778 



length of the perigynium : the fertile spikes are much shorter than in 

 C. distans, and their peduncles quite inclosed in the sheaths of their 

 bracteas. This form grows inland on dry ground, as at Jackdaw 

 crags, near Tadcaster, &c. Perhaps it will be said by some that the 

 occurrence of four stigmas in Carex distans is accidental ; in reply to 

 this I would say that to me it appears not to be accidental, since I 

 have the plant from several localities, in three different counties, and 

 all the specimens have more or less of the perigynia in every one of 

 the fertile spikes possessing four stigmas ; though it has been stated 

 by a person who thinks himself no tyro among the Carices, that such 

 a thing could not be in nature, as a Carex with four stigmas and a 

 four-angled nut. The specimen I now inclose is from Wallazey pool, 

 Cheshire ; perhaps you will tell your readers how many stigmas it 

 has.* I will conclude this note by saying, in reply to Mr. Wilson, 

 that the passage alluded to (Phytol. 680) is somewhat obscure to me; 

 and as I know nothing of any fountain-head, I shall feel obliged by 

 an explanation. — Samuel Gibson; Hehden Bridge, October, 1843. 



392, Note on a new British Carex. While on the subject of Cari- 

 ces, perhaps I may be allowed to offer some remarks on a few other 

 species of that genus. The first I wish to notice is the plant which 

 I mentioned some time ago (Phytol. 366), as a form of C. teretiuscula, 

 with fruit as in paniculata. In August, 1842, this plant was given to 

 me for Carex teretiuscula; in June, 1843, I had the same plant sent 

 from Manchester under the name of C. paradoxa : since that time I 

 have examined the plant with great care, and my opinion now is that 

 it is not a state of either of those species. For my oAvn convenience 

 I propose the following name : — Caeex Pseudo- paradoxa. Spikes 

 panicled, branches approximate : perigynium ovale, gibbous, acumi- 

 nated into a serrulate bidentate beak, more or less plano-convex, with 

 seven nerves on the convex side (three very slender in the middle and 

 two strong ones on each side of them), the outer nerves, or those 

 nearest the margins, being very short ; nut rhomboidal, narrowing 

 from below the middle ; style enlarged at the base : stem three-an- 

 gled, angles rough on the upper part : leaves narrow, rough on their 

 edges. This plant differs from C. teretiuscula in having its spike 

 more distinctly panicled, in its nut being narrowed upwards from be- 



* On examination of tlie specimen above alluded to, we find that many of the fer- 

 tile florets have four stigmas, as Mr. Gibson has correctly -observed. We have taken 

 the liberty of omitting some remarks on the fifth edition of the ' British Flora,' since 

 they are scarcely relevant to the question under consideration. —Ed. 



