected diffidence that I venture to publish my notes on this subject, more 

 especially as I find them at variance with the recorded observations of botanists so 

 much more able to grapple with the question than myself. Still, having most unex- 

 pectedly become possessed of some luxuriant specimens of this interesting plant, I 

 could not forego the opportunity of investigating for myself this qucestio vexata, and I 

 now offer the results to the readers of ' The Phytologist.' The plants were four in 

 number ; each had two or more stems, about seven inches in height, bent over at the 

 top and in full flower, a few young stems were ascending in a perfectly erect position. 



