562 



The following descriptions were read before the Botanical Society 

 of London. At that time I imagined the first of these plants to be 

 uudescribed; but by the kindness of Mr. H. C. Watson, who sug- 

 gested the reference, I have been able to identify it with Drejer's de- 

 scription of Statice rariflora. 



Statice rariflora^ Drejer. 



Caule erecto, angulare, ramoso, spicis diffasis, elongatis ; floribus 

 paucis, distantibus, attenuatis ; calyce angusto, implicato, lobis 

 5, acutissimis, petalis angustissimis ; foliis parvis, spathulato- 

 lanceolatis, mucronatisque (sub-triplinervis). aS*. rarijlora, Dre- 

 jer, Flora Excursoria Haffniensis, 121. Limonium Anglicum 

 minus, Ray, Syn. 202. S. Limonium, y. Sm. Fl. Brit. i. 341. 

 Scape 8 — 10 inches high, erect, somewhat angular, slightly furrowed, 

 with few branches ; spikes diffuse, attenuate, few-flos\^ered ; flowers 

 distant, small, elongated, calyx with a long narrow tube, and five very 

 acute lobes (occasionally with intermediate teeth), not plaited, petals 

 narrow ; leaves small, spathulato-lanceolate, obscurely triple-nerved, 

 mucronate ; footstalks bordered. 



I have drawn up the above description from a specimen presented 

 to the Botanical Society of London, by Mr. W. L. Notcutt, who 

 gathered it at Fareham.* It is a much more delicate-looking plant 

 than any other British Statice I have seen, and has a very peculiar 

 starved appearance. The leaves are small and coriaceous, the only 

 very distinct vein being the central one, which is very prominent at 

 the back. The most characteristic point I can find is the form of the 

 calyx, which, as will be seen on a reference to the figures (3 and 6 

 at page 561), differs materially fi-om that of S. Limonium ; and I have 

 ventured, fi-om this circumstance, strengthened by the form of the 

 leaves and the general character of the plant, to continue Drejer's spe- 

 cific distinction. As the ' Flora Haffniensis ' is a rather uncommon 

 book in this country, it may not be amiss to give here the extract con- 

 taining the description of this plant : for this also I am indebted to 

 Mr. Watson. 



" 349. St. rariflora : lamis inflorescentiae adrectis dissitifloris, bract, oblique trun- 

 catis muticis exteriove latiore inferiorem amplectente, omn. florigeris. Limonium an- 

 glicum minus, Jlor. in spicis rarixis sitis, Ray, Syn. 202. Lim. humile. Mill Ed. germ. 



* See Mr. Notcutt's notes, Phytol. 429 and 492.— Ed. 



