816 



in the absence of the silvery substance which is so conspicuous in the 

 other two. By this it would appear that we have two distinct plants 

 under this name ; but on turning to my Sowerby-bridge specimen, I 

 iind it to correspond with the Ash-grove plapt in its long and some- 

 what interrupted spike, and with my south of England specimen in 

 having the silvery-looking substance, but in a less degree. Since I find 

 such different forms in the few specimens which I possess, I shall risk 

 no opinion as to their specific identity, but if Mr. Edmonston would 

 wish to see any of (or all) the specimens I have alluded to, I shall take 

 pleasure in giving him the loan of them for a short time. In addi- 

 tion to the above I might say that on looking over the grasses in the 

 collection of Samuel Hailstone, Esq., I observe some south of Er^- 

 land specimens of Cynosurus echinatus, which are identical with my 

 own from that part. — Samuel Gibson: Hehden Bridge, Nov. 11, 1843. 

 414. Note on Poa maritima. Whilst on the subject of grasses I 

 would just say that if any of your correspondents could furnish me 

 with a specimen of the Poa maritima which has " the branches of the 

 panicle smooth," as stated Phytol. 294, they would bestow a favour 

 on me. — Id. 



Art. CLXXXIII. — Proceedings of Societies. 



BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON. 



November 3r(Z, 1843. — Hewett Cottrell Watson, Esq., F.L.S., V.P., in the chair. 

 Donations of British Plants were announced from Mr. G. S. Gibson, Mr. W. L. Not- 

 cutt, and Mr. A. Henfrey. The following papers were read : — " On the Botany of 

 Litchfield," by the Rev. R. Garnett. " Notes on a species of Cuscuta found at Dux- 

 ford, Cambridgeshire," by Mr. Frederick Bond. 



The Chairman presented a series of specimens of the common birch, in order to 

 show that the forms described by different authors, under the names of Betula alba, 

 pendula, glutinosa and pubescens, are only varieties of one single species — the origi- 

 nal Betula alba of Linnaeus. Mr. Watson stated that he had repeatedly found upon 

 different branches of the same tree, the various forms of leaf and other characters which 

 were given as the distinctions between these supposed species ; and that the leaves of 

 Betula glutinosa or pubescens were produced usually (if not always) on the seedling 

 plants of Betula alba or pendula. 



Specimens of Primula elatior from the Bardfield station were presented by Mr. E. 

 Doubleday. These specimens were remarkable for the wide variation in the relative 

 length of the calyx and corolla, and also in the forin of the leaves ; some specimens 

 resembling the primrose in their tapering leaves, while others had the abruptly con- 

 tracted leaves similar to those of the cowslip. 



Specimens of Barkhausia setosa were exhibited, one of which was presented by Mr. 

 Cumming in 1841, collected by him at Audley End, Essex, the other was presented 

 by Mr. G. S. Gibson, and collected by him in a field near Sampford, Essex, in 1843. 



G. E. D. 



