407 



racter of the plant, according to my present ideas, and have under- 

 lined the points in which I believe it to differ from C. Epithymum.* 

 The provisional name that I have adopted is C. Trifolii. 



" C. Trifolii, (Bab. MSS.) Clusters of flowers bracteated, sessile : 

 tube of the corolla cylindrical, limb erect, scales palmately cut, con- 

 verging ; calyx nearly or quite as long as the corolla. Calyx and 

 corolla whitish, with acute segments. 



" 1 had heard of a Cuscuta destroying the clover in Norfolk and 

 Suffolk, but have never before been able to obtain specimens. I look 

 upon it as very desirable that attention should be called to the plant, 

 as it threatens to become a troublesome weed in fields, to which it 

 has probably been introduced with clover-seed from the continent. — 

 Could you ascertain if it was known on clover before recent years, 

 and if the clover-seed was of English growth, or from what country 

 obtained } I think that this queiy may, if it produce a decided an- 

 swer, be of much agricultural value." 



All the particulars which 1 have been able to ascertain, are the fol- 

 lowing. 



The clover- seed was bought by the farmer of a factor at Stortford, 

 who distinctly states that it was foreign seed, but cannot tell from 

 what part it came. The same farmer states that he noticed this Cus- 

 cuta on clover in one of his fields about twelve years ago, but has not 

 since observed it till this year. In the adjoining part of Suffolk, it 

 was a troublesome weed in several places, covering the clover to a 

 considerable extent, and greatly injuring the crop; this seed had 

 been grown in England the previous year, and in this neighbourhood, 

 but probably might have originally come from abroad, which I am 

 anxious to ascertain, but fear the requisite information can scarcely 

 now be obtained. Perhaps if the notice of the readers of ' The Phy- 

 tologist' be called to the subject, some more satisfactory result may 

 be arrived at. Should I hear any further particulars I intend to com- 

 municate them. G. S. Gibson. 



Saff"ron Walden, 3rd of 1st Month, 1843. 



[Mr. Babington requests us to add that he would be much obliged to any person 

 who would send for examination specimens of Cuscuta from clover, addressed to him 

 at St. John's College, Cambridge.] 



* These are the parts printed in Italics. — Ed. 



2s2 



