823 



equally serrate leaves. And I fear that the fruit is not a whit more 

 constant to the characters given for these supposed species. In the 

 Manual, we have the characters of the fruit described thus : — 



B.alba. — " Fruit obovate-elliptical shorter than the rounded memhranous margin." 

 B.glutinosa. — " Fruit broadly obovate as long as the rounded membranous margin." 



The difference of form between "obovate-elliptical" and "broadly 

 obovate " is not great; and I have seen still wider differences in form, 

 even on the very same tree ; and such differences may readily be found 

 in the fruit of trees whose leaves are undistinguishable in their form 

 and serratures. I have also seen the fruit of B. glutinosa (namely, of 

 trees with cordate-ovate leaves) shorter than its membranous margin, 

 and that of B. alba (namely, of trees with rhomboid leaves), equalling 

 or longer than the margin. 



In conclusion, therefore, I boldly assert, in contradiction to the 

 belief of Mr. Babington, that Betula alba and B. glutinosa are not 

 only one single species, but are often undistinguishable as varieties, 

 since both forms may appear on different branches of the same single 

 tree. Hewett C. Watson. 



Thames Ditton, November, 1843. 



Art. CLXXXVI— ^ Few Days in Suffolk. By W. L. Notcutt, Esq. 



Having read with much interest the various details of botanical 

 excursions which have from time to time appeared in 'The Phytolo- 

 gist,' it has occurred to me that a few particulars respecting the results 

 of a short visit which I paid to Ipswich and the neighbourhood dur- 

 ing a part of the month of June last, might not be unacceptable, es- 

 pecially as the floral riches of the county of Suffolk are by no means 

 despicable. I reached Ipswich on the 1 3th of June, and on the fol- 

 lowing day wended my way by the side of the Gipping, with the view 

 of ascertaining what it might afford in the way of Botany. The first 

 plants worth notice which caught my eye were Thalictrum flavum 

 Lythrum Salicaria and Angelica sylvestris, growing most luxuriantlv 

 by the sides of the neighbouring ditches, but none of them as yet in 

 blossom. A little further on were a few specimens of Hippuris vul- 

 garis growing near the side of the river, while, nearer the centre of the 

 stream, some fine plants of Nuphar lutea were displaying their beau- 

 tiful flowers. On crossing a grass-field, a broad stagnant ditch af- 

 forded me Hydrocharis Morsus-ranae, Lemna polyrhiza (the purple 

 underside of which contrasts beautifully with the pale green of the 



